Home renovation projects leave tons of rubbish that can be overwhelming to deal with. They can become both health and safety hazards if not managed well. There are ways to manage your waste.
A skip hire is a first step before even starting the project so your waste will be contained beginning from day one. Demolition day will especially produce debris and clutter that you should immediately clean up.
But it’s also important to find ways to minimise waste and your renovation’s impact on the environment. You can make an audit to see which should be thrown out and which you can salvage, like a door or windows still in good condition.
That said, here’s how you can practise proper waste management during a home renovation project.
Consider the Materials To Use
The home design contributes greatly to the waste generated during a renovation. Consult your contractor about the materials they are going to use. Make sure that these materials match with or complement the existing ones in your home. When a material has the wrong size, for example, the cut-out will be treated as waste when they can no longer be used someplace else in the house.
Zero-waste home is possible, so ask your architect if they can implement one in your design.
Have Skip Bins Readily Available
Construction projects like home renovations produce a lot of scraps. Cleaning them up can be time-consuming because of their sizes and odd shapes, but when neglected, they become safety hazards. Avoid scraps and other waste buildups by having skip bins available at all times.
At the end of the day, make sure that all rubbish are cleared out and that all equipment cleaned. This will secure safety and timeliness on the next day of work.
Ask the Architect and Builder to Collaborate
Asking your architect and builder to come up with a waste management plan will help in reducing waste significantly. Also, ask everyone involved in the project to take part. Combine all your ideas to create the optimum waste minimisation plan.
Make Portable Lavatories Available
Don’t forget that your workers would need the loo from time to time. Have portable lavatories available on the site to ensure that they won’t do their business in unhygienic ways. It also saves time spent by workers trying to look for lavatories someplace else. Make sure to also have the portable lavatories cleaned every day.
Choose Deconstruction Over Demolition
Deconstruction means taking parts of a building and saving anything that can be recycled and reused. The salvageable materials can either be reused for the renovation project or be resold to the community. This practise may reduce your timeline and possibly reduce your costs. Saving parts of the old house will also preserve some good memories you made and keep mementos you can incorporate in the new design.
Keep all of these in mind before starting your home renovation project. Having a waste management plan will mean faster work and a better home you can enjoy for many years.
