The Most Common Types of Construction Waste

When it comes to making a mess, there’s nothing to rival the seeming chaos of a construction site. Even smaller construction projects create a lot of waste. Take a look at a few statistics:

• The U.S. generated over 600 million tons of construction-related waste in 2018 (EPA)
• 23% of the national waste stream is estimated to come from construction and demolition projects (BTS)
• Annual construction waste is expected to reach 2.2 billion tons globally by 2025 (Transparency Market Research)

No matter how you slice it, that’s a lot of trash.

Every contractor knows that the job site has to be cleaned up and left in as good as or better shape than before the project started. All waste must be hauled away and disposed of properly. To do that efficiently, it’s crucial to stay on top of the clean-up process as the project progresses. Smart contractors understand the value of having waste containers on rental throughout the project. In fact, some contractors use multiple containers to make sorting of the debris easier.

Small Haul Containers provides local construction companies and general contractors with large to small dumpster rental solutions in the Kansas City area. Our waste containers come in several sizes, making it easy to choose the one that meets the needs of each job and nothing more. Our convenient online reservation portal lets contractors view availability and schedule a container on the go as each project is booked on the calendar. We take some of the load off by delivering our container to the job site and then removing it once it’s full or at the end of the rental period, whichever comes first.

If you’re a contractor looking for a way to make project cleanup go faster, give us a call with any questions you have. We’d be glad to answer them. In the meantime, here are some of the most common types of construction waste that can be hauled off in a small dumpster rental from Small Haul Containers.

According to the EPA, concrete accounts for approximately 67.5% of all construction and demolition waste by weight. Crushed reinforced concrete is in high demand as a recyclable material because it can be crushed and reused in new concrete. In order to reuse demolition concrete, it has to be hauled away from the job site to a recycling center. Concrete waste containers on the job site give workers a place to dump concrete as they’re breaking it up, keeping it separate from other construction or demolition debris. It can then be hauled off to a recycling center for further processing.

Lumber scraps are often found on job sites as board lengths are cut to size and fitted into place. A substantial amount of wood waste comes from projects such as framing in homes or larger buildings, installing or replacing hardwood floors, or building decks and porches. Wood can be tossed into a small dumpster rental along with other construction debris to be hauled away later. Or, since wood is also recyclable, it can be kept in a separate waste container to be carted off to a recycling center when the project is complete.

Bricks are found most commonly on demolition sites where older buildings are being torn down. Bricks are heavy and difficult to remove. Containing them in a roll-off dumpster makes disposal of them much easier. Used bricks are a hot commodity these days. It makes sense to keep a separate waste container on-site for brick disposal. They may be able to be resold later.

Some projects require digging a foundation or clearing a plot of land before construction can begin. All the dirt, trees, rocks, and other plants must be removed before other construction equipment can get in for the next phase of the project. Yard waste such as this must be kept in a separate dumpster and not mixed in with other construction debris and waste materials. A fee may be imposed if yard waste is mixed with other trash.

If the project involves tearing off a roof, the chances are good that asphalt shingles will end up in the debris pile. Some asphalt shingles can be reused, depending on the type of shingles and the shape they’re in. But often, this type of trash just gets thrown out. Asphalt shingles can be mixed in with other types of construction debris if they’re not being saved for future use.

Drywall is another common contributor to the mess of a construction site. It’s nearly impossible to build something using drywall and not have any scraps left over. Drywall waste can go in the dumpster with everything else at the end of the project.

It’s important to note that hazardous waste should never be added to waste containers. Many container rental companies, including Small Haul Containers, charge a fee if any hazardous materials are found in the dumpsters.

Hazardous items include:

• Adhesives
• Aerosol cans
• Fluorescent bulbs
• Formaldehyde
• Mercury-containing thermostats and boiler systems
• Plasterboard
• Paint
• Paint thinners/strippers
• Solvents

A Google search for “ dumpster rental near me ” should bring up a list of local waste containers rental companies in the area. But we hope you’ll skip the search and give us a call instead. Or visit our website for more information about our construction and concrete waste containers. Our friendly staff is ready to help!

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