What Happens to Construction Waste After It's Put in the Dumpster?
Construction and demolition companies often ask us, “What happens to the materials we put into your dumpster? Where do they go? Do you just bring them to a landfill?”
We can assure you that we do not take your materials to a landfill. We take our position as waste managers very seriously and want to contribute to a more environmentally friendly Commonwealth and nation.
Most of the materials you put in the dumpster are taken to recycling facilities in and around greater Boston and the Cape. Upon arrival at a recycling facility, our trucks are weighed. The materials they carry are then dropped into holding bays, and our trucks are weighed again on the way out. This process determines the weight of the materials we’ve delivered to the facility.
Recyclable materials are then segregated from non-recyclable materials, and the various types of recyclable items are separated from each other. Materials such as lumber, drywall, cardboard /paper, metal, concrete and plastic are identified, separated and re-grouped for salvage, if possible. Once large volumes of like kinds of items are accumulated, they are made ready for transport to secondary markets.
For instance, untreated wood scraps can be used in wood burning energy plants. Pieces of drywall can be recycled into textured wall sprays, acoustical coatings, gypsum stucco and fire barriers. Cardboard and paper can be reprocessed into greeting card materials, flowerpots and insulation. Fiberglass insulation materials can be reconditioned for acoustical ceiling tiles, and plastics can be reused to create blended clothing fabrics, blister packs, strapping tape and injection-mold components.
Metals and Masonry
It’s also a good idea to dispose of your metal and masonry-type construction materials separately. Metals (copper piping and wire, aluminum siding, iron and steel banding, nails, fasteners, galvanized flashing and roofing, rebar, lead chimney flashing, etc.) and stone-like substances (old bricks, broken blocks, slate shingles, asphalt roofing, tiles, etc.) should not be added to a container with general construction waste.
We can deliver metals-only roll-off dumpsters directly to a metal recycling facility. We can also deliver dumpsters with masonry -only products to masonry recycling facilities. Keeping these materials out of your general debris containers will expedite your recycling process and reduce the likelihood of incurring charges for overweight containers.
We are a company that values the environment as much as our customers do. We appreciate your concerns and want to assure you that our services are carried out with careful attention to the environment in mind. We are always open to new, environmentally-friendly ideas. Do you have suggestions? If so, please send them to us!