Many home improvement advice columns tend to center around the new additions to the home. New creative ideas, windows, furniture and other feng shui instructions. While these hopeful expectations of things to come is typically the spark that drives these projects, this blog post centers around the less attractive, but just as important side, of home improvement: waste management.
Every home improvement project creates some form of waste, and what to do with it is a major concern. There exists a labyrinth of regulations depending on where the project is being done, who is doing it, and what is being done. This alone makes it difficult to ensure one does not break any rules, but throw in the stresses of the other components of a home renovation project and this maze can turn into a major headache. Fortunately, there are experts in these matters who can help lessen your burden.
Handling the debris your project creates starts with a simple enough question: what are we getting rid of? From there the situation begins to diverge into the different paths required depending on your answers. Much like a choose-your-own-adventure book, but with trash. If what you are removing contains hazardous materials (such as asbestos shingles or some very old caulking agents) then there typically exists some municipal regulations in how to go about disposing of them. If, fortunately enough, your materials are hazard free then there still exists a few more issues of note. Namely, how much debris are you getting rid of? This is important because almost all cities have a limit on how much you can bring out to the curb to be hauled away.
Because of this, in most renovation projects it is prudent to get a roll-off dumpster. These items save time, and are usually pretty cheap considering current landfill fees throughout the country. As a rule of thumb it is typically better to overestimate the size of the dumpster you need, as over capacity can lead to higher removal fees, or even the company removing debris back out onto your lawn. Furthermore a dumpster with ample room left from your project allows you to remove other junk that has been accumulating around your home for years.
Another plus of contracting with a roll-off dumpster firm is that you don’t need to go anywhere to employ the service. A phone call ensures delivery and pick up from your house, as well as the dumpster firm working out all the details with landfill themselves. Furthermore, many dumpster companies have recycling programs built into their protocols. Using a company with these specialties, not only lowers your bill by taking weight out of the landfill, but in turn makes the world a better place. This applies from everything to clothes and crayons to metals and even some industrial greases.
It is important for homeowners to consider the process by which the refuse they create will be disposed of during and after a home improvement project. By taking a few quick steps to ensure you are working with a well-regarded and progressive waste management company you can make sure you not only get the best deal fiscally, but make confirm your waste is disposed of as you see fit.