When done correctly, waste management can feel almost simple on most job sites. Garbage, recycling, and industrial waste are stored orderly and hauled away before bins overflow.
But just because it looks easy, that doesn’t mean there aren’t common mistakes that can make the whole process messy, complicated, and expensive. At FenceLine Rentals Ltd., we’ve been helping job sites find waste management solutions for years and have picked up a few tips and tricks along the way.
Here are five common waste management mistakes we’ve seen on job sites and how we can help you prevent making them:
Common Waste Management Mistakes & How We Can Help You Avoid Them
- Not Having a Waste Management Plan
Whether it’s waste diversion, recycling, or disposing of hazardous waste that has very specific municipal rules, a well-thought-out waste management plan is not only good for the environment, but it can save you money and keep your work site safe, too.
It isn’t as simple as placing a few bins on your site and hoping for the best, though. Everything from pickup schedules to proper bin placement can make a huge difference, so developing a waste management plan beforehand is critical.
How FenceLine can help: FenceLine Rentals Ltd. not only has industry-leading bins available that can be used on levelled industrial and construction sites, but our team has also been helping job sites build waste management plans for decades. FenceLine is LEED-certified, showing that we’re an industry-leader and expert in environmentally sustainable practices and can help your job site divert expensive materials out of the waste stream and into the more affordable-to-dispose recycling.
A smart waste management plan is the starting point, and it’s important to get it right. Fenceline Rentals can help ensure that you do.
- Not Separating Waste Streams
It costs a lot less money when you drop off recycling at municipal landfills than it does when you bring garbage. In the City of Calgary, for example, the disposal rate for “basic sanitary waste” costs 25% more than recyclable drywall and wood. Industrial waste costs even more, and if recyclable materials are mixed in with other waste, you could be charged up to double what you pay for recyclables alone.
Even before we get to the obvious environmental and social benefits of separating waste streams, the financial hit alone makes it worthwhile to have a waste management plan that separates the different streams before removing them from a job site and taking them to a landfill.
How FenceLine can help: FenceLine’s LEED certification is proof of our company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, and we not only have the bins and hauling services you’ll need to dispose of your waste properly, but we can also help with program review and design for your job site, as well.
It’s important to understand what materials go where when you’re developing your waste management plan. Separating recycling, hazardous materials, and other waste saves money and is good for the environment. Clearly labelled bins and training for workers on the job site help.
Our team of experts can help with every step of the process and can provide reports on your progress.
- Incorrectly Placed Bins
It might sound obvious, but waste and recycling bins need to be placed in the right areas of a job site if you’re going to have an effective waste management plan.
A job site can get busy, and while you don’t want bins in the way of the work being done, you also don’t want them to be so far away that people working can’t easily dispose of waste. Having garbage bins accessible but recycling bins tucked away somewhere inconvenient can discourage the separation of waste streams, too.
It’s also important that it be simple and straightforward to collect the bins and remove them from your site when it’s time to take waste to the landfill.
How FenceLine can help: We have bins of many different sizes that can fit onto any job site and can easily be removed when necessary. Our team can help with your waste management plan to ensure that bins are conveniently placed—both for storing garbage and recycling on-site while it waits for pickup and for when it comes time to haul it away.
- Overlooking Industrial Waste Requirements
Calgary has clear rules on what is considered industrial and hazardous waste, which can only be disposed of at the Shepard landfill facility. In many circumstances, it can even require a permit, with applications available online.
It’s important to separate industrial waste from everything else you’re planning on recycling or taking to the landfill, and it can be expensive if you don’t. Treated wood, fluorescent light tubes, oily rags, and filters with chemicals are all considered industrial waste.
How FenceLine can help: You’ll want to create a separate space for industrial waste to ensure it doesn’t get mixed in with other garbage and recycling, and FenceLine has long specialized in waste management for all sectors, so we’re more than capable of hauling away your job site’s industrial waste.
- Inadequate Staff Training
The best waste management plan in the world will only work if the staff on your job site are paying attention and cooperating. They’re the ones who will be disposing of the waste and recycling, so it’s vital that they understand the specifics of your waste management plan.
Spending some time going over the details and expectations will ensure that once work gets going on your site, they’re actively participating in your waste management plan.
Avoid Common Waste Management Mistakes with FenceLine
Waste management is an important element of every job site, and the right plan will help save you money, keep your site clean and orderly, and have a positive impact on the environment.
From strong and versatile containers to flexible waste-hauling plans, FenceLine Rentals Ltd. helps job sites meet their waste management goals in every sector.
For more information on how we can help with waste management on your job site, call us at (782)825-5150 or fill out our contact form today.