A Guide to Managing Demolition Waste

Homeowners that intend to demolish their houses often have a difficult time clearing demolition waste. As a rule, ensure that the demolitions contractor you hire agrees to dispose of demolition waste after bringing down the building. Preferably, this should be included in the contract that you sign before the demolition works begin. Below are a few considerations to make when clearing demolition waste.

Preparation and waste sorting

Before the demolitions begin, remove any portable items such as furniture and electronics. Also, remove fittings such as shelves, drawers, sinks, curtain rods and bathtubs. If the roof is in good condition, you can also remove it. You can choose to either donate, sell off or reuse these items. After demolishing the house, sort out the various waste such as wood, brick and metal. In such a way, you ease the disposal process.

Dangerous waste

In most states, you will be required to conduct an inspection before conducting any house demolition. The inspection is so you can identify whether the house contains dangerous materials such as asbestos. If it does, these materials must be removed before tearing down the house. Asbestos removals should be conducted by a professional asbestos removal company. Such companies have staff trained in removing, handling and disposing of the asbestos.

Recycling

Below are some ways to recycle demolition waste.

  1. Concrete and bricks can be crushed and used as gravel for construction projects. The crushed materials are also used in the manufacture of cement and gabions.
  2. Metal waste is sold off as scrap metal. It is shredded, melted, purified and used in the manufacture of various metallic objects.
  3. Wood can be used as fuel or recycled to make floors, decks and beams. Besides, you can shred it and use it to make mulch. Some companies recycle it into pulp to make paper.
  4. Drywall can be recycled into new drywall or used as compost.

Waste disposal

If recycling facilities are located far from where you live, it may be difficult to recycle all the demolition waste. In such cases, demolition contractors opt to dispose of the waste into a landfill that accepts demolition waste. After disposing of the waste, inspect the site and clear small harmful materials such as nails and glass that may cause injury. 

Demolition waste can significantly affect the environment. As such, it is vital for homeowners and demolition contractors to decide on the best waste disposal methods before commencing home demolitions. After removing dangerous materials, demolition waste can either be recycled or disposed of in an appropriate landfill.



Tags:
421 Words

About Me

Connie's Construction and Contracting Blog There are still many people do not believe that women should be involved in DIY or construction jobs. My blog is here to prove them all wrong. My name is Connie and I have always been interested in construction and repair work around my home. Rather than just sitting back and letting someone else take care of the problem, I like to get stuck in so I can try and learn something. However, sometimes there are jobs I cannot do on my own. However, when I call in a contractor, I always take the time to chat with them so I can pick up a tip or trick which will help me in the future. I hope you like the articles on my blog.

Search