CL:AIRE is a UK charity committed to providing a valuable service for all those involved in sustainable land reuse.
We develop training resources, disseminate information and act as a credible resource for all stakeholders, ensuring we remain at the cutting-edge of best practice and innovation.

 

Improving efficiency & raising standards
Improving efficiency & raising standards
Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoWCoP), National Quality Mark Scheme for Land Affected by Contamination (NQMS), Asbestos in Soil, SuRF...
Supporting our Members
Supporting our Members
Find out about the benefits of becoming a CL:AIRE Principal or Supporter Member:- Member discounts, Networking, Working Groups, ...
Sharing Knowledge & Developing People
Sharing Knowledge & Developing People
Water and Land Library ( WALL), Continuing Professional development through Training and workshops...
CL:AIRE Membership
CL:AIRE works with its Members to raise awareness and pursue shared objectives in land, water and environmental management by collecting strategic industry information and developing industry initiatives that improve efficiency and save money.
Gas Protection Verification Scheme (GPVS)
The GPVS seeks to raise standards in membrane inspection, verification and reporting and provide confidence that risks associated with ground gases have been adequately managed.
Definition of Waste Code of Practice
The Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoWCoP) provides a clear, consistent and efficient process which enables the reuse of excavated materials on-site or their movement between sites.

Find out more...Register of materials...
Make a declaration...
NQMS for Land Contamination Management
The National Quality Mark Scheme for Land Contamination Management (NQMS) is developed by the National Brownfield Forum to provide visible identification of documents that have been checked for quality.

In 2011 we launched our Definition of Waste: Development Industry Code of Practice (DoWCoP) version 2. This featured a significant extension to the scope of scenarios which could benefit from this approach to reusing excavated materials. Since April 2012 over 259 projects have diverted approximately 5,242,128m3 tonnes of excavated material from landfill. This equates to an average of over 20,000m3 per project.

In order to maintain and improve this successful initiative, a new sponsorship opportunity has arisen for the creation of version 3 of the code. With the support from the Environment Agency and the DoWCoP steering group, CL:AIRE will lead the development for this new version. This will be a further significant development of the use and recognition of a best practice framework in ensuring quality products come to the marketplace and waste disposal to landfill is substantially reduced. There has been interest in the DoWCoP framework for soils re-use internationally, so sponsors will get wide coverage as CL:AIRE promotes the finalised version 3 with all its contacts. The aim of the project is to draft documents and undertake the relevant negotiations with the regulators and industry to introduce the  potential extensions and improvements as outlined below.

  • A more streamlined procedure for small quantities of material arising from recovery of soils type materials at permitted facilities (e.g. 1000m3 - 5000m3);
  • An expansion of the scope of the Direct Transfer scenario to include excavated materials that are not clean or naturally occurring (with appropriate limitations);
  • Allow for the reuse of manufactured soils e.g. with the addition of PAS 100 compost, under the DoWCoP if to be blended at site of production, i.e. permitted site already covered for this process under permitted treatment to create soils type products;
  • Qualified Person involvement with particularly large receiver sites e.g. soil treatment facilities on former landfills e.g. threshold approach - declaration following the treatment of an agreed volume;
  • Review the role of the Qualified Person relating to Verification Reports (to provide greater confidence that best practice has actually been followed in reusing the excavated material);
  • Detail the minimum information requirements e.g. Desk Top Study information (particularly for Direct Transfer of clean naturally occurring soils where speed of production is key), tracking system, delivery ticket.
  • Provide greater context of where the DoWCoP fits with other documents / guidance e.g. schematic showing WRAP Quality Protocol / recent Defra guidance on Definition of Waste on “by products”, exemptions and Standard Rules Environmental Permits. Highlight other mechanisms for reuse other than in accordance with the DoWCoP;
  • Provide background and further explanation to Watch-point 15;
  • Expand on the definition of clean;
  • Explain how topsoil is sold as a non-waste; and
  • Storage of excavated material at a source site or alternative facility with no identified certainty of use e.g. good quality material for which a beneficial use would be reasonably expected to be found (including suitable timeframes).


CL:AIRE expects the development work for the above to be carried out throughout 2013. In order to begin this process sponsorship for this work is required upfront. CL:AIRE no longer receives Government funding, as such, project funds must be raised in advance of work commencing.

