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How To Dispose of Your Construction & Demolition Waste

heap of red broken bricks in construction area

Construction and demolition are integral parts of communities. Buildings are constantly being renovated or demolished to give way to newer buildings that fit a range of purposes. Road construction, bridges, dams, utility, plants, ships, rails, etc. also require construction and demolition. When new buildings and other engineering structures or constructions are made, construction and demolition materials are generated. These materials may include metal, wood, concrete, gypsum, plastic, glass, mortar, bricks, asphalt, plumbing fixtures, and plastic. 

As construction and demolition (C&D) materials are constantly in need with smaller buildings being replaced by newer ones to make way for greater housing demands and growth, waste removal becomes more complicated and a far larger job. 

demolition

Why Recycle Your Construction and Demolition Waste?

In 2018, there were more construction and demolition waste than municipal solid waste. According to the EPA, about 600 million tons of C&D were generated in 2018. However, a larger amount of this, up to 455 million tons, was reused, while about 145 million tons of C&D waste generated went to landfill. Up to 90% of all the C&D generated waste is from demolition while actual construction only represents about 10%. Although, more than 70% of the waste is directed for reuse, a mass of more than 100 million tons of concrete, mortar, metals, and other construction and demolition materials filling up our landfills is still quite unsustainable. 

Apart from landfill space, disposing of C&D materials with recycling and sustainability in mind, helps to:

  • Reduce the use of natural resources and raw materials, thereby reducing the environmental effect of resource exploitation.
  • In 2012, Over 175,000 jobs were created through the recycling of construction and demolition waste
  • Reduced building expense through onsite reuse of materials, avoiding the cost of junk hauling, transportation and disposal.
  • Donating recovered construction and demolition waste to qualified charities may also have tax benefits.

How To Manage C&D Waste – Disposal and Recycling Options


Reuse

Demolition with reuse in mind is one sustainable on handling C&D waste. This way, it goes straight back into the project, reduces your cost and it is environment friendly. C&D waste that can be reused includes doors, scrap wood and wood cutoffs, fixtures and appliances, crushed gypsum, brick, masonry, concrete, and packaging materials (this can also be returned to the producer), excess insulation (as noise-reducing material), and paint.

Donate

If there are construction and demolition materials on your project site that you can’t reuse, you can donate them. While they may be useless to you, some of these items can be donated to fix local shelters and charities. You may also get some tax benefits if you donate to a 501(c)(3) organization.

Recycling

You can also make sure that these materials are recycled. For example, some wood can be recycled into engineered wood or mulch etc, rubber and concrete can be recycled into aggregate while metals can be recycled to make new metal etc. Although it’s important to note that donating or recycling may require transporting to a Construction and demolition waste recycling facility or to the donation center. You can also use professional junk hauling services or a waste disposal expert. Dimension can help you out here. Sometimes, it is possible to sell scrap demolition waste to people who recycle them, so you can always ask about that.

yellow and black striped

Disposing of Hazardous Construction and Demolition Waste

Your state may have regulations on how to dispose of hazardous construction and demolition materials. These hazardous waste materials may include paint or varnish leftovers, adhesives, resins, oils, drums, and their containers, lead-based paint, utility poles, treated wood, and materials with asbestos or mercury. 

Materials containing mercury may include thermometers, cathode ray tubes, old paint, smoke detectors, neon or mercury vapor lamps, fluorescent lamps, emergency lights, coal conveyor systems, exit signs, and security systems. 


Step 1: always separate them from the other C&D waste

Step 2: Don’t crush the mercury-containing materials e.g thermometers, and lamps

Step 3: Store separately in a labelled and properly sealed bin

Step 4: Take to a mercury recycling facility or consolidation site or contact a professional waste disposal expert. 


Also, Collect materials with lead or lead-based products separately in a bin, bag or box and hire a professional disposal expert to dispose of them. These materials may include some paint chips, dirt or dust. 

For asbestos construction waste materials which have been used for insulation and resistance properties in roofs, floor coverings, shingles and cement, they must also be separated from other waste and thrown in a tightly sealed container or bag. A professional junk hauling service provider can also help to dispose of this responsibly. Dimension can help you here. 

interior of house during construction

Hiring a Professional Waste Disposal Expert for Your Construction and Demolition Waste

Correct recycling and controlling your waste stream can lead to lower costs and less waste, and like commercial waste, an easy way to ensure correct recycling and disposal of your construction and demolition is to leave it to the waste removal experts.

Dimension can help you out here! Not sure how to responsibly manage the daily stream of waste from your grocery store, restaurant, facility or other business? Give us a call, and we’ll get to it!

Start your commercial recycling strategy today!

Many offices and C&D companies do not properly utilize the tons of waste materials and waste streams that they produce. Dimension will go further than other junk removal services and make sure that your business becomes a part of the solution, not the problem.

Why choose Dimension for your commercial junk removal?

Dimension specializes in waste recycling of all kinds. Most people don’t realize just how much of their waste can be recycled, leading to poor management of materials that impact not only the environment but also the bottom lines. Everything from concrete to gypsum, cement and wood —even scrap metals—can be recycled.

Dimension is here to ensure your construction and demolition business is sustainable, adaptable and environmentally friendly.

  • Waste management and waste removal on demand.
  • A comprehensive and nationwide presence.
  • Fully sustainable solution.
Rethink your commercial recycling today! Our expert team are ready to:
  • Boost your bottom line.
  • Identify lifetime opportunities for savings.
  • Develop waste disposal strategies that are kind to the environment, your community and your business.

Get in touch with the Dimension team now, and we’ll talk you through a tailored, sustainable construction and demolition waste disposal and recycling plan that will save you time and money, and help you run a planet-friendly, sustainable business.

We are a team of professionals, and we preach responsibility and compliance in waste disposal. We know how best to handle your C&D waste and make sure it is disposed of, composted and recycled sustainably.

What’s more? We don’t only handle C&D waste disposal; we can help with other items you don’t need, including commercial waste handling, plastic disposal, mattress pickup, couch removal, furniture removal, cardboard recycling, appliance disposal, etc. And unlike most waste disposal/  junk removal companies, we are very affordable.

Give us a call today!

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