Two major contributors of waste in landfills are demolition and construction. Some construction companies have a waste management plan that complies with waste disposal rules and regulations.
However, some businesses don’t. Instead, they take the easier route and dispose of demolition waste in landfills. This method is not ideal, considering landfills are already working at max capacity.
But have you ever thought about how to dispose of demolition waste properly? Probably not!
Should You Dispose of, Recycle, or Reuse Demolition Waste and Debris?
Depending on their state, demolition waste can sometimes be recycled or reused. These include plastics, paper, cardboard, roofing, doors, windows, masonry, etc.
On the other hand, other types of demolition waste can affect the environment and our health.
For example, plasterboard can release harmful chemicals like hydrogen sulfide when it is dumped in a landfill.
So, the best approach to handle such a dangerous compound is to dispose of it completely.
Types of Demolition Waste
You must properly manage and dispose of the waste products produced at excavation, demolition, and construction sites.
That said, most building, demolition, and excavation waste products are inert. This includes concrete, bricks, asphalt, stones, and soil.
Listed below are a few common waste products generated at a demolition site:
- Ceramics, cement, tiles, bricks, concrete, and porcelain
- Plastic and glass
- Asbestos and insulation materials
- Metallic waste
- Dredging, stones, soil
- Sealants and adhesives
- Mercury and lead-containing materials
- Pallets, particleboard, and plywood
In the end, knowing what type of waste products your construction/demolition company generates is vital.
It allows you to separate materials properly. As a result, this enables waste disposers to safely and properly remove waste products from the demolition site.
Tips To Dispose Of Demolition Waste and Debris Properly
If you plan to do a demolition project, you’re bound to generate tons of waste. Consider the pollutants and dangerous materials like lead, solvents, adhesives, and cables you will produce.
These are just a handful of hazardous waste items generated at a demolition site. So, on that note, here are a few tips to safely and properly dispose of demolition waste!
Sort and Salvage What You Can
Sorting out demolition waste is one of the first tasks to complete after starting a demolition project. So, identify which waste products should be recycled and which should be thrown away.
In order to get started, rent skip bins in your locality and label them accordingly. Here are a few ways to label your skip bins:
- For Review: Items you’re unsure about recycling, reusing, or disposing of.
- Non-toxic waste materials: Items that don’t threaten the environment but aren’t reusable.
- Hazardous waste materials: Waste that can be hazardous to the health and environment.
- Reusable waste materials: Waste materials that can be reused for other projects.
Recycle and Reuse
According to proper waste management guidelines, you should prioritize waste reduction, recycling, and reuse.
After sorting through waste products, you should safely dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Separately, the reusable items and those that need to be reviewed should be kept aside.
Materials, light bulbs, sinks, worktops, doors, and roof tiles can be kept for other projects.
This will help you save a significant amount of money. Moreover, you’ll also save yourself the headache of purchasing new materials.
Hire a Professional Demolition Waste Removal Company
Once you’ve finished your final sorting, properly dispose of the leftover waste products.
With the help of a professional waste disposal company, you can dispose of waste that cannot be reused or recycled.
Calling ahead of time and informing them of the type of waste products you have would be wise. Hiring a professional waste disposal company can cost a pretty penny.
However, it’s worthwhile since you’re protecting yourself from the inconvenience and potential risks of dealing with toxic waste materials.
Furthermore, ensure that you hire a licensed waste disposal company to avoid compliance issues. These companies know where all the official waste disposal sites are.
Plus, they have the tools and equipment to collect and dispose of demolition waste safely.
Rent Skip Bins
As mentioned earlier, skip bins are extremely effective for sorting and disposing of demolition waste. Furthermore, you also have to decide where to situate your skip bins.
Depending on your choice, you might need to acquire a skip permit from the local or state authorities.
Typically, there are three types of skip bins available for rent:
- Maxi Skip Bins: A maxi skip measures around 12 cubic yards and can hold 90-130 bin bags. These are typically used for larger projects.
- Large Skip Bins: These measure around eight cubic yards and can hold 60-86 bin bags.
- Small Skip Bins: These measure around six cubic yards and can hold 45-60 bin bags.