If your organisation is looking to link to and gain brand coverage with a successful, widely used initiative we hope this offer is of interest. Perhaps your organisation has benefited from using the DoWCoP and you’d like to support its ongoing administration and development. CL:AIRE is not able to support the ongoing maintenance and development of this initiative without the support of the industry. If the DoWCoP is valuable to your organisation please take the time to consider this opportunity.


The Offer -

All previous versions of the DoWCoP have carried branding of organisations who have provided financial assistance. This version will be no different, except that CL:AIRE intends to make supporters logos even more prominent.

Version 2 of the document has been downloaded from the CL:AIRE website nearly 7,000 times since its launch. A further print run of 1,000 copies have also been circulated. There are a number of supporting documents associated with the DoWCoP such as Guidance Bulletin 3 which has been download 1,000 times in the last year. Finally, sponsor logos are also given coverage on all DoWCoP training materials. Since the launch of version 2, CL:AIRE has trained over 300 professionals from the industry.

For this new version of the DoWCoP CL:AIRE requires a minimum of £50,000 sponsorship. This will allow the necessary work to be carried out writing the new version but will also contribute to the ongoing cost of administering the initiative.  To achieve this amount CL:AIRE proposes 5 branding berths be made available with exclusivity provided to organisations from different sectors e.g.

  • x1 berth available for a consultant
  • x1 berth available for a remediation contractor
  • x1 berth available for a house builder
  • x1 berth available for a civils contractor
  • x1 berth available for a government / industry leading organisation or department.


The above suggestions are not fixed, other companies from other sectors may wish to sponsor; this is to illustrate how exclusivity of the branding opportunity will be maintained.

Each berth will be available for a total of £10,000 +VAT. In return for this amount, sponsoring organisations will receive.

  • Their logo’s prominently and located centrally on the front outer cover of the final PDF document;
  • Acknowledgment inside PDF document and a one page A4 advert or comment section within the final version of the document;
  • Logo branding on supporting literature e.g. new guidance bulletin 3;
  • Logo on PDF programme promoting the one day training course;
  • Logo in the PowerPoint presentation delivered to delegates on the one day training course (planned: 9 courses per year, ~ 15 delegates per course);
  • Logo with URL to sponsoring organisation’s website on related pages on CL:AIRE website (approx 4 pages + event calendar pages promoting the DoWCoP training course);
  • A PDF personalised certificate of sponsorship; and
  • Trade press publicity from CL:AIRE press releases announcing the launch of DoWCoP version 3.


Sponsorship berths will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis; if this is of interest to your organisation we encourage you to register an expression of interest promptly with nick.willenbrock@claire.co.uk

CL:AIRE plans to run a DoWCoP related conference in 2013 which as well as providing information on the initiative and its use, will aim to raise further funds. Sponsorship opportunities will be made available relating to this event. Other large, one-off guidance documents might be developed throughout the lifetime of DoWCoP version 3. This agreement would not cover such ancillary documents. Sponsoring organisations will be kept appraised of developments relating to the initiative.

Below is a mock-up of the potential front cover of DoWCoP version 3 to give an indication of the level of coverage expected.

  1. Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme - expressions of interest closing soon

    Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme - expressions of interest closing soon

     April 2026
    Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced an Expression of Interest opportunity for the Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme (LRPS). LRPS is a £80 million pilot scheme funded by Defra...
  2. Publication of MCERTS performance standard for rapid measurement techniques for the chemical testing of soil

    Publication of MCERTS performance standard for rapid measurement techniques for the chemical testing of soil

     April 2026
    On 27 April, the Environment Agency published new guidance called MCERTS: performance standard for rapid measurement techniques for the chemical testing of soil. The guidance describes the certification process for rapid...
  3. The Environmental Monitoring & Measurement Achievement Awards (the EMMAs) - call for nominations from land remediation industry

    The Environmental Monitoring & Measurement Achievement Awards (the EMMAs) - call for nominations from land remediation industry

     April 2026
    The Environmental Monitoring & Measurement Achievement Awards (the EMMAs) will return to Birmingham this year with an expanded scope, recognising excellence within the geoenvironmental and land remediation sector for the...
  4. New CL:AIRE Research Bulletin (RB22) published on legacy wastes in the coastal zone

    New CL:AIRE Research Bulletin (RB22) published on legacy wastes in the coastal zone

     April 2026
    CL:AIRE is pleased to publish a new research bulletin RB22: Legacy Wastes in the Coastal Zone which is available to download here. Legacy Wastes in the Coastal Zone: Environmental Risks and Management...
  5. EPA Ireland consults on developing national guidance for brownfield soil and stone by-product material

