Construction waste is made up of scraps from the construction and demolition industries. A building site cannot run without producing waste, but it is possible to reduce the quantity of waste that ends up in landfills. Before disposing of anything, all businesses are obligated by law to REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE.
With 330,000 new homes produced in the UK over the last ten years, it’s no surprise that the construction industry consumes 400 million tons of natural resources each year. Although 100 million tones of waste are generated, it is believed that 93 percent of this is recovered and reused.
The tactics employed to maintain these high standards of construction waste management are reinforced in this guide.
All businesses have a responsibility to appropriately dispose of their garbage. The Environmental Agency enforces this, and failing to comply can result in a substantial punishment as well as damage to your company’s reputation.
Types of construction waste
Construction waste can be divided into three categories building materials, demolition waste, hazardous waste.
Building materials
As the name implies, building material waste is generated during the construction and renovation of buildings and other structures. Unused or broken building materials such as wood, drywall, bricks, wiring, and nails are the most common sources of construction trash.
Demolition waste
All of the debris from a demolition activity is classified as demolition waste. It typically includes both hazardous materials (most notably asbestos) and construction materials such as concrete, metal, wood, glass, and tiles. While hazardous demolition debris must be handled with care and disposed of properly, non-hazardous demolition waste is recyclable waste and frequently recycled or utilised at a later stage of the project.
Hazardous waste
All processed materials and residual supplies that contain dangerous compounds are classified as hazardous waste. Hazardous construction trash includes asbestos, specially treated wood, leftover paint, adhesives, and other chemicals (and their containers, due to remaining contamination). Dredging materials from contaminated locations (such as the demolition of an industrial structure) can also be classified as hazardous waste and must be properly disposed of.
Before beginning any building or demolition project, it’s critical to identify the types of waste that will be generated, determine recycling alternatives, and devise waste handling and disposal strategies.
How To Dispose of Construction Waste Safely?
Building material waste disposal
Building materials waste can frequently be repurposed on-site rather than disposed of. Reusing or recycling construction materials is not only beneficial to the environment by reducing trash sent to landfills and minimize the clearance cost.
Unused materials in good shape, such as paint, wood, and nails, maybe repurposed for future tasks instead of acquiring new ones. Concrete, for example, can be crushed and reused, but steel and other metals can be melted down and reformed.
Any building waste that cannot be reused on-site can be placed in a container and picked up by a waste management company, or sent to a landfill or recycling centre.
Demolition waste disposal
Demolition trash, like building waste materials, may often be recycled. Sorting demolition debris for recycling can take some time, but it can save money and is healthier for the environment than sending it to a garbage facility unsorted.
Hazardous elements, most notably asbestos, can be found in demolition debris, necessitating careful treatment and disposal to avoid negative health impacts. Follow all applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction when managing and disposing of asbestos—or any other hazardous demolition debris—and, if necessary, hire a professional specialist or waste disposal business.
Hazardous construction waste disposal
Whether it’s asbestos-containing materials or a stray can of paint, hazardous construction waste must be stored, handled, and disposed of carefully to protect employees and the environment. Hazardous waste disposal techniques vary by material and must be done in compliance with local legislation; failure to follow these rules can result in large fines, project delays, and other penalties.
This is how you can dispose of your building waste. You should ask the help of experts in this field like London Rubbish Removal while removing the building in order to do it in a better way.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you dispose of non-hazardous construction waste?
The following are the best and safest ways to dispose of non-hazardous construction waste:
- Donate any construction materials that you no longer need
- Construction Waste Reuse or Recycling
- Construction Waste Landfilling
2. How to dispose of asbestos-based construction waste?
Asbestos has been frequently employed in the construction industry for building insulation and resistance. It’s found in things like resilient flooring, shingles, roofing, and cement.
Asbestos waste needs to be properly stored in leak-proof containers. It’s packed up and taken to an approved disposal facility. Some asbestos trash falls into a regulated category, while others do not.
Asbestos that is not controlled can be disposed of in landfills alongside other demolition material.