Waste Management Guide During Demolition
When carrying out a domestic or commercial demolition project, there will be different types of waste generated. All of this waste will need to be managed correctly and appropriately with vigilance being required for the generation of hazardous waste which will need to be managed carefully and to waste management regulations. Asbestos-containing materials or ACMs are also a large risk in the demolition of buildings constructed on or before the year 2000 and asbestos testing will be required on these buildings. This article covers all of the waste management that will be required when carrying out a demolition project as well as the considerations that you need to consider when disposing of waste during your project.
We are the leading demolition company in Bristol and across the South West. We will work with you during your demolition project as well as ensure that waste is managed and disposed of as per regulations and with the utmost consideration in terms of reducing environmental impact. Get in touch with our team to arrange for your free quote.
The Handling and Processing of Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste is one of the largest points of concern when approaching a demolition project. If hazardous waste is generated or dispensed around the site then this can pose a risk to workers as well as the public. This is why there are strict regulations in place for the management and disposal of hazardous waste. Asbestos is also included within hazardous waste and needs to be managed appropriately with testing taking place before demolition can begin to confirm whether asbestos is present. As well as asbestos, other hazardous materials include:
- Concrete bricks, tiles and ceramics.
- Solvents.
- Pesticides.
- Lead paints.
- Hazardous oils.
- Tyes.
- Treated wood, glass or plastics.
- Bituminous mixtures containing coal tar.
- Waste Electrical and telecommunications (non-WEEE) cable
- Hazardous soil.
- Gypsum materials containing hazardous substances.
- Some adhesives and sealants.
These materials are regulated and you must identify and classify waste before you send this waste away for recycling and the disposal of the waste.
You also have a duty of care and other responsibilities when hazardous waste is generated and needs to be disposed of. Different types of waste will require different types of management and disposal. The more hazardous (but often rarer) forms of waste will require professional disposal. We have worked with many different types of waste and we will help to dispose of (or recycle waste where possible) of all waste generated during the demolition project.
Reducing Environmental Impact During the Project
As well as safely disposing of waste you also need to be careful of how waste is generated and that this doesn’t cause damage to the environment or people around during the demolition and construction process. One of the biggest offenders of this is soil waste that may be generated during excavations, demolition and the groundworks process for the new building. Preparation of the project is key as well as being aware of the different types of environmental issues and how these can be mitigated or reduced.
- Protecting water from contamination. If soil or other waste is accidentally applied to waterways then this can be catastrophic for wildlife and general safety. Spill prevention needs to be applied and fast management and action plans in place should a spill occur for whatever reason.
- Noise pollution will occur with machinery. You are able to use equipment that is designed to reduce noise generated during operation and you can also aim to plan the times in which you use your noisest equipment with agreed times to reduce the impact on those around the demolition site. You can also monitor decibel levels and install noise-reducing solutions to try and reduce noise where possible.
- Ensure that you are using the most efficient equipment and technology possible. This can be a large source of enviromental impact when you are carrying out a demolition project. Using more efficient machines reduces fuel costs as well as overall enviromental damage.
We are the leading demolition company in Bristol and across the South West. We are highly experienced in both domestic and commercial projects and both of these kinds of projects will generate different kinds of general waste as well as potentially hazardous waste and asbestos-containing materials. We will ensure that these are processed as per the relevant regulations and we recycle as much waste as possible. Get in touch with our team to arrange for your free quote.