     April 2026
    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland has published a position paper for consultation as part of the development of national guidance for brownfield soil and stone by-product material. The guidance...
  6. UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee publishes its PFAS report

    UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee publishes its PFAS report

     April 2026
    The UK Parliament Environmental Audit Committee has now published its report Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) following its inquiry and call for evidence in April 2025.
  7. National Brownfield Forum March 2026 meeting notes now published

    National Brownfield Forum March 2026 meeting notes now published

     April 2026
    The National Brownfield Forum March 2026 meeting notes have now been published and are available to download here.
  8. Defra consults on BNG and targeted exemptions for brownfield residential developments

    Defra consults on BNG and targeted exemptions for brownfield residential developments

     April 2026
    Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is consulting on a possible exemption from biodiversity net gain (BNG) for certain residential developments on brownfield land. Further information is available here.
  9. HSE launches consultation on Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)

    HSE launches consultation on Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)

     April 2026
    The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a consultation on the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) and it is now open for comments. The consultation seeks...
  10. Phase 2 of DoE Industry Profiles project is now complete

    Phase 2 of DoE Industry Profiles project is now complete

     March 2026
    A project to update 15 of the Department of Environment (DoE) series of 47 industry profiles has now finished with funding from the Environment Agency, Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental...
  11. Defra publishes Land Use Framework for England

    Defra publishes Land Use Framework for England

     March 2026
    Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the Land Use Framework for England. It sets out how England can use its land more effectively. The Framework has...
  12. CL:AIRE connects the industry: Bristol networking evening sets the scene for summer event

     March 2026
    CL:AIRE hosted another successful members' networking event, this time in Bristol at Racks Bar and Kitchen. The evening brought together professionals from across the sector for relaxed, informal conversation. CL:AIRE Members...
  13. Environment Agency publishes national groundwater nitrogen inventory for England

    Environment Agency publishes national groundwater nitrogen inventory for England

     March 2026
    The Environment Agency Chief Scientist's Group has published outputs from a research project: National groundwater nitrogen inventory for England (SC210008). The project developed and tested new approaches to assess national-scale...
  14. Defra consults on amendments to the POPs regulation 2026

    Defra consults on amendments to the POPs regulation 2026

     March 2026
    Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking views on proposed changes to the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation, including drafted legislation to prohibit five new POPs to...
  15. RBKC Lead Modelling Tool published on WALL

    RBKC Lead Modelling Tool published on WALL

     March 2026
    The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Lead (Pb) values and modelling tool has been made available for all to use on the CL:AIRE Water and Land Library (WALL).
  16. BSI publishes document on ecological soil functions

    BSI publishes document on ecological soil functions

     March 2026
    British Standards Institution (BSI) has recently published PD ISO/TS 18721:2026 Ecological soil functions - Characteristics, indicators and methods. Further information and purchase options available here.
  17. SoBRA publishes two new NAPL guidance documents

    SoBRA publishes two new NAPL guidance documents

     March 2026
    The Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment (SoBRA) has published two new documents from the Non Aqueous Phase Liquid (NAPL) Subgroup. NAPL Document 6 - Advice Towards Understanding the Potential for LNAPL...
  18. Assessing risks to controlled waters in relation to climate change: SoBRA publishes updated guidance

    Assessing risks to controlled waters in relation to climate change: SoBRA publishes updated guidance

     March 2026
    The Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment (SoBRA) has updated its 2022 document, Guidance on assessing risk to controlled waters from land contamination under conditions of future climate change, to align...
  19. GWSDAT v.3.3 released

    GWSDAT v.3.3 released

     March 2026
    The GroundWater Spatiotemporal Data Analysis Tool (GWSDAT) has been updated and v3.3 has been released. GWSDAT is an open source, user friendly software application for the visualisation and interpretation of...
  20. JRC supports recently published European soil monitoring law

    JRC supports recently published European soil monitoring law

     March 2026
    The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the science and knowledge service of the European Commission. The JRC has recently published a report on existing international and European standards relating...
  21. BSI publishes draft standard on ecological risk assessment of soil contamination (TRIAD approach) for comment

    BSI publishes draft standard on ecological risk assessment of soil contamination (TRIAD approach) for comment

     February 2026
    British Standards Institution (BSI) has published the draft International Standard Procedure for site-specific ecological risk assessment of soil contamination (soil quality TRIAD approach). Comments on the draft should be submitted...