How do I Dispose of Wastes Generated at Construction, Demolition or Renovation Sites?

Construction projects come with extensive cleanup.

All home repair projects involve extensive cleanup at the end, but few more so than serious renovation and demolition projects. Once you've gutted that house or dismantled that old porch, you are legally required to dispose of the waste properly and can be held financially liable by your community if you don't follow proper waste disposal protocol. Construction and demolition projects create many different types of waste, each with their own disposal requirements.

Instructions

1. Separate out any material that can be reused or recycled from the hazardous waste. Recyclable construction materials include glass, concrete, brick, tile, steel and copper.

2. Call local salvage yards to find out if they want some of the recyclable waste materials. As Natural Home notes, salvage yards often purchase steel, copper, aluminum and sometimes old appliances.

3. Drop off wanted recyclable materials at the salvage yard.

4. Inventory the remaining recyclable materials and any non-hazardous material (this included dirt, dust, sand, gravel and wood scraps). Contact your community's Department of Public Works. Ask how to properly dispose of all items on your inventory list to avoid getting fined.

5. Dispose of the remaining non-hazardous materials per your community's preferences. This typically involves driving the material to a landfill or recycle center or bagging materials and leaving them on the curb on trash day.

6. Bag the following materials that often contain health hazards: lead paint, paint chips, paint residue, scrap metal and demolition debris. Place this material on the curb for curbside collection.

7. Call a professional waste disposal company to remove any material that contains asbestos or anything contaminated with mold. Homeowners don't have adequate resources to follow safety protocol when disposing of toxic materials.

Tips & Warnings

• Homeowners who don't want to handle disposal themselves can hire a disposal company to remove all demolition waste.

• Consider keeping old doors, windows, bricks and other recyclable materials for re-use in home renovation projects.

References

• Natural Home Magazine: How to Dispose of Construction Waste
• Missouri Department of Natural Resources: Managing Construction and Demolition Waste