Construction’s expected to achieve an AAGR of over 4% between 2024 to 2027 in the US. The construction industry was already valued at $2.1 million in 2022.
If you manage a construction site, you may have to deal with hazardous materials. This is a very common job that has to be dealt with for each project.
Construction sites often create a variety of waste throughout the process. This waste needs to be safely transported to a disposal site.
Keep reading to find out how construction companies can remove hazardous materials.
1. Codes and Regulations
A hazardous material is something that requires specific disposal. This becomes even more complicated as state regulations and codes are different everywhere.
This may depend on the type of material or where it is going to ultimately go. It can be confusing to keep track of these codes and regulations for each project.
In some instances, you may even need to get permits or licenses to do this. Some locations also have time limitations where removal’s required within a few weeks or months.
This is why you should do research according to where the project is. This will help you to keep track of local regulations and safety precautions.
Keep in mind that these regulations can include special handling and storage practices. One example of this is lead paint which you must seal in an impermeable container.
Some of these regulations may feel overwhelming, but they are there for a purpose. Your top priority should be making sure all waste’s disposed of in the safest manner.
2. Prioritize Safety
Speaking of safety, this is a very important aspect of the construction industry. Every construction company should have safety protocols regarding hazardous materials.
These are protocols you need to follow, as well as local regulations. This includes wearing protective gear or using only the approved containers for transport.
There should also be protocols involving who handle waste disposal. Workers should have gone through safety and hazardous waste training to do this job safely.
In most cases, it is better to outsource this work to a licensed professional. Hazardous waste comes with a variety of dangers, and it is always better to be on the safe side.
3. Outsource Transport
There are all kinds of trucking companies that provide hazardous transport. It is a good idea to find a trucking company that provides this so you can outsource.
You need to identify the kinds of waste there is on the site and arrange transportation. The majority of construction companies do not have the resources available for this.
A company like Patriot Freight Group provides trucking options that include hazmat trucks. This is one of the many trucking solutions that handle a variety of materials.
The company can pick up hazardous materials and dispose of them at the drop site. This includes materials like explosives, chemicals, flammable, etc.
Aside from waste, intermediary trucking also provides other services. This includes options like transporting mats and sandbags to the construction site.
You can also choose different trucking options like heavy haul or over-dimensional equipment. These trucks can transport track hoes, stop decks, and RGNs.
They are perfect for transporting helical piles and other important materials. These companies have the latest safety standards, whether the materials are hazardous or not.
4. Find the Right Disposal Site
Aside from hiring a flatbed trucking company, there is something else to consider. You also need to make sure you find the right disposal site for the waste.
This is the site where the hazmat transport will drop off the load.
The first thing you need to do is research each disposal option. A disposal facility should have certifications and regulations for that state.
This ensures that the waste’s managed responsibly, removing any legal risks. The best options are usually specialized hazardous waste facilities.
Disposal facilities handle a variety of hazardous materials and dispose of them. This reduces how many disposal sites you need, making the process easier.
They can usually handle waste like chemicals, hazardous liquids, and solvents. If you can’t find all the information you need online, give the facility a call.
You need to be sure the facility will take your materials before sending the trucks.
5. Create a Disposal Plan
When you manage a construction site, there are a lot of moving parts. Hazardous materials are just one thing that you have to focus on.
Because of this, you want to have a hazardous waste disposal plan. This will outline exactly what needs to happen for things to run safely and legally.
The first thing you need to do is figure out what waste is likely to occur. You can do this by looking at the construction materials used and the waste it produces.
Something like aggregate is not going to create hazardous waste. But different chemicals or liquids used on site may create waste you have to dispose of.
This step will help you predict what kind of materials you need to plan on disposing of. You should also try to figure out how much hazardous waste this will produce.
The next thing to do is organize how the waste will be handled and stored. This will be done on-site, so you need a plan for where everything is going to go.
Waste is best stored somewhere out of the way to reduce exposure, especially regarding chemicals.
6. Separate on Site
Construction sites create a variety of waste materials throughout the process. This will go on until the project is complete and materials are no longer in use.
Because of this, organizing these materials should be a constant process. The best way to do this is to have on-site separation that everyone follows.
