Whether it be a house or a building, everyone loves a new space. But creating new spaces also means leaving waste behind. Construction waste is a far too common byproduct of many projects, with the biggest form of waste being concrete.
According to the EPA, concrete makes up 85% of construction waste. While this material is sturdy and can last for decades, it is bulky and insoluble. It is also impossible to turn concrete into another material, which makes storing and disposing of used concrete a recurring problem.
If you’re itching to clean up your finished job site, here are the four most common ways to be rid of your concrete waste:
Renting a dumpster would make for a flexible disposal option for small- to medium-sized projects. Just call for a bin to be delivered to your site and take your time filling it up. You can even choose from various sizes and weight capacities, depending on how much waste concrete your project will generate. The bin can be pulled out once it’s filled to the brim or on an agreed-upon date.
Consolidating all the concrete in a bin makes for a cost-effective and organized move out. It’s also great for projects with rolling deadlines–sometimes, you can never predict which areas might need rework.
Renting a dumpster is also a hands-free way to dispose of cumbersome waste. So long as the appropriate passes in the area are secured, the dumpster’s move-in and move-out can even be done without you on site.
However, the dumpster can be a long-standing eyesore. It would be best to check if your area would be amenable to having a dumpster stay on for an extended period.
When in doubt, you can leave the junk from your home for the experts to clean up. To avail of this type of service, get in touch with a junk hauling company, get a cost estimate, and assign a date to have all the concrete moved out.
This option is excellent for those looking for an all-in removal service. Junk removal companies have the workforce and equipment to clear out all the rubble in one go, relieving you of having to do any of the work yourself.
However, not all junk hauling companies handle concrete. It would be good to check that your hauler of choice will accommodate this type of waste before you contract them. Moreover, the availability of an all-in kind of service comes at a higher price and a fixed date, so be sure you’re agreeable with the rate and the deadline for hauling before proceeding.
Various construction and landscaping companies utilize used concrete as fillers for roads and material for sidewalks and plant boxes, among other purposes. Small businesses, especially those big on recycling, would find ways to incorporate used concrete into their infrastructure.
Nonprofits or community groups would also greatly benefit from free building materials to support their facilities.
This option is excellent for those conscious about the waste they generate and want to turn it into something useful. However, getting the word out for takers is the most challenging part.
You can post online through the web or on social media to spread the news among your networks, or cold call construction and landscaping companies if they would be interested in taking advantage of your stock.
Manage your expectations, though, as companies might be interested in getting your used concrete, but lack the means to take it off your hands. So even if you find a willing taker, you may also have to shell out for the transport to get the concrete to them.
If you want something done right, you may have to do it yourself. The surest option to completely remove all concrete waste from a project would be to do self-hauling. Landfills or community transfer stations accommodate waste for small to medium-sized projects.
Call your local landfill or transfer site to see if they accept concrete waste, and bring it there when able. Some landfills assign days for the waste allowed on site, so make sure to follow their preferred schedule so as not to incur returns.
What’s good about landfills is they are constant. It’s hard to move a landfill to another location, and its sheer size makes it easy to spot. For these reasons, landfills provide a constant avenue for disposal even for succeeding projects. And because landfills will always be there, you can clean and dispose of the concrete at your own pace.
On the other hand, though it might be cheaper to dispose of the waste yourself, you could be incurring further costs in terms of time, effort, materials, and equipment.
Aside from doing the back-breaking work, you would also need to obtain a truck (if you don’t have your own) to shuttle the concrete back and forth. Should the trips be too frequent and the amount of waste too big, you may need to reevaluate if it’s time to level up to more wholesale disposal options.
There’s no easy way to dispose of something as bulky as concrete, but it’s also a necessary evil in building something new. You can try renting a big dumpster to consolidate your waste into one big pullout or make life easier by calling in a junk-hauling company to clean and remove everything for you.
Those conscious about the waste they generate can sell their used concrete for upcycling by construction and landscaping companies and even small businesses in the community. Lastly, there’s always the option of bringing the concrete waste to the landfill yourself.
