Eco-Friendly Ways to Dispose of Renovation Waste at Home

Renovating your space can be very satisfying until the pile of leftover tiles, wood, box dust, etc. starts to grow. If you think ahead, you can keep most of that out of the landfills above all, save yourself money, and even do something nice for your community.

This article gives you some simple, smart ways to sort, recycle, compost, give away, and start counting your successes. Think of this as building a resource loop, in which today’s “wastes” become tomorrow’s supplies. If you happen to need back-up help, a local junk hauler can help you do the heavy lifting, without sacrificing your eco-goals. Check out https://www.quora.com/How-do-junk-removal-services-work to know how this works.

Sorting Materials for Reuse

Before anything leaves your driveway make an orderly sorting plan. Designate some clear-cut zones (“Save”, “Donate”, “Recycle” and “Hazardous”) and have your gloves, boxes and tarps handy. A simple white board, or a note on your phone will help you remember which pile goes where, and on what day you are going to drop it off. Sorting early will prevent damage and make it easier to send each article on to its best second life—especially in the time of construction debris removal.

• Lumber and trim: Save long pieces to be used for shelving, garden beds or closet organizers. Short offcuts become shims or kindling (if untreated).
• Hardware/Fasteners: Gather hinges, handles, screws, bolts and brackets for your next repair in glass jars so you can see what you have.
• Bricks/pavers and tile: Stack unbroken ones on a pallet; they are fabulous for stepping paths or mosaic projects.
• Packaging and Plastics: Take cardboard apart, bag the stretch wrap separately, and keep foams uncontaminated so they can be recycled where possible.

Finding Local Recycling Centers

Recycling policies differ for every city, so first check your municipal web site and give a quick call to your waste authority. Inquire about drop-off hours for metals, drywall (gypsum), concrete and e waste (old thermostats, light fixtures etc.) If renting a dumpster, ask for a mixed C&D (construction and demolition) dumpster that is sorted by your hauler at a materials recovery facility which maxes out your diversion rate.

Map out a single run that hits metal, concrete and e waste facilities on the same day to minimize fuel consumption and emissions or schedule a roll-off dumpster pick-up to coincide with your run. Many regions also have specialty recyclers for things like carpet, insulation or window glass. A reputable pro – Demolition contractor Abrahams for example – can pre-sort loads and send equipment to the proper facility saving you time and trips.

Composting Wood Scraps?

You bet. Some wood can go in your compost, as long as it is safe and well prepared. This means plain, unadulterated, untreated, unpainted wood only. Think of clean wood shavings/clean wood chips. These are in the “brown” (carbon) categories, which balance the food scraps and grass clippings.

• What to use: Untreated sawdust from saws, planer shavings and clean wood chips from clean, natural lumber.
• What to skip: Pressure-treated, stained, glued wood and painted wood. MDF and plywood have glue in them that doesn’t belong in compost.
• How to do it: Sprinkle small amounts in to prevent clumps. Thin layers will enhance the bacteria action. Mix with “greens.” Keep piles moist, but not soggy. Turn weekly.
• Bonus: Larger clean chips make excellent paths in the garden; clean wood chips bark mulch for around trees in the landscape.

Donation Options for Fixtures

There are many renovation leftovers that may have value to someone else. Re-use centers, or Habitat-style centers, neighborhoods, schools and theater programs frequently are glad to have good stock and fixtures. Call first and send pictures. Many will even give free picks for the large items and tell you how to take them apart so that they can pick them up!

A simple cleaning, a light polishing, or replacing a screw, can mean the difference between a possible “yes,” when the staff looks at them. Doors, cabinets, sinks, mirrors, light fixtures and working appliances are all winners. Put small items, such as knobs or tile, by kind in boxes, so they may be processed easily. If they are for a total house clean-up project, be ascertained that you have the ready to install items and the project scrap, separately, as the donors like items that can be used immediately.

Keep in mind what they have picked up and what you have the potential of deductions, or tax, as well as the organization being aware of the kind and amounts of property received and estimated value.

Tracking Your Carbon Savings

If you measure it, you will improve it! A little record is all that is needed to show what you have diverted will enthuse the whole family and will furnish you with some statistics to celebrate! Weigh your material with a luggage scale or count your receipts for your harvester, some of the commercial waste pick-up people give diversion reports which will make this point easy to put into practice.

• Tally by material: Count pounds, or kilograms, of wood, metal, concrete, cardboard and E-waste, which you have reused, donated or recycled.
• Estimate the impacts: Use an online calculator to estimate CO₂ savings from your diverted materials and avoided landfill emissions. Click here to learn more.
• Set micro goals: Have some ideas on totals, 50 percent diversion on this room, and 75 percent on the next.
• Share your experiences: Before and after shots are helpful and are a good reminder—a short report with totals of results. Your discoveries may help to lead the neighbors into play.

Renovation waste doesn’t have to be wasteful. With the plan for sorting, recycling, composting and donating, and having good partners when needed, you may lessen your load on the planet and give the usable item a bright and new life.