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House renovations can be pretty exciting but stressful. Not only do you have to worry about living in a noisy environment, but also discarding the piles of bricks and concretes. Clearly, it’s not the stuff you can just throw in your trash bags and leave out for pick-ups.
In case you weren’t aware, the construction industry in Australia is a primary contributor to the waste that ends up in landfills. The industry has grown significantly in the past decades, leaving a considerable growth in waste production from construction and demolition.
Besides the usual waste, construction waste also contributes a sizable chunk to the problem. In 2008-2009, 19 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste were generated. In this waste stream, 8.5 million tonnes were disposed to landfills, while the remaining 10.5 was recovered and recycled.
In 2017, 20.4 million tonnes were generated by the industry. More than 6.7 megatonnes were delivered to landfills, and the rest were either recycled, illegally disposed of, reused or stockpiled.
Thinking of how to properly dispose of your construction materials and wondering what to do with your old, unused construction debris? Well, worry no more!
Here are some tips on how to dispose of your bricks and concrete efficiently and responsibly!
Disposing of bricks
1. Use a skip bin
Hiring a skip bin would be one solution to discard bricks temporarily. Since it’s only designed to provide a clean, enclosed space for the bricks to stay, you must clean your bricks before putting them inside a skip bin.
Also, you can’t just use a general skip bin for heavy construction waste. There are rules to follow in choosing the right one for specific materials.
2. Local Landfill
One way to effectively discard old and unused bricks is to take them to your local landfills. But, some landfills refuse to take particular materials, especially those with hazardous components. This approach will only be cost-effective when you have a vehicle to transport heavy bricks. Some also charge extra for specific materials.
3. Stockpiling Bricks
Stockpiling old bricks can be beneficial if you plan to use them for other projects. This will help you save money. However, space is your biggest enemy. Stockpiling bricks can use up so much space on your property. It can be a total nuisance and dangerous, especially the broken ones. But, if space is not a problem, stockpiling and using them in the future can be your best option.
Disposing of Concrete
1. Recycling Concrete
Most concrete is recyclable. Used concrete is crushed and then mixed into new concrete. Recycling concrete can reduce construction waste since materials like sand and gravel can be used for future projects. By recycling, landfills are conserved, mining is lessened, and the carbon footprint of making new concrete is reduced.
2. Sell or Donate Concrete
One way to scarp concrete, especially those still sealed and unused, is by selling or donating them. While you get rid of things you don’t use anymore, you can save and earn money from selling them off or helping the less fortunate through donations.
3. DIY your concrete
Making DIY is also an option to lessen your stockpiled concrete. Instead of disposing of them all completely, you can create a walkway, a fence around your house or a garden bed out of them. You can make many things from old concrete, more than you can imagine.
Hire a waste removal service
If you want to get rid of your old and unused bricks and concrete without lifting a finger, look for your trusted concrete waste removal service provider. They can provide rubbish removal and advice on the most sustainable ways to remove construction materials from your space.
Whether you’re in a commercial or residential setting, knowing and understanding proper construction waste disposal is important. Illegal dumping of waste can result in penalties and fines. Moreover, as one of the fastest-growing countries, construction waste should be disposed of in ways that are not detrimental to the environment.
However, the responsibility does not need to be in your own hands. Rubbish removal services providers, like Aussie Junk, can help you with your brick and concrete troubles.
