If you’re currently planning a home renovation or home building endeavor, there are a number of factors and conditions to consider. Having the right budget, materials, and workforce – with all these construction ingredients, most owners often forget one of the most essential things; proper waste management.
Home construction can be a messy process. Between the lumber, drywall, and other materials that are used, there is a lot of waste that can accumulate. If not managed properly, this waste can create environmental and safety hazards. In this blog post, we ought to explore some tips for waste management in your home construction/renovation.
By following these tips, you can help minimize the amount of waste produced during the building process, and keep your job site safe and clean! But before that, it is important to be aware of the kinds of waste which may arise in the process.
What Are the Different Types of Construction Waste?
Construction sites, in particular, produce a wide range of waste that you must handle and dispose of properly. Concrete, bricks, stones, and dirt are the most common inorganic waste materials, but you will almost certainly generate a variety of different kinds.
Other common home-building wastes include:
- Soil and dredging
- Ceramics
- Paints, thinners, coatings, and varnishes
- Metals and wood
- Plastic and glass
- Tar and other bituminous mixtures
- Waste from insulation
- Sealants and adhesives
It is of utmost importance to know what type of waste can your construction process produce, most of which can be recycled, reused, and/or salvaged.
Here are waste management tips you must consider when building your home:
Plan for less waste
Make a concrete building plan before you dive into the job. Many mistakes are avoided as a result of better management, resulting in less waste on your construction site.
- Practice proper measurement of all materials you are going to need so that you will know exactly their right amounts. Proceed to precisely what you need.
- Check your inventory on a regular basis so you can see what you currently have and what you’ll need. Don’t overspend.
- Make sure to account for any construction site waste while preparing the project. On-site, have reuse and recycle bins.
- Before the project begins, determine which materials can be reused and recycled. Make sure that all the personnel know how to segregate the trash into reusable or not, as it is generated.
Deconstruction over Demolition
A “low-impact” tear down rather than one big, full-blown demolition will allow you to recover materials for reuse, resulting in less waste during construction. Residue from broken windows and other building materials, as well as the plumbing fixtures and ceiling tiles, can be traded to salvage businesses.
Deconstruction is also more ecologically beneficial. It cuts the amount of heavy dust released into the air and poisonous metals that seep into the earth during demolition. Because more items are saved when a building or home is renovated, you are also sending a reduced amount of rubbish to landfills.
Deconstruction can even save you money, given that it can provide you with reusable and recyclable materials.
Reuse what you can
Tossing all of your waste in a construction dumpster to be sent to a landfill isn’t always the best option; try reusing or giving it a new purpose instead.
- Using materials in excellent working order, as well as in other portions of the job or another project
- Before you create additional trash, check your reuse pile. When you cut a long log just to obtain a short piece, don’t forget there are plenty of short pieces available. So if you can spare not only cutting additional pieces but electricity necessary to power your cutting tool- an angle grinder for example. Further, you won’t dull the CBN grinding wheels you’d use with the grinder and save them for other works.
- Wood that has been sliced and chipped can be used as mulch if it isn’t stained or painted.
Engage in Donation
Some items from a renovation project may still be useful. As a result, you don’t have to cart away all of the things you take out of your home. Considering that some items are still in good working conditions and you don’t need them anymore, another family may be able to benefit from them. Teak these to donation centers.
Donations are accepted at donation centers, which range from old kitchen appliances to light fixtures and anything else that may be reused in construction projects. Remember to call the nearest center before dropping your rubbish.
Handling hazardous wastes
Another way to reduce waste is to properly dispose of hazardous materials. This includes things like leftover paint, solvents, and pesticides.
Recycle what can’t be reused
Work on implementing a plan on recycling certain building wastes. A recycling bin for employees to toss scraps will assist you reduce the amount of items you throw in your dumpster and the waste your staff generates. On a job, items like sinks, baths, and worktops can be placed in the recycle bin.
Landfills
You can also consider taking your trash to the rubbish pit. Make sure you put your trash in the right container before bringing it to the landfill. Landfills have specific locations for big appliances, so remember to bring them there. Because of this, acquire all the details you need from your local landfill.
Let a rental dumpster take care of the rest
It is important to have a waste management plan in place before starting your project. This plan should include where the waste will be stored, how it will be disposed of, and who is responsible for managing it. By creating a framework, you can ensure that waste is managed properly from the start of your project, and avoid any potential hazards.
For all the things you can’t reuse, donate or recycle, a roll-off dumpster is the most efficient disposal option, saving you valuable time and labor. You can approach authorities who can responsibly provide you with a dumpster and can haul it away from you, at the very same time.
Guys in the waste management company, Redbox+ can be a concrete ally in this. They can immediately put you up for a deal, swiftly deliver the dumpster, and can take the rubbish off of your hands in no time. They can add a portable toilet to the deal for your perusal on the site.
Benefits of proper waste management:
- Can lower expenses. Appropriate waste management can reduce costs in several ways. By reusing supplies, you’ll save money and avoid duplicate expenditures, which is when a material goes to waste before being removed.
- Setting health and safety standards. Waste disposal and segregation will keep employees and visitors safe. You’ll prevent the trash from ending up in places where it isn’t supposed to be; where they could strike someone or become a trip hazard, for example.
- Securing awareness. If you practice safe, long-term waste management procedures while working, you are more likely to apply them to other areas of your job and even your personal life.
- Fulfilling your social responsibility. Managing waste will enable you to limit how much you generate and dispose of, as well as ensure that it is effectively handled after it has been taken away from your property. This will reduce the energy needed to transport and reprocess waste while also conserving our planet’s natural resources.
- Compliance. It is a legal requirement to properly manage your junk during any construction project. Doing so will save you from the reprimand of authorities. Furthermore, it can set a good picture for your reputation.
By following these tips and acknowledging the benefits, you can help to reduce the amount of waste produced during your home construction project. Waste management is an important part of any construction project, and by taking steps to minimize such, you can help protect the environment and keep your job site safe. Now, what are you waiting for? Consider these and get your project rolling!