Do you plan to remodel your home, or is it a large-scale demolition? Did you get yourself a commercial construction project?
Regardless of the nature and size of the construction task, you will need to dispose of the leftover materials. That’s why it is important to understand how to dispose of concrete properly.
You should use environmentally friendly methods to make the planet a better place to live. Fortunately, there are various ways of doing so.
Various Ways of How to Dispose of Concrete Properly
Some of your options when disposing of concrete include the following;
Donating Concrete
Concrete waste could be your opportunity to give back to the community. If there is an ongoing or upcoming project around your area, you can contribute by giving your concrete away.
Since concrete is expensive, your generosity will be highly appreciated. Besides, you will also get rid of it, thus a win-win situation.
Other than the community, you can also give it to your neighbors. You will be surprised to see many interested parties.
A free sign next to the concrete pile will grab the attention of any willing person. Within no time, the pile will be no more.
Look For a Junk Hauling Company
Disposing of concrete requires a lot of labor. It also requires expensive equipment such as a truck.
However, you won’t have to worry about these issues if you hire a junk hauling company. It will do the disposal on your behalf.
Take the Concrete to a Landfill
Unlike the previous option, the responsibility of disposing of the concrete falls on your shoulder in this case. You are in charge of its transportation from the construction site to the landfill.
Nevertheless, don’t assume you can take your concrete waste to any landfill. That’s because not all landfills accept it, thus the need to enquire beforehand.
Rent a Dumpster
This option is similar to the landfill one since you will also do some work. However, unlike a landfill, a dumpster will always accept concrete since it is designed for such waste.
Besides concrete, you can also dispose of roof shingles, floor tiles, sand, brick, asphalt, rock, and other heavy construction materials. It is ideal when disposing of a lot of concrete.
Selling the Concrete
If you don’t want to donate the concrete, you can always opt to sell it. One must admit that it won’t be easy, but it will be worth the effort eventually.
Look for online marketplaces such as Letgo and Craigslist. They are great platforms for reaching as many potential buyers as possible.
Upon posting the concrete you are selling, what’s left is for you to wait. Alternatively, spread the word to family members, friends, and acquaintances.
You can use your social media accounts and handles too. Equally important, use a For Sale sign next to the concrete pile.
Reach Out to a Building Supplies Retailer
This option is the most suitable for dealing with excess concrete. That’s because most building supplies retailers are willing to buy such materials if unused.
However, don’t expect the retailer to pick up the concrete. It is your responsibility to transport the concrete to them.
Call a Landscape or Concrete Supplier
A building supplies retailer may not be an option if it is used concrete for obvious reasons. That’s where landscape and concrete suppliers come in.
For example, landscape suppliers are willing to accept old concrete debris and bricks due to the nature of their work. They will recycle and crush these leftovers to suit their needs.
These new chunks are ideal for underlayment and gravel during road construction. There are high chances of you taking the transportation duty.
Look for a Recycling Center
Some local governments have recycling centers and programs. Find out if yours is among them and approach them if so.
It ranks high among environmentally friendly ways of disposing of concrete. Why not when it saves considerable space in landfills?
These centers convert your old concrete into new one. Upon recycling, the new concrete is ideal for various corporate and residential building projects.
Besides concrete, these demolition and construction recycling centers take up other wastes. They include paper, dirt, cardboard, and drywall.
Like most of the ways of disposing of concrete, you will cater for its transport.
Advantages of Recycling Concrete
If your concrete is recyclable, never hesitate to consider this form of disposal. That’s because it has several benefits, including the following;
Reduces construction raw materials cost: construction isn’t cheap hence the need to grab every opportunity to cut costs.
You can repurpose old content into useable forms such as landscaping mulch, aggregate base, and backfill.
Enhancing efficiency: A pile of concrete lying around a construction site can be a nuisance.
It prevents easy maneuvering of the construction equipment and recycling will solve this problem.
Lowers disposal costs: If you choose other ways of disposing of concrete, you might incur a huge cost.
It comprises landfill fees, dumpsite rent, and transport to designated areas. You can save money by recycling concrete instead.
Creates jobs: The recycling industry employs a huge number of people.
Preserve the environment: The more people recycle concrete, the need for places to dispose of it will reduce. Consequently, the land can be used for other uses.
Saves landfill space: There are high chances of waste concrete landing in landfills after disposal. However, that won’t be necessary if recycled, thus saving landfill space.
Is Disposing of Concrete the Only Option?
As mentioned earlier, you can always consider recycling old concrete. In other instances, you can reuse it without doing much.
However, not all concrete is reusable. The types of concrete that are reusable include the following;
- Concrete slurry
- Concrete mix
- Concrete rubble
- Concrete chunks
- Concrete slabs
- Concrete blocks
Conclusion
How to dispose of concrete properly will no longer be a mystery. That’s because the various ways of doing it are now at your disposal.
Some are free, while others come at a cost. For the latter, some methods are more expensive than others.
In other instances, you will have to transport the concrete areas to the corresponding places. Alternatively, you can reuse or recycle the concrete.
Regardless of the method you choose, disposing of concrete correctly is important. It also has various benefits worth enjoying whenever you can.