Give It Away To Charities and Recycling Organizations
Donate waste products that can’t be reused to recycling organizations or charities. The age-old saying “One man’s trash is the next man’s treasure” is true for this situation.
Thus, getting in touch with these groups and asking what types of waste products they accept would be wise.
You can also inquire if they will pick it up from your demolition site or if you need to transport it yourself.
In addition, you can contact local or state governments if you don’t know about such organizations and charities.
They usually have a list of organizations and charities that accept waste products as donations.
Lastly, you can also inquire from your local or state government about their dump days. This project encourages companies to bring in their waste for proper disposal.
In fact, you can also give away waste products for free to anyone if they choose to accept them. Or sell them for a low price. The possibilities are endless here!
Hold a Garage Sale
Making some extra cash by selling your demolition waste is a wise thing to do. However, ensure that you’ve disassembled all products, so people remain interested.
You can sell salvaged items such as working toilets, door hinges, knobs, light bulbs, etc. Trust us. People are always looking for a good deal on household items.
And they are willing to pay top dollar for used goods and items. Although this might not help you make much money, it is better than throwing stuff away.
Benefits of Demolition Waste Management
Listed below are a few benefits of proper waste management:
It improves Company-Wide Awareness
Safe, environmentally friendly waste management techniques should be of the utmost priority.
This way, your employees feel obliged to use similar techniques in other areas of their professional and personal lives.
It Improves Your Company’s Reputation
Companies contributing to environmental efforts gain a good reputation, enhancing customer-client relationships.
It also opens doors for you to work on government-funded projects that frequently have waste management guidelines.
It Increases Corporate Responsibility
Managing demolition waste properly will allow you to reduce the amount of waste you generate. It also ensures that waste products get handled properly after leaving the demolition site.
Doing so reduces the energy needed to transport and reprocess waste while preserving our planet’s natural resources.
It Reduces Costs
Multiple techniques exist that help cut costs through proper demolition waste management. Reusing materials will cut expenses and avoid double charges.
After all, you won’t have to pay for new materials if you recycle and reuse demolition waste.
It Ensures High Safety and Health Standards
Workforce members and the general public will be safeguarded from mishaps by proper waste treatment and separation.
You’ll stop things from being placed in unsuitable locations. For instance, demolition waste management avoids trips and falls in accident-prone areas.
It Helps Maintain Compliance
Anyone who generates, imports, exports, transports, and treats waste is subject to EPA waste disposal guidelines.
Therefore, proper disposal is a must to maintain compliance. It allows your company to avoid unnecessary fines and penalties.
Things to Consider When Hiring a Demolition Waste Disposal Company
There are plenty of demolition waste disposal companies. However, hiring the right one can be a challenge on its own.
With that in mind, here are a few things to consider when hiring professional demolition waste disposers.
- Ensure the waste disposal company provides reliable service. Furthermore, ask them if they will give you a service agreement.
- Cost is another critical thing to consider when searching for professional waste disposers. Visit the company’s website and ask for a quotation before putting pen to paper.
- You also have to consider where the company disposes of your demolition waste. So, before hiring anyone, ensure they dispose of waste products responsibly.
- Ensure that the demolition waste disposers are doing their part in conserving the environment.
- Ensure that the demolition waste disposal company provides top-notch customer service. You wouldn’t want to be kept on hold for hours. This is especially the case during emergencies.
- Lastly, don’t forget to look at customer testimonials and reviews. You can judge a company’s service quality by looking at what other people have to say.
Aftermath of Illegal Waste Disposal
The illegal disposal of rubbish may be punished with a hefty fine or perhaps jail time. According to the EPA, you are subject to thousands of dollars in fines when dumping waste illegally.
The maximum fine for providing false information concerning waste disposal is 250,000 dollars. Similarly, the fine for an individual is around 120,000 dollars.
Wrapping Up
As a demolition contractor, your waste is your responsibility! What you decide to do with it will decide how responsible you are.
If you dump it wherever you like, you’ll probably be subject to hefty fines. Furthermore, you’ll end up damaging the ecosystem.
So, be more responsible about the waste you generate and ensure you handle it properly. In the end, follow the tips mentioned in this article and you’ll be good to go!
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