{"id":1206,"date":"2021-07-01T11:46:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-01T11:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yardlink.com\/blog\/construction-waste-disposal"},"modified":"2024-07-24T21:15:04","modified_gmt":"2024-07-24T21:15:04","slug":"construction-waste-disposal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yardlink.com\/blog\/construction-waste-disposal","title":{"rendered":"Construction Waste Disposal: The Importance Of Recycling"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
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In any construction project, a variety of different materials are used. This includes, but is not limited to bricks, wall coverings, glass, plasterboards, plastic, and concrete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means there are a lot of opportunities for construction sites to recycle and contribute to a more sustainable planet. Construction Managers need to understand the importance of recycling and encourage this among their workforce. By making simple yet effective changes to your operations you can ensure more waste is correctly disposed of. Furthermore, recycling helps construction sites comply with environmental legislation and restrictions<\/a> on what can be sent to landfill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog post we\u2019ll identify why recycling construction waste is so important to reduce our carbon footprint. We\u2019ll also look at what construction waste can be recycled to help construction workers separate materials on site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Blue<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why is Recycling Construction Waste Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To sustain the future existence of our planet, we need to be more aware of our impact on the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humans generate a lot of rubbish in our everyday lives and we need to think about how this waste is going to be correctly disposed of. Materials can take hundreds of years to decompose and cause huge environmental damage. This includes polluting nearby water sources and producing methane which contributes to the greenhouse effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incinerating waste products is equally as damaging to the environment as the burning process releases harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. This results in the killing of wildlife and is further harming the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we want to sustain a healthy planet then we need to consider better ways of disposing of our rubbish. Recycling is key in the construction industry where large amounts of materials are used and disposed of on a daily basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Construction Waste Can I Recycle?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to construction sites, there are vast amounts of different materials that are used depending on the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just think about the number of construction projects that are completed and the different requirements of each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some buildings feature large amounts of glass, others have cladding or wood panelling, others are constructed using traditional brick. The list goes on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This poses the question to construction workers about what materials can actually be recycled?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might be surprised to hear that bricks have a lifespan of 200 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use bricks that have been previously used in the construction of walls, paving, and infrastructure in your new building project. Alternatively, you could also sell them to companies who deal with reclaimed materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brick waste is often a result of items that have been damaged during unloading, storing and cutting, or due to companies over ordering on the quantities they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if bricks are slightly damaged or less \u2018perfectly\u2019 shaped, they still have lots of uses and should not go to waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could break them down to use them in landscaping projects or to produce new bricks and building blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By recycling bricks you\u2019re contributing to a more sustainable planet. A great deal of of carbon emissions are produced from extracting, producing, manufacturing, and transporting new building materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, by using pre-made materials, you\u2019re reducing a lot of these negative impacts whilst also cutting down on landfill waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plastic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On a construction site, plastic is mainly used in the pipework, windows, wall coverings, and floorings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a large amount of plastic also comes from workers’ lunches! The packaging of sandwiches, pasta pots, crisps, and drinks is a huge contributing factor to the amount of plastic waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a range of plastics that can be recycled including polystyrene, PVC, and polypropylene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reused plastic waste makes a fantastic building material as it’s strong, durable, lightweight, and waterproof, which are key properties when working in construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These properties enable plastic to be used in a range of different materials including roof tiles, concrete, indoor insulation, bricks, fences, and carpeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By finding a new home for used plastic you\u2019re reducing the amount of waste that ends up in a landfill or floating in our beautiful sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The disposal of plastic is a global problem<\/a> as it is being discarded on a worldwide scale. The environment is unable to keep up with the rate at which humans are disposing of this material which causes harm to living beings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Smashed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Glass<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most glass waste is produced from demolition and refurbishment projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of throwing this glass away, it can be used in decorative materials and insulation as well as being a fluxing agent in the manufacturing of bricks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recovered glass is rarely reused into glass products but is often crushed together with other building materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the construction industry, this has various uses, as when glass is finely crushed it can be used to replace sand. When it is less finely crushed, it can also be used to replace gravel meaning it is a very versatile material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, if you don\u2019t recycle glass it can be expensive to dispose of through unsustainable methods. This is a result of this particular material being heavy, which is another reason why you should find an alternative use for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As well as the cost impact, it will also take thousands of years for glass to decompose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sources of this type of waste in the construction industry includes pallets, crates, beams, windows, door frames, floorboards, and panelling. There tends to be large quantities of wood on a construction site so understanding the importance of recycling this material is key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact construction sites are the biggest contributors to wood wastage overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good thing is most types of timber can be recycled as long as construction workers separate the reusable wood from the low quality, contaminated wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a recycling plant, the waste wood will be shredded down into various sizes depending on the end use of the material and its future use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Large pieces of recycled wood are used to make different furnishings whilst small wood fibres can be used to make products such as animal bedding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By recycling wood, by using a specific wood waste skip<\/a>, you\u2019re helping reduce the amount of trees that need to be cut down to produce this material. As a result this reduces water and air pollution and also redirects wood waste away from landfill sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concrete<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the early stages of a construction site, paths, driveways, and other concrete structures are usually demolished to make way for a new building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This leaves contractors and construction workers with large quantities of this dense material to dispose of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, concrete can be recycled and reused for lots of different purposes. In the recycling process, it is crushed down into small particles meaning it can be used in lots of the same ways as new materials including gravel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the uses of old concrete include driveways, walkways, landscaping, and other outdoor hard surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many environmental benefits to recycling concrete including reducing disposal and tipping fees, as well as cutting down on transportation costs. This is due to the fact that the old concrete can usually be reused close to the demolition site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using recycled concrete instead of other materials such as gravel reduces the need to mine and transport this material as you\u2019re using something that already exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Yellow<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is a Skip Used for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Skips are a fantastic way of recycling waste and are an environmentally friendly way of disposing rubbish<\/a>, especially when you\u2019re working on a building or construction site you will have large volumes of waste to clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skips can hold vast quantities of construction and demolition materials as well as garden waste<\/a> and other types of litter. By hiring a skip it allows you to clear a lot of waste without making multiple trips. This contributes to improved site efficiency and is more cost effective as you can dispose of rubbish in one go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction debris may come from a demolition site or building renovation where large quantities of materials are used and disposed of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At YardLink we provide a range of skips<\/a> in different sizes to suit the needs of your project. Our skip hire services offer an effective solution when it comes to clearing your construction site, whether you\u2019re carrying out a kitchen refit or completing a loft conversion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 4 yard skips to 16 yard variants, we have your project covered. And with a nationwide network of trusted, skip hire companies, you can be confident you\u2019re receiving the best service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give us a call or send us an enquiry<\/a> to take advantage of our products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Green<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Is Skip Hire Environmentally Friendly?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Skip hire is an environmentally friendly way of disposing of large quantities of rubbish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More and more skip hire companies understand the importance of recycling different materials and products to avoid them ending up in landfill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By sorting through waste and allocating it to the correct recycling plant, skip hire companies are contributing to a healthier environment. They will try to recycle as much waste as possible but there are some stages the waste must go through first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n