Northern Ireland Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has called on the construction and demolition industry to help develop revised Pollution Prevention Guidance.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is working with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Environment Agency (EA) to update the Pollution Prevention Guidance Note (PPG 6) 'Working at Construction and Demolition Sites'.

Mr Wilson said the guidelines are intended to assist those in the construction and demolition industry with responsibility for managing the environmental impact of their activities.

"Most pollution incidents are avoidable but careful planning can reduce the risk of pollution," he said.

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"Most of the measures needed to prevent pollution cost very little, especially if they are included at the planning stage. In contrast, the costs of cleaning up a pollution incident can be very high.

"Pollution prevention and waste minimisation measures may offer substantial economic benefits such as reducing the need for expensive raw materials, fewer site accidents and a reduced risk of prosecution for environmental offences," said the Minister.

Mr Wilson said it is essential the construction and demolition industry make an input during the drafting of this guidance.

The existing guidance was written in 2003 and requires significant updating in terms of site waste management plans, duty of care for waste, pollution prevention, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS),Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and Good Practice.

NIEA Dave Foster Head of Water Management Unit said: "The introduction of pollution prevention measures should be the first step, but for these to be effective, managers must be committed and employees must understand why they are needed and be suitably trained."

(PR/JM)