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Tips on How to Manage Construction Site Waste

Construction sites can be a huge mess. It’s easy for things to get out of control between the lumber, nails, bricks, and other materials. Accumulated waste is not only an eyesore, but it can also lead to safety hazards.

We’re talking about packaging, scraps, old doors and windows, tiles, and many other things you’re throwing away.

Managing construction site waste is important to avoid fines and protect the environment and workers. Luckily, there are several ways in which you can do this.

Make a Plan

There are different types of waste, and sorting them out is necessary to make waste management easier. For instance, the liquid needs to be collected separately, especially hazardous.

Also, you should know what goes where so it’s easier to process refuse at the end of your project. You can do this by making a plan that includes details such as:

  • What types of waste exist, and where they are coming from;
  • How you intend to collect and sort them;
  • Which containers you’ll use or if recycling stations will be placed around the site;
  • Who is responsible for managing and keeping track of all this information.

Consider Reusing and Recycling

Another thing to keep in mind is not to just throw everything away. Instead, think of alternatives such as giving away leftover wood and bricks, so you can use them later on or sell them. You can also consider reusing some materials for the next job, such as old doors and windows.

Likewise, recycling unused materials is always an option. For example, old wood can be reused to make fences, while tiles and bricks can be crushed and reused as construction material.

If it’s within your area’s regulations, you should also consider dropping off large appliances such as washing machines or refrigerators at the recycling center. Even things that seem useless, such as wood scraps or old doors, can be reused for something else if you search hard enough.

Use a Rental Service

If you’re managing a large construction site, you might not have time to worry about collecting and segregating garbage. In this case, using a rental service is the best way of doing things. You can choose according to your needs and requirements and get in touch with them through their website or phone number.

Rental companies will send specialized employees who know how to deal with everything and take care of it all. All you need is to call the company near you to decide on the dumpster size and schedule.

Professional companies like Redbox+ in North Central Ohio will help you manage construction site waste promptly so your project can finish smoothly without any clean-up problems.

Don’t Let Waste Accumulate

It’s best to make arrangements with your waste management company ahead of time. Trash usually accumulates quickly, so they may be full or closed by the time you decide to call them.

Don’t let this happen. Instead, inform them that you’re starting a construction site beforehand and arrange a schedule for their collection day.

It’s best to do this before you start the project because accumulated trash is much easier to sort through, recycle, or reuse. Plus, you may also get a penalty for accumulating waste on-site.

Separate Your Waste

Another factor to consider is how to separate your waste. You can do this on-site by creating different containers for each type of trash you produce on-site. You can use bins or bags, depending on the amount of refuse you’ll have daily.

You could also hire a waste management company to pick up certain materials separately. This is even more advisable when transporting large quantities of materials somewhere else to recycle them or dispose of them properly.

Identify Hazardous Waste

By law, some things are considered hazardous. Therefore, identifying them is crucial to protecting the environment and public health.

Common examples include chemical or toxic materials that can be dangerous if mishandled. You should call your local government office to get more information about this type of waste because procedures might vary depending on where you are.

Hazardous waste usually requires special disposal, so you should hire a specialized company to eliminate it. Dumpster rental companies know about this and can often advise you on proper recycling or reuse methods.

Reduce Packaging

Typically, construction sites produce lots of packaging material. This includes wood frames for the walls, plastic sheets and foils to insulate them, and metal meshes used for reinforcement.

It’s a good idea to try and reduce this beforehand. For example, you can ask your supplier if it’s possible to deliver materials without packaging.

If your supplier is too far away or doesn’t have an option for this, you can also reduce the amount of packaging at your site. For instance, instead of using large sheets of foil to insulate walls, use small pieces wrapped around them to save material and resources.

Choose Deconstruction

Another thing you can do is hire a contractor for deconstruction and construction. Deconstruction refers to the process of taking apart old materials so you can reuse them for a different project or sell small pieces as scrap.

In this case, you have to think ahead and tell everyone who’s working on your site to preserve certain materials for deconstruction. It can be either challenging or easy, depending on the type of structure.

For instance, you’d better choose old walls built with bricks and tiles that can easily be broken down instead of large beams made of metal that are harder to tear apart. It would also help assign specific workers to take apart certain materials.

Buy Local and Sustainable

When buying new materials, make sure they’re local and sustainable. However, there might be no options for these in your area, so you’ll have to buy from a factory. In this case, you can still look for options that use recycled materials or come from sustainable forests. This way, you won’t contribute to deforesting or polluting the planet.

If it’s possible, make sure your supplier is an environmentally-friendly company with a sustainable business model. This way, you can support green initiatives and reduce waste in your area at the same time.

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