Cut Down On Costs With Construction Waste Disposal

Construction waste disposal falls under construction waste management.  It is the area of waste management that deals with waste associated with construction, which includes those wastes from building sites, houses and demolition sites. 

Back in the days, construction waste disposal meant that all waste generated from construction is collected and buried in a landfill.  However, in the 1970s, construction waste management evolved to address environmental concerns and apprehensions that included the desire to promote recycling whenever possible and cut down on landfilling.  Therefore, disposing of construction waste has turned into a big issue amongst many contractors and builders.  Disposal fees have been steadily rising all over the world, but contractors and builders have opted to manage their debris rather than merely discarding them.   

On the brighter side, a well-implemented waste management strategy can result to both short term and long term benefits.  Instead of dumping construction waste, pressures from environmental concerns have brought about the need to segregate and identify their wastes.  These wastes may include hazardous components, which should be handled

Contractors have realized that anything wasted costs twice the amount- once upon purchase and the second upon disposal.  Even if the disposal cost attributes to a small percentage of about half a percent of the total cost of a typical home being built, small savings to an average contactor’s 5% margin, can make a big difference.  This is the immediate short-term result of proper construction waste disposal.

In the long term, by minimizing generate waste, contractors and builders improve their image and standing among potential clients by coming across as a company that makes an effort to protect the environment.  This image building is good for business and at the same time a good contribution to the environment itself.

The most effective way to reduce the amount of construction waste generated at a site is to build with fewer materials to begin with.  By making accurate projections and careful planning, a contractor is able to save on excess materials that are more often than not proportionately converted into waste.   Projections also help in making builders realize the cost of their generated waste.  This would hopefully encourage them to make the necessary adjustments to make their plans more cost efficient. 

Contractors and builders should acquire the willingness to sift through their waste.  They should be familiar their waste because the volume of waste is a reflection of how efficient their subcontractors and crew utilize the materials which in effect, affect their bottom line numbers.  A fenced debris pile is highly recommended over the regular 6 foot high dumpsters that can conceal a large amount of unnecessary waste.  This prevents sub contractors from disposing useful materials.

An additional tip to control construction waste is to pass on the responsibility of purchasing materials and its disposal to the subcontractors.  This way, subcontractors are forced to use only what they really need instead of builders buying the materials for them.  This does not give subcontractors any incentive to save or use the materials wisely.

Look into reusing materials.  This will definitely lower construction waste disposal.  Many materials can serve more than one purpose.  For those dented or scratched cabinets or doors, a donation to a charitable institution such as Habitat for Humanity, is recommended.  This donation can then be treated as a tax deduction. 

Lastly, it is wise to make an effort to announce waste management efforts to potential clients.  Advertising this commitment towards resource efficiency can ultimately boost company standing far above competition.  Not only can it improve the company’s image but more importantly encourage more contractors to adapt the same commitment.