Waste management is a major concern especially for those involved in the construction business, given the nature and quantum of the waste generated. A majority of construction businesses are still unaware about the benefits and process of recycling construction waste.
The waste management industry is constantly evolving and is revamping waste handling and disposal systems to meet the complex nature of waste management today. Thanks to technological evolution there is a wide range of recycling equipment available to suit the waste management needs of construction business. Let’s take a look at the benefits of recycling and how those associated with construction business can transform their waste management scenario.
Why Recycle Construction Debris?
The benefits of recycling construction debris are powerful and many. Let’s take a look at some of the important ones:
- You can reduce the disposal and transportation costs of your construction waste by recycling or reusing it because disposing waste often requires more energy and money than recycling it
- Recycling helps save immense amount of energy by curtailing the consumption of fast-depleting natural resources required to manufacture new products. So recycle and repurpose your leftovers.
- Landfill spaces are fast-depleting. Besides, leaving a lot of waste to landfill adds to your expenses. Recycling helps keep the waste away from being dumped into landfills. Also, recycled products are an entire industry in themselves which is rapidly gaining success
- Your business can gain a competitive edge over your competitors who don’t recycle. Customers today are more conscious about choosing environment-friendly options such as buildings with LEED certification.
How to Recycle Construction Debris?
Here are some effective tips to help you manage and recycle the construction waste disposal generated by your business:
- Understand Your Local Recycling Scenario – Do your research well and find out about the recycling services available in your locality. Know what kind and form of materials they accept. The recycling organizations which accept commingled debris can be your best option as they don’t require you to sort the debris. A majority of recycling organizations have lower rates than the area landfill fees, which helps you save money on construction waste disposal.
- You can consider recycling the most common construction waste materials on the job site itself if no recycler in your locality accepts commingled debris. Identification and sorting is important for managing the economic viability of construction waste disposal. Waste materials can be sorted into multiple containers and generally less number of containers is preferred to reduce transportation trips and costs. Sorting can be made more efficient if the workers don’t have to go out of their way to access the collection containers.
- Packaging material forms a substantial portion of waste. Buy materials in bulk and prefer returnable containers whenever possible. Bulk buying not only helps your business save money but also eliminates the need for excess packaging. If you have non-returnable containers as packaging material, you can reuse them or donate them to local charities that need them.
- If there are materials involved which are prone to spoilage, make it a practice to work in small batches with them. The less materials you use, the fewer waste is generated which helps save money on both buying and waste disposal front.
- Make it a practice on site to collect scrap material and keep it handy especially at cutting stations. When required, the workers can choose scrap pieces whenever possible rather than reaching out for new raw material. This helps reduce usage of fresh material and curtail the amount of waste generated. Recycling waste helps improve the environmental as well as financial bottom line of your construction business. It transforms the way your entire construction business functions for better. So begin with smart waste management today – be it your office or the construction site.
Author Bio: Erich Lawson is passionate about saving the environment through effective recycling techniques and modern innovations. He works with Compactor Management Company and writes on a variety of topics related to recycling, including tips and advice on how balers, compactors and shredders can be used to reduce industrial waste. He loves helping businesses understand how to lower their monthly garbage bills and increase revenue from recycling.