With every construction job, there inevitably comes a lot of construction waste from demolition and other factors. It’s the part of the job that no one really wants to deal with, as it can be time-consuming and tiring. However, it turns out that construction waste disposal can actually be lucrative, if you approach it the right way.
The key to turning the construction waste removal stage into a more profitable venture is by planning. That means adding in the expenses/time associated with a cleanup right from the beginning, as part of the overall project.
This way you can better anticipate how to allocate your resources, and even create a strategy to retain some of the materials. We’ll get to that soon.
Consider the Real Costs of Cleanup
You may not think of construction debris disposal as a major part of the project, but it is. Construction debris removal costs could include:
- Staff hours to perform a cleanup
- Downtime/loss of productivity
- Vehicle rental/fuel costs
- Dumping fees if applicable
If you’re doing the cleanup on your own, that means you’ll have to account for the staff time to do it properly. There are several steps that may be involved in preparing for construction waste removal, including but not limited to:
- Sorting the waste materials
- Loading the truck(s)
- Driving to a dump site
- Cleaning out the truck for future use
This can take hours. To calculate how much it will cost you as an employer, multiply the number of employees tackling the construction waste disposal job by their hourly rates.
Say, for example, you assign three of employees to cleanup, and they all make $20 an hour. The cleanup job takes five hours from loading to cleaning. That’s $100 of pay for each employee, for a total of $300. This is not including any costs of fuel (and the other expenses mentioned), which have been at record levels recently.
It also means you can’t start a new project until you’ve completed the cleanup from the previous one. If you neglect this stage, it could cost you a referral – even if your team has done a wonderful construction job, no client is going to appreciate a mess left behind. That’s not an effective way to get referrals or repeat business.
Sorting Waste to Identify Reusable Materials
Whether you’re demolishing a site, or you’ve over-ordered materials for the construction, it pays to retain the leftovers. Your staff, or a construction debris disposal expert can deal with sorting these materials.
More specifically, after a demolition, there could be a number of items that are still in good enough condition to be used for another job, or even sold. This will cut down on your material costs.
There are a number of items that may be salvageable for a future project, such as:
- Nails
- Drywall
- Untreated wood
- Bricks
- Metals
- Shingles
- Unbroken glass
If you do the sorting yourself, you’re keeping a lot of junk out of the landfills, while also preserving resources. However, keep in mind that if you’re going to tackle this sorting process on your own, you will again have to budget for staff time. It could take hours to properly sort materials for re-use and then haul them to storage.
Even if you choose not to put the time into sorting and retaining items, you still have the option to recycle them. Construction debris removal companies can do the sorting for you. But it goes beyond that: they can also bring the materials to the right waste transfer system to be processed.
Either way, you’re keeping a lot of junk out of the landfills, while also preserving resources.
Construction Waste Removal Will Save You Time – and Money
Now that you have a better idea of the real costs of dealing with construction waste, you can consider using construction debris disposal services for your future projects.
These experienced companies can clear away construction debris efficiently, allowing your crew to continue working without delays. Construction waste disposal experts also know what materials can be salvaged, and ensure they are recycled or even donated if possible.
These crews are trained in lifting and hauling all kinds of junk, even the heavier stuff. And they have the right vehicles to carry it all to its next destination.
From lost staff time to possible truck rentals and dump fees, DIY costs can really add up and put a drain on your construction team. You may think you’re saving time and cash by handling construction debris removal on your own. However, when you do the math – and factor in the time wasted – you’re most likely better off letting a third party haul it away.
While the junk cleanup crew is doing its work, your team can make better progress. You can request construction debris disposal after each phase of the construction project, or you can have them sort it all out at the end.
Make sure the company you choose to handle the waste is insured, to avoid any mishaps and liability. You can save even more money by finding a junk removal company that will do some sweeping after the items are removed. This way, you may not have to use staff or another company to do the final cleaning.
To recap, some of the benefits of using a third party for construction waste removal are:
- Quick junk cleanout service at intervals or at the end of the project
- No need to rely on staff for sorting leftover materials
- Save time used up by hauling waste to the dump
- Efficient waste removal services allow your team to focus on its end goals
- Junk removal companies can haul items for recycling or donation when applicable
- More environmentally responsible (avoiding landfill and saving resources)
Learn more about the advantages of using construction debris removal for your renovation/demolition/construction projects from 1-800-Rid-Of-It. This experienced junk removal company also offers 10% off when your items can be collected from outdoor areas.
