It’s hard to
ignore the impact that human life has had on the planet, and with our
increasing awareness, being environmentally friendly has become an unavoidable
and crucial aspect of modern life. All over the world, people are doing their
best to recycle as much as possible and are constantly learning new ways to
reduce their rubbish. However, when it comes to larger amounts of waste, it can
be hard to know what to do with it. If you’re having a clear out at home or
working on a renovation or redecoration project, how do you ensure that the
waste you generate is handled responsibly?
Under the Waste Regulations Act of 2011, if
your home or business produces waste, you legally have a ‘duty of care’ for its
safe disposal. This is because when rubbish isn’t recycled properly, it is
simply dumped on a landfill site, and landfill sites are the main contributor
to the emission of harmful toxic gases, or ‘greenhouse gases’.
Even if you
consider yourself an eco-warrior and recycling pro, it can be hard to know what
goes behind the scenes once you’ve thrown something away. Working with a
professional waste management service is a surefire way to guarantee that your
rubbish will be dealt with in a conscientious manner.
Whether
you’re committed to an eco-friendly lifestyle or not, enlisting professional
services is undeniably the most efficient way to manage your waste and ensure
it’s recycled responsibly during a domestic project. In this blog, we discuss
how to limit the amount of waste you produce, and how a professional waste
removal service can help to sort the rubbish you do generate properly.
Reduce your household waste
Every year,
British households throw away a whopping 22 million tonnes of waste,
including everything from everyday waste like food and packaging, to large
waste from renovating or redecorating. Whilst a waste disposal service will
most definitely help you out at the end of a project, you should first try to
limit the amount of waste your household produces before and during the work.
But how do you go about this?
Whilst it’s
undeniably difficult to limit your waste during a project as you need to ensure
that you’re getting the job done properly, you can still be conscious of the
rubbish you're generating, and attempt to keep it at a minimum. Here are a few
helpful tips to bear in mind:
● If unwanted furniture is in good
condition, donate it to a local charity shop or even make a pretty penny by
selling it online. Whilst some items of furniture can be recycled, it takes a
lot of work to take them apart and be remade into a new product.
● Use eco-friendly products when you’re
cleaning, decorating or working on another aspect of your project. It’s good
practice to start limiting the number of toxic products you use; not only is it
better for your health, but it means that your rubbish won’t be contaminated
with toxins.
● Use reusable cleaning and decorating
materials rather than cheap disposable products. Replace disposable sponges,
cloths, wipes and mop heads with materials that you can use over and over
again. It doesn't have to be expensive either- for example, why not use old
rags instead of cloths and sponges, or use old bed sheets or curtains as dust
sheets to protect your floor?
● Be aware of hazardous materials
you’re working with and be extra cautious when disposing of them. Some paints
and other decorating or construction products are regarded as harmful and
therefore must be specially disposed of. If you’re not sure, be sure to contact
a local waste disposal company for expert advice.
Whilst there
are a few ways you can limit your waste, rubbish is an inevitable aspect of
carrying out a renovation project at home and when the work draws to a close,
you want to make sure that you’re not left with a big pile of stuff you have no
idea what to do with. This is where professional waste management comes in.
Rely on professional waste management
Although you
may be working on a DIY project, this doesn’t mean that you have to do
everything yourself. Not only is it more efficient to rely on a professional
waste disposal company to handle your waste, but it could actually have a more
positive impact on the environment too.
If you take
your waste to the local tip, there’s a high chance that you’ll put some things
in the wrong bins, meaning that they won’t be recycled of properly. Even worse,
some people are so tired after working on a project, that they simply opt to
throw everything into one bin which just gets dumped on a landfill, even when
most of the rubbish could be recycled.
Unfortunately,
even the most eco-conscious homeowner will make mistakes so if you’re not sure
how to optimise your waste, it’s always a good idea to hand it over to the
professionals- especially for large-scale projects. But how do you know that
your local waste management company is environmentally responsible?
