Getting Ready For Winter Construction Debris Removal

 Winter is only a few months away and there is a lot of construction still taking place. But the colder weather makes construction debris removal a challenge. What can you do?

It's fall now, but winter is coming upon us soon. The weather will be changing, but for many locations the construction work continues. In many states, such as California, the construction industry still manages to keep building through most of the winter months.

Regardless of whether it’s a large commercial project or smaller residential jobs, this also means that construction debris removal is still going to be needed for all the trash that to be hauled off.

This includes the trash from material packaging, cutoffs of material, scrap, demolition debris, and other types of waste materials. These are, or course, the normal by-products of any construction (or demolition) project. And cleaning all this up, hauling it out, and disposing of it is something that you usually do grudgingly. In fact, debris removal is a not really a job anyone wants to do.

But it has to be done!

A Strategic Option for Your Construction Debris Removal

There are probably only a few options for most contractors when it comes to construction debris removal. For those larger, enterprise level construction companies, it may seem far more feasible and economic to use their own resources and manpower to clean and haul away their debris. In fact, some large firms have people and equipment just for that task.

But it is still an undesirable chore.

However, not every contractor wants to be constantly stuck with doing their own construction debris hauling. This is because the task is time-consuming and takes resources away from the actual building work. In other words, anyone from his crew  that's engaged in cleaning up the job site is not working on the building side of the job.

So what are the other options?

One common option is to hire a local person with an available truck and is ready to make a few bucks. It sounds great and local guys with trucks are often easy to find. But there is a downside to this approach. It can, in fact, even be risky for you and often inefficient. Depending on what's in your debris, there can be issues with hazardous waste and the added risk of improper dumping of your waste materials. Potential liabilities abound with this option.

The only other real option, and what we believe is the most efficient and cost-effective, is to outsource your debris removal and hauling work to a professional junk hauling service.

What You Need to Know When Outsourcing Your Construction Debris Removal

Even though a business promotes itself as a professional junk hauling service, you need to know that not all junk haulers are the same. Not everyone offers or even really knows how to properly handle construction debris.

Any contractor knows that there is more to it than simply loading a truck and dumping it somewhere.

With that in mind, here are a few tips designed to help you make a quality decision when hiring a junk hauling firm.

TIP #1

Be sure to get a free on-site estimate first

One thing that a quality junk removal firm will not do is to simply give you an estimate over the phone for this type of work. Instead, they will come to your site and work with you to determine the scope of the work involved, the frequency needed, and the potential volume of debris that will be produced.

An proper estimate should include all phases of the removal work including any recurring pick-ups and removal. By the way, simply getting a flat fee from a company website is a good indication that the company is not experienced with removing construction waste.

TIP #2

Confirm that the company offers site clean-up services as well as debris hauling

It’s fairly simple and straightforward to simply pick up construction debris and haul it off site. However, it is quite another thing altogether to clean up a construction site, as well. While you cannot expect a debris hauling company to "dust and vacuum" everything or perform a complete site restoration, a professional firm will make sure that the site is left in a state that is safe and clean.

This is important since one of the biggest safety hazards on any construction project is the loose debris lying around on the job site. In fact, clutter and construction debris on a job site is one of the major causes of trips and falls. These types of accidents can be costly on many levels. Sadly, most of them are also easily prevented.

TIP #3

Look for both one-time and recurring debris pick-up and removal services

Contractors know that larger construction projects take longer to complete and, as a result, can generate regular amounts of debris over the length of the job. In addition, on a large job the trash and material is produced in quantities that cannot be left to the end of the job.

What this means is that you will probably need a number of scheduled pick-ups and removal throughout the life of the building process. In addition, depending on the location of the project and the nature of the work, some periodic clean-ups may be required for both aesthetic and public safety reasons.

Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle Construction Materials and Debris 

As a contractor you know that probably the easiest way to get rid of your construction site waste and debris is to simply have it hauled off and dumped somewhere. And dumped in a landfill, of course, but dumping it is still the most straightforward approach to pursue, nonetheless.

But, fortunately, that's not the only approach.

Another option for contractors and job site managers is to reuse as much of the waste material as possible through deconstruction. No matter whether you reuse it, or it's processed to be sold or used elsewhere, repurposing your construction debris can be highly practical.

Much of the more common materials used in construction, or potentially recovered during demolition, can be reused. The market for a variety of refurbished or recycled building materials is huge and growing.  Here's a graphic snapshot illustrating some of these C&D waste statistics:

Your local agencies, as well as the Federal and State agencies, have specific requirements for the proper handling and disposal of various materials and substances. This means that whoever is ultimately removes and disposes of construction debris must be knowledgeable in this area.

One advantage of using professional firms is that they will make use of the proper disposal sites and methods, while recycling as much of your materials as possible.

Why It Makes Sense to Outsource Your Construction Debris Removal

Debris hauling and site clean-up might be considered “unwanted part of the job” for many contractors, it really doesn't need to be. Consider that every hour your and your crew spends picking up debris, cleaning the site, and hauling off the junk is an hour NOT spent generating revenue on a project, the cost begins to add up.

Add in the possible costs of hazardous material disposal - and perhaps even required training for your employees - the benefits of outsourcing this job make sense.

Do you have a current or upcoming project that will need clean-up and removal? If so, call Junk King! Our team specializes in construction debris removal. We can be at your facility in mere minutes, so call us today! Our crew is fully insured and well-trained, so you can trust them to get rid of your unwanted items in a professional and courteous fashion.

One of the best things about hiring Junk King is that we recycle a much of the material we pick-up. This is proof of our commitment to being an eco-friendly removal service. If you have questions about what we do or what we believe, give us a call at (707) 744-4254.