This is when all the workers separate the waste as it’s produced. This can go into different sections on the side or into different piles.
This will make the process of disposal ten times easier than it otherwise would be. This is especially true if different waste is going to different facilities.
It is a good idea to have certain people designated with this responsibility. You may have site managers or workers in charge of locating waste and separating it.
This will keep things organized and ensure the waste isn’t getting mixed together.
7. Audit Waste
Part of good waste disposal is taking preventative measures as well. One way to do this is to do a hazardous waste audit on every construction project.
This should be easy to do since the waste is organized into sections. You can identify what creates the most hazardous waste and how that could be remedied.
For instance, you may have hazardous waste from materials that were damaged in construction. You could create a material management process that reduces this problem.
There may also be instances where materials can find another purpose. You may be able to recycle or reuse materials for another project.
This is something that construction companies should do with all materials. This includes materials like pre-cast concrete, where excess waste could be reduced.
What Qualifies as Construction Waste?
As a construction manager, materials are part of your job. It’s important to understand what qualifies as waste to understand how to dispose of them.
Some waste is not hazardous, but it still needs to go somewhere after construction. Here are some examples of common waste on construction sites and their regulations.
Building Materials
When it comes to construction, there is one particular type of waste that is the most common. This is building material waste that comes from the main materials.
This is usually comprised of materials that are damaged during the building process. Or you may have some materials left over that don’t have another purpose.
Common examples of this include wood, bricks, nails, and glass. The best thing you can do with this waste is find a way to reuse it on another project.
Many of these materials can also go into recycling to avoid going to waste. This is not a type of waste that is usually considered hazardous.
But there may be certain regulations regarding how this waste’s disposed of. A heavy haul trucking company can help you remove this waste from the site when necessary.
Hazardous Construction Materials
There are a lot of different materials used in construction. Aside from things like wood and drywall, different chemicals and liquids are also common.
These produce hazardous construction materials when there is some left over. Some examples of this include leftover paint, adhesive, and liquid chemicals.
Different containers can also go into the hazardous waste category from lingering contaminants. These are materials that require a specific kind of disposal.
Safe disposal is necessary to prevent harm to people exposed to these materials. It is also important regarding the environment and pollution.
If you do not use the correct disposal methods, this could be a huge problem. Not only is it irresponsible, but you could also receive fines, project delays and other forms of punishment.
Demolition Waste
There are a lot of individual jobs that go on in construction sites. One of these jobs is demolition for certain projects.
Demolition creates a wide range of waste, from non-hazardous to hazardous materials. The most common hazardous material left over is asbestos.
Other waste materials like metal, glass, and tiles can also be hazardous to a point. You need to arrange disposal for demolition waste that aligns with protocol and regulations.
A lot of construction companies may be able to recycle some demolition materials as well. To make this process easier, you can hire a trucking company for transport.
This is ideal if you have a large amount of demolition waste that’s going to disposal facilities.
Is Hiring a Hazmat Truck Service Necessary?
If you are on a budget, you may not want to outsource when it comes to waste. This is quite common for construction companies as you have so much money going out.
It is easy for managers to try to cut corners to save on costs. But in most instances, hiring a hazmat truck is a necessity for safe disposal.
These trucks provide the perfect solution for transporting hazardous materials. This includes things like solvents, chemicals, and contaminated containers.
The trucks can transport to any disposal facility in the safest way possible. This is the most responsible way to transport hazardous waste with the least amount of risk.
It is also a valuable option when transporting any kind of construction waste. Depending on the project, there may be a lot of waste left over that requires large trucks.
You may also need a heavy haul truck to dispose of things like concrete and metal. This is something that would be difficult to do on your own if not impossible.
It is also irresponsible to delegate this kind of task to ordinary construction workers. They don’t have the experience required to do this in the safest way.
Hazardous Materials: How to Dispose for Construction Companies
Construction projects come with a wide variety of hazardous materials. These materials may be left over after the project or may have been the result of damaged materials.
You need to identify the hazardous materials and follow local codes and regulations. This includes finding the right disposal sites depending on the material.
It is a good idea to hire a trucking company to transport these materials in the safest way possible.
Do you need a trucking company for hazmat transport? Contact us today at Patriot Freight Group to get an estimate.
