The construction industry deals with lots of wasted materials. It’s inevitable when performing jobs like renovations, excavations and demolitions. While encountering this type of waste is unavoidable, the inappropriate disposal of this waste can be easily prevented. An excellent choice is to look for an expert to get rid of all the debris. Such companies will make sure to be at your location in no time at a reasonable cost and will advise you on the type of dumpster you need. Companies like ewmdumpsterrental.com are an excellent example of a professional company providing only the best of services Here’s how companies can safely get rid of scrap metals and hazardous waste left on the site.
Scrap Metal
Scrap metal is a common leftover on construction sites. These are valuable materials that can be recycled and reused in the future — and if you go to the right place, you can get the metal graded and paid for. That’s why you should recycle your scrap metal with Canada Iron so that you can benefit your business financially while doing your part for the environment.
The company has bin services for manufacturing, construction and demolition sectors. You can get anything from a dump-hopper to 40-yard containers to safely collect these scrap materials. Sometimes there are large oversized pieces of metal on job sites. Scrap metal companies can help with removal and proper disposal of these items. Valuable items from construction sites include non ferrous metals such as copper piping, aluminum doors and roofs, and copper wiring for the house. Ferrous metals that can be found on construction sites are structural steel, bathtubs and appliances. Bringing these for disposal at metal yards like Canada Iron will ensure you profit and do the right thing for the environment.
Hazardous Waste
One of the biggest concerns about construction waste is that there are hazardous materials sitting on sites or getting into landfills. The substances are damaging to the environment and to the physical health of anyone who comes in contact with them.
For instance, asbestos exposure increases your risk of developing serious medical conditions like lung cancer and mesothelioma. A construction site that encounters asbestos will have to contact an asbestos testing and removal company to decontaminate the area and dispose of the materials safely.
Otherwise, any industrial hazardous waste has to be registered with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MOECP) before you can get rid of it. Then, you can go to a MOECP licensed company to safely dispose of it.
E-Waste
Electronic waste is often classified as a form of hazardous waste because its components can be harmful to the environment, especially when it’s discarded improperly. They leak toxic elements like mercury into the nearby soil and groundwater, and they contaminate any other waste that touches them in a landfill.
Find a specialized recycling company like Canada Iron to safely collect your e-waste, dispose of the harmful components and recycle the materials. Make sure to work with a company that is approved by the Ontario Electronic stewardship program like Canada Iron and Metal to handle electronic waste properly. These are some of the items that you will likely find that count as e-waste:
- Circuit boards
- Power supplies
- Cables
- Wiring
- Cameras
- Transformers
- Servers
- Populated circuit boards
- Hard drives
Why It’s Important
Construction waste is a global problem. A report from Transparency Market Research estimated that the world would generate 2.2 billion tons of construction waste by 2025. The danger that comes with this trend is that potentially harmful components are left on dumpsites or brought to landfills with little consideration for health, safety and environmental impact.
The attitude also ignores the potential of reusing, repurposing or recycling valuable materials. It treats the goods as single-use. It’s not a sustainable strategy, and it isn’t a cost-effective one, either.
It sounds challenging to separate the long-list of leftover materials, contact different removal/recycling companies and head to multiple municipal drop-off centres, but it’s worth the effort. Responsibly removing construction waste reduces health risks, optimizes essential resources and curtails environmental harm. By taking these steps, the construction industry can help build a better world.