Firstly, be
sure to spend time doing your research; speak to a few companies and find out
what their policies are. Do they seem dedicated to environmentally friendly
waste recycling? Or are they just an in and out, cheap service? Here are a few
things to look out for when searching for a rubbish removal firm:
● Extensive recycling services, including an on-site sorting centre.
Your chosen company should have
trained professionals who sort all of the rubbish that they collect into
different types of materials, ready to be remade into new products.
● A good recycling policy.
Most waste management companies have a policy to recycle as
much waste as possible and will usually shout about what this amount is on
their website. The average is around 80%, however, 90% is a good number to look
for, and some companies will boast a zero to landfill policy.
● Hazardous waste services.
Some construction projects will generate harmful waste that
is toxic to the environment and dangerous for human health too, such as
asbestos, chemical-based paints or lithium batteries. Make sure that your
disposal company can dispose of these hazardous items responsibly.
For a big project, opt for skip hire
A crucial
service that all waste management companies should offer is skip hire. Renting
a skip is an easy, safe and efficient way of managing waste during a big home
project; you can have a skip on your drive or on the road and gather all of
your rubbish in one place. One of the best aspects of skip hire is that there’s
no need for you to sort through it so you don’t need to worry about putting
things in the wrong bins- your local skip hire company will do that for you
once they collect it.
Skips are a
versatile waste management solution as they’re available in varying sizes, from
small 2-yard skips up to larger 12-yard skips. Depending on the extent of your
project, you can work with your waste management company to choose the ideal
size skip for you- for most home clear outs or renovations, a 6-yard skip should
be sufficient. However, be sure to discuss your requirements with your skip
company first.
Whilst the
skips themselves are versatile, there are sometimes limitations when it comes
to what you can actually put in a skip. It’s always a good idea to find out
from your chosen skip hire firm what they will and won’t accept. Potentially
hazardous materials and products like asbestos, tyres, paint, fridges,
pesticides and oils may be prohibited. However, as we mentioned earlier, your
local company may offer additional specialist waste disposal services for
hazardous waste removal.
Skip hire is
designed for your convenience, and there are plenty of options available to
customise your waste management. For example, you can opt for long-term or
short-term hire, or even choose same day skip hire. If you’re just working on a
quick house clearance, same day skip hire is ideal as your rubbish will be
gathered and then removed within 24 hours.
However
large your skip is and however long you need to hire it for, with a reliable
waste disposal company you can guarantee that your project’s waste will be
collected and disposed of responsibly. As much of the rubbish as possible will
be recycled, so your project can have the green stamp of approval and you can
rest easy, knowing that you’ve done your bit for the environment.
Graham Churchill Plant Ltd: Eco-friendly waste
disposal services for domestic and commercial customers
If you’re
looking for reliable and environmentally friendly waste management solutions,
look no further than Graham Churchill Plant Ltd. We’re proud to offer extensive
waste disposal services to both domestic and commercial customers, giving them
the peace of mind that their waste isn’t having a negative impact on the
environment. From large construction sites to DIY home renovation projects, our
team of waste management experts are on hand to collect, sort and dispose or
recycle of your waste responsibly.
Here at
Graham Churchill Plant Ltd, we know just how important looking after our planet
is, which is why we’re committed to recycling as much of the waste we collect
as possible. Our expansive recycling site
allows us to keep a keen eye on
everything we collect and ensure it’s managed responsibly. We recycle and reuse
as many materials as possible, including aggregates, which we then supply to
customers for their construction needs.
Along with
our core services of waste management and skip hire, we also offer our
customers quality lorry, machinery and excavator hire. We’re pretty much a
one-stop shop for all things construction, enabling our customers to complete
work safely, efficiently and to an extremely high standard.
To find out more about our comprehensive range
of services, please don’t hesitate to
get
in touch with our team today. Call 01327 857 246 for
Silverstone, 01908 980 153 for Milton Keynes or 01295 880 059 for Banbury. You
can also drop us an email at
info@grahamchurchill.co.uk
and we’ll be more than happy to answer any of your queries.
