How Is Builders Waste Disposed
- Posted by:
- Admin
- Tags:
- Posted date:
- 11-11-2021
How is builders waste disposed of? This article looks at the ways to safely dispose of waste materials found from a building site.
HOW IS BUILDERS WASTE DISPOSED?
Across the UK, over 200 million tonnes of waste are produced every year. Of this total, construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) make up just over 60 million tonnes. This number has been decreasing lately, but there are more steps to be done in waste management on a construction or demolition site.
Read this article if you're interested in learning about the types of builders waste and how they can be best reused and recycled.
Why is Construction Waste Management Important?
Not only do construction sites make up a large percentage of the overall waste that is thrown away annually, but they can host a variety of materials that are wanted by others and recyclable.
If you're leading a construction site, you're legally obligated to clear the site and provide proper waste disposal methods, with a plan to recycle and reuse what materials you can.
Most wood, plastic, and glass from demolition or construction can be reused and crushed into other products for future use. You can also find yourself saving money by reusing materials, and any removal costs won't be needed to take them off-site to be recycled.
A large portion of construction sites also deals with hazardous waste, which, if not properly managed, can cause damage to people or the environment. Water and soil pollution can occur or potentially kill animals who eat near the hazardous material.
This is why it's important to manage construction waste disposal and have a clear plan for any recycling.
What is classed as builders' waste?
Although there are crossovers with domestic and commercial builders waste, there are differences between the type of materials and amount produced.
Builders waste, or construction waste, is any surplus material produced by a construction or demolition job. As buildings are destroyed, a large amount of wood, glass, plastic, and metal are thrown aside, alongside any hazardous materials such as asbestos.
Some of these materials can be reused and recycled or crushed down to be used as future aggregate in fillings. Surplus concrete, mortar, ferrous and non-ferrous metal can prove more challenging to recycle and repurpose, though.
The same can be said for soil in projects that are digging up for foundations, as the soil can generally be useless and priceless to the particular company, so it's easier to throw away than sell on.
Some common types of builders waste are:
- Bricks, Slabs, and concrete
- Plaster and Plasterboard
- Insulation
- Soil and sand
- Wood
- Cables and wiring
- Old bathroom suites
- Old kitchen fittings
How is builders waste disposed of?
Already taking up a lot of landfill space, it's important to dispose of builders waste in a more environmentally friendly manner, so this doesn't become a bigger problem. Landfill should be the last option for a construction company, not the first thing they consider.
When it comes to non-hazardous materials, this can have a wide range. Wood, which can come from roof beams, window frames, etc., can be recycled or reused. Some businesses pride themselves on creating furniture from repurposed wood, which is why it's important to reuse what materials you can.
When working on a construction site, the goal should be to preserve as many original materials as possible, not simply strip them and toss them. The same can be done with glass from windows, as this can be reused or crushed into aggregates.
Plastic, metal, and even some other fabrics can be reused and recycled more easily. Larger objects such as furniture should be preserved and donated or sold to a second-hand seller, as these can be repurposed by someone else.
Hazardous materials can still have a broad scope and can contain aerosol cans, batteries, and fluorescent bulbs, among other things.
These cannot be thrown away with similar materials and sometimes require a professional to extract the needed minerals. For example, the copper, steel, and zinc within a battery can be useful, but the lithium-acid within can prove deadly to animals and people if left alone.
Disposing of builders waste takes planning. If you're not fulfilling your role and thinking up plans for proper recycling, then you're liable for a large fine. You have to think about it creatively and realise that someone, somewhere, will want most materials.
If you can sort through and separate different types of plastic before recycling them, that can speed up the process. If a tool dies on-site and is broken beyond repair, it doesn't have to be thrown away with the rubbish. It can be welded and perhaps become a decorative piece in someone's garden, for example. Everything has a potential purpose.
How To Dispose Of Your Rubble And Building Waste
Of course, rubble and building waste can prove more challenging to move around and recycle, especially more so than a pane of glass or plastic tubing. They can still be dealt with.
However, bricks, plasterboard, cement, and other rubble can be reused and recycled for future purposes. Some recycling centres can take in large amounts of construction waste, so it's worth seeing what's in your area.
There's been a boom recently in people wanting and requesting old and worn construction waste. Rubble, bricks, any tiles, or ceramics are all being used in DIY projects. For this reason, construction sites can donate or sell their unwanted rubble to those who can use them for decorative or restoration means.
Old bricks, even those that are chipped but otherwise in good condition, are still wanted and used in renovating properties. They can also be used to create a more rustic look in outdoor spaces, creating pathways and paving slabs.
There are options to recycle even bigger items of rubble and waste, such as concrete, bricks, and ceramics, if they are in too bad a condition to reuse or donate. Most of these items can be crushed and used as coarse aggregate in filler materials; there's a use for most materials beyond throwing them away.
Of course, any construction site will produce standard recycling such as glass, plastic, and cardboard. These can also be recycled as normal by separating the materials and putting them into their corresponding bins. Some businesses can collect and deliver your recycling to the correct plant for a fee for larger quantities, which may be more ideal for construction sites.
The main step when disposing of builders waste is to separate everything and decide how it will get to the recycling plant. If you're demolishing an entire property, too much waste will be put into the bins and can take more time to deal with normally. This may require a hired skip or a Hippobag.
Hippobags are becoming popular options among the construction community, as they can hold a large amount of waste. Each bag can hold approximately 1 or 1.5 tonnes, meaning that the waste produced can be easily handled and managed.
Skips can be bigger and more expensive to hire and may not fit on the property. They need to be a certain size, and if they are going on the road, then a permit will be required. Hippobags navigate around most of these problems with ease, as you're able to bring the bags closer to the property and have a lot more of them. Certain bags can be for certain materials, and waste management becomes a lot more efficient on-site.
If you'd like further advice or want to hire our clearing and waste removal services, then get in touch today. We're available over the phone or email and have the experience to match whatever sized project you're working on.
Get in touch today if you have any builders waste that needs collecting and disposed of correctly in Maidstone and Kent. Our experience and professionalism can help alleviate any stress or concerns you have concerning wastage.