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While undertaking a construction project comes with its benefits, you have to deal with debris lying on the site once the project is complete. It can be tricky to remove the debris once the construction, remodeling, or demolition is done if you don’t know where to start.
Construction waste materials pose a huge risk to the environment in various ways. The debris may result in air pollution once dust spreads to the atmosphere. They can also leach toxic chemicals like cobalt, mercury, and lead into water bodies.
Removing the leftover debris by yourself can prove time-consuming and costly. That’s because drywall, tiling, steel, wood, and concrete can all be extremely difficult to lift off a site.
Finding an efficient and eco-friendly debris removal service is thus crucial. The service should assure you of prompt pickup and disposal of the waste once you’re done with the construction. But before the debris removers arrive, here are ways to prepare yourself for the service:
- Plan Ahead
Create a debris removal plan before the waste handlers get to your construction site. The plan will help you get organized, minimize mistakes and reduce the amount of wasted materials wasted.
Write a list of materials you use that are highly likely to become waste. You should also figure out how waste generation will vary at different phases of your construction project. The plan should help you identify how waste will be handled and stored before the waste handlers collect it.
As you plan ahead, designate waste management responsibilities among your workforce. Clearly state the protocols they should follow to ensure the debris removal process is smooth. You should also factor in worker and environmental safety in the plans to prevent damages.
- Think About Waste Reduction Strategies
The construction debris removal process will only be efficient if you reduce the amount of waste produced. Adopt waste reduction strategies to help you spend less on debris collection and transportation costs.
Carefully manage the construction materials to prevent them from being in surplus or damaged. Employ selective demolition methods when undertaking a demolition project to reduce waste. You should also plan to recycle and reuse materials in the later stages of your project, if possible.
- Carry out Regular Waste Audits
If you are running a long-term project, conduct waste audits regularly as the project progresses. The audits will help you determine whether your construction subcontractors comply with waste reduction protocols and strategies. Using the outcomes of the audits, you can tweak your debris removal plan to fit the changes on the project.
Before running a waste audit on your construction site, have a clear objective and vision. You should also get the appropriate equipment (internal collection equipment or containers given by your waste handler) for auditing waste. Sort the waste by category and analyze the findings frequently.
A waste audit can help you identify new opportunities for reuse or recycling that you previously overlooked. It will serve as a survey of the regular waste stream of your construction site. Use it to identify discarded items and recyclable items. The audit can give you the amounts of each type of waste by volume or weight.
- Embrace Recycling
Place recycling bins strategically on your construction site to minimize waste. Train your workers on sustainable waste recycling practices for the containers to be put to good use.
Examples of recyclable construction debris include concrete, brick, cardboard, and gravel. You can also recycle asphalt, metal, paper, and drywall, provided they are in great shape.
Your workers should wear personal protective clothing when handling recyclable items to prevent injury or contamination. They should also store the items in a place where they are safe from harsh weather conditions.
You can recycle wood into engineered-wood items such as compost and furniture. Metals like brass, copper, and steel can also be recycled and used in different metalwork activities. If you can’t recycle the items by yourself, ask the debris remover to do it for you.
- Organize the Construction Site
Organizing your construction site will help reduce debris removal mistakes. Clearly label your waste containers and separate them from the recycling ones to prevent confusion. Your workers will be more productive on a worksite that is organized and save more money in the long run.
Create a roadmap for the construction project to guide you through the processes and materials used. You should also use the latest construction tools and keep daily checklists for the tools. The construction site should have space to maneuver and store debris awaiting removal.
Train your employees on basic site segregation methods and use rewards or incentives to track their progress. Your construction site’s layout should factor in health, productivity, and safety for the best outcomes.
- Designate Debris Management Responsibilities
When hiring subcontractors for your construction project, you should inform them about their responsibilities. They should be aware of their duties with respect to managing debris on the construction site. Depending on the employment contract, you may require them to outsource debris removal help or handle the work by themselves.
Either way, you should clearly communicate all protocols and duties to ensure that construction debris is removed from your site safely. Ensure that the subcontractors adhere with the protocols to improve worker safety, adherence to waste management regulations, and efficiency.
Hold your subcontractors accountable for any tasks you assign to them. Clearly state the due dates and descriptions of the tasks and ask them to update you with the progress made. If they fail to deliver, feel free to terminate their contract and hire another team.
Looking for Construction Debris Removal Services?
From this guide, it’s clear that construction junk can clog your worksite and become a safety hazard. With the help of a construction debris removal company, it’s easier to deal with the waste on the site and reduce your risk of worksite-related injury. You also get to conserve the planet’s finite natural resources and reduce the energy needed to haul and process waste.
We handle different types of construction junk and recycle most of the items collected from active construction sites to conserve the environment. Let us know exactly what you’d like recycled or disposed of. Contact us for more information.
