CD Disposal Where to Dump Construction Debris

CD Disposal Where to Dump Construction Debris CD Disposal: Where to Dump Construction Debris Unfortunately, you cant dispose of construction waste the same way as regular trash. Theres no tossing it in a bag and waiting for the city to pick it up. Construction and demolition (CD) debris need to be handled and removed with care because of the contaminants they contain. While this can certainly take more time, it avoids polluting the environment and saves you money from non-compliance fees.   Before we take a look at the proper methods for  disposal of construction waste, lets define and identify types of CD debris:   Construction and demolition debris is the non-hazardous material that is leftover from construction, demolition, remodeling, and repair projects. The most common types of CD debris are concrete, bricks, wood, plaster, drywall, metal, plumbing, insulation (non-asbestos), roofing material, glass, wiring, rock, and soil.   Its important to note that these disposal best practices are only applicable for non-hazardous wastes. For debris that is considered hazardous like asbestos, lead, and silica, your team will have to follow an entirely different set of disposal rules.   Clean vs. Dirty Construction Debris There are two classifications of construction and demolition debris: clean and dirty. Clean debris refers to materials that arent contaminated and are separated from different materials. For example, a bin of wood can be considered clean if there are no bricks, concrete, or other materials mixed in with it. The benefit of having clean debris is cost-savings. Disposing of a clean dumpster will cost less than a dirty dumpster.   Dirty debris simply refers to a mixture of different types of  construction debris. Whether it is a mixture of bricks and wood, or a mixture of several kinds of materials, the entire load will be classified as dirty. Although this is the most common type of construction debris, its also the most expensive because dirty materials must go to the landfill.   4 Types of CD Debris Removal/Disposal Besides the clean and dirty classifications of construction debris, there are four main types of CD disposal: reduction, reuse, recycling, and destruction.   Reduction This method of dealing with CD debris isnt a way of disposal, but rather a means to prevent the need to  dispose of construction materials. While its easier to estimate the number of materials needed for a construction project, its a lot more challenging to determine what sort of debris you will end up with after completing a demolition project. To reduce the amount of waste your project produces, consider deconstruction as opposed to demolition. As the same suggests, deconstruction is the opposite of construction. While with construction you assemble a building piece-by-piece, deconstruction involves removing building parts piece-by-piece. The deconstruction process certainly takes longer than bulldozing an entire building, but it can pay off. With deconstruction, you can salvage as much of the structures materials as possible. These materials can then be used for a different construction project, sold, or donated. With deconstruction, youre also able to create clean debris, which you can then recycleâ€"saving you money and saving the environment.   Reuse   While reusing materials certainly does happen in the construction industry, its usually on a smaller scale. There are hundreds of ways to  reuse construction and demolition debris. And even if the materials arent reused on your projects, someone else can reuse them.   Wood, concrete, and soil are especially reusable and are a frequent want item by community centers and maker hubs. Its easy to reuse items when your team takes the time to deconstruct a building as opposed to completely demolishing it.   If youd like your construction and deconstruction debris to be reused, spend the time separating the waste and ensuring that it can be classified as clean. You cant simply drop off a dumpster of dirty waste at a maker space for someone else to sort through and hopefully use.   Recycling   We mentioned how much cheaper construction waste recycling can be than disposing of the waste in a landfill. Still, the recycling of CD debris is also straightforward as there are thousands of recycling centers are the country. Its important to note that almost all non-hazardous construction and demolition waste materials can be recycled, including concrete, asphalt, wood, aluminum, corrugated cardboard, and metals.   To recycle your CD debris, you can choose from one of the following methods:   On-Site Processing: This method involves your team as they will be the ones sorting through the material at the project site. The non-hazardous materials will be ready for recycling and reuse after they have been sorted and categorized.   Mixed-Material Collection: While the material will still be sorted, with a mixed-material collection, your team is not the one sorting it. With a mixed-material collection, the recyclables are moved to a waste facility where theyre sorted. The material is then transferred to a recycling facility to be recycled.   Source Separation: With source separation, your team will once again be the ones sorting through the material, but as opposed to being recycled and reused by the community, the material will be sent to a facility for recycling.   Construction Waste Disposal   Construction waste disposal should be your last resort. Not only should you try to reduce, reuse, and recycle the debris to save you money, but also to help protect the environment and your fellow humans from contamination. If you do need to take your debris to a landfill, you will need to rent a dumpster with a company that accepts CD waste. Not all  dumpster rental companies  will accept construction and demolition debris, so its essential to clarify their conditions before renting from them.   If youre looking to dispose of hazardous materials at the landfill, think again. Asbestos, lead, and silica-infused materials need to be remediated and adequately disposed of; they cannot go straight to the landfill with the rest of your materials.     Learn More About Construction Waste with OSHA Training For more information on construction waste management and other construction-related topics, signup for our  OSHA 10-Hour Construction or OSHA 30-Hour Construction courses. Each course was designed around OSHA standards and will ensure youre updated on the latest safety information and are compliant with OSHAs training requirements. We also have several other construction-related safety training courses to help you learn about heavy equipment. Sign up for your course today!