Construction waste includes items such as building materials, packaging, and debris that comes from construction and renovation projects. Similarly, demolition debris is waste resulting from toppled buildings and other human-made structures, including concrete, bricks, masonry, metals, woods, and other gears.
We suggest that you should keep materials for construction and demolition that are still in good condition. You may still want to reuse or recycle these items, so it is best to sort these materials prior to disposal. Doing this can save you money and minimize environmental risks simultaneously.
Where Should I Dispose of Construction Debris Properly?
Construction waste, unfortunately, cannot be disposed of together with the regular trash. You cannot easily throw it and wait for the city dumpster to pick it up due to the contaminants in construction and demolition (C&D).
Sorting your wastes may take you more time, but this allows you to save money from non-compliance fees, as well as avoid environmental risks.
Before we focus on the appropriate methods for disposal of construction waste, let’s define what construction and demotion debris are:
Construction and demolition debris is non-hazardous material residue coming from construction, demolition, repair projects, and remodeling.
The most prevalent types of C&D debris are concrete, bricks, plaster, drywall, wood, metal, and glass. It includes plumbing, roofing material, insulation (non-asbestos), wiring, rock, and soil.
It is essential to know that these disposal best practices are only applicable for non-hazardous wastes. For debris that is considered hazardous, such as asbestos, lead, and silica, you are obliged to follow a different set of disposal rules.
How to reduce the amount of C&D debris generated during a project
Reducing the amount of waste in demolition and construction projects is complex, and you must be extra careful. In constructing buildings, you should evaluate the needed materials accurately to organize the task well.
For demolition projects, it’s a little more challenging to minimize debris since it’s essentially the outcome of demolition. However, deconstruction is an excellent way to minimize waste. It is the process of taking away a structured piece by piece to retrieve essential materials.
The saved materials are valuable for another construction project may be sold or donated. Pieces that are not reused can still be recycled at a recycling facility. The deconstruction process is much longer compared to traditional mechanical demolition. But later on, it can be beneficial and keep reusable materials out of landfills.
Regulated (non-hazardous) construction, renovation, and demolition wastes
Regulated non-hazardous construction, renovation, and demolition wastes that do not meet the standard of clean fill cannot be retrieved for reuse or recycling. These wastes are insulation, wooden paneling, drywall, carpeting, carpet padding, linoleum, etc. These scraps must be disposed of at a permitted solid waste landfill or processing facility.
Here are the requirements for regulated non-hazardous construction and demolition wastes:
- In most cases, it’s illegal to burn these wastes. However, wood waste can be burned as long as you acquire an open burning permit before doing it.
- Contact your department’s regional office for information on permits and requirements for burning untreated wood waste for additional information on open burning. Check with your local government’s municipal and county offices to see any additional burning limits or regulations.
- Other than that, it’s illegal to bury wastes, except in a permitted solid waste landfill. It’s also illegal to haul wastes in private or public property and dump, burn or bury scraps, even with the landowner’s permission.
Why recycle project components?
Specific Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste materials can be separated from landfill wastes on your project site and then recycled into valuable goods or stunning new constructions. However, it can be harmful to the environment and human health if you don’t correctly manage these wastes. Materials that are usually accepted include:
- Clean Wood Landfill
- Asphalt Shingles
- Scrap Metal
- Drywall
- Plywood
- Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
- Brick
- Concrete
- Granite, slate, and other unique fixtures
Troupe Waste and Recycling is a waste management company that provides good quality and full-service in the entire South Shore area. We’ve been serving the South Shore as a family-owned and operated business. Our mission is to keep our community clean, to contribute to its safety and beauty.
At Troupe Waste and Recycling, we ensure excellent services and work to accommodate all your needs. To learn more about our services, contact us at 781-878-9094.
