How Businesses Handle Debris Removal During Renovations

Renovations can provide a face lift for your brand, enhance services and workflows, and give customers welcoming experiences, but they will result in debris that will need to be removed legally and safely. Here will provide an overview of what to expect, what to do to protect employees and customers during renovations, and the best practices for removing, recycling, and communicating during the renovation. As with any build phase, the renovation clean-up is a critical phase, and by planning your clean-up you can reduce risk, manage your costs, and ensure you complete the phases within your timeline.

Common Debris from Office Remodels

Even the smaller of office renovations tend to produce waste materials at a greater quantity than expected. Before the project starts make a list of the materials you think will be produced, and where to dispose of them. Knowing what to expect will allow you to right-size your container and schedule of pickups to ensure debris does not overwhelm your space. Also, if you are in a multi-tenant building you will want to make sure you are conducting due diligence around freight elevator space and maybe identify a place to stage loads in multi-tenant groups.

• Drywall cutoffs, mud, and joint tape (likely the greatest volume of commercial demolition waste). More of this at this link https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/demolition-waste.
• Ceiling tiles, grid metal, and insulation
• Carpet, carpet pads, and vinyl planking or tiles
• Framing lumber, doors, millwork, and trim.
• Partitions and storefront glass.
• Packaging from new fixtures and furniture (cardboard, foam, plastic, etc.).
• Small amounts of construction and demolition debris for basic structural materials.

Keeping a Workplace Safe During Cleanup

When renovating your business, you will want to ensure employees and customers are safe and your objective will be to limit the renovations from slowing with increasing debris. It will be prudent to clearly delineate work zones and avoid any work in buffer zones, while posting signage at all entrance points for employees and customers to see. Use dust barriers, negative-air machines, and site cleanup on a daily basis to minimize the number of airborne particles that can travel through the building.

Keep walkways and exits clear at all times and ensure that your stored tools and stacked materials are all out of the way of customers. Require PPE for all individuals in the work zone. Use a sealed, wheeled bin to carry debris (not dragging bagged debris across the floor). At every job, work with your HVAC contractor to cap or isolate vents in the workspace from dropping dust. Assign a daily debris lead and have them ensure that aisles are clear, containers are locked, and floor protection is in place, before you open and before you close.

Disposal Rules for Commercial Debris

Commercial projects have stricter disposal requirements than residential remodel. There are more materials that are recyclable or banned from the landfill and some items (such as old ballasts, e-waste, and certain paints) are regulated. Verify the rules about what can be accepted at your local (transfer station) basin and require weight tickets and disposal receipts to be able to track the chain of custody.

If you are working in coordination with a basin local provider, consider a debris removal service Spokane Valley to work with on tearing out, sorting, haul-off, and document the process at the end. Putting a service operator near the job can help reduce time in travel and know containers are getting rotated in a timely manner.

There are some key practices that will keep you compliant, on schedule, and not have people complaining about the debris overflow. Review them with your contractor to integrate into the plan before demolition starts.

• Identify regulated waste items whenever possible (e-waste, lamps, batteries, adhesives) and remove them separately.
• Use licensed haulers and approved facilities and be sure to keep manifests, receipts and any abatement documentation.
• Keep loads separate so you minimize contamination costs and salvage recycling value.
• Don’t overload bins – lids should close to minimize wind-blown litter and potential fines.

How to Reduce Disruption to Customers

You can retrofit for continuing loyalty through refurbishing if you stage the work. Schedule any noisy and dusty demolition or construction when the site is closed or at off-peak hours when it is quiet. Adjust size of dumpster rentals, so they fit on your lot and don’t block parking or line of sight to your site; swap them out at off-peak hours. Alternatively, you might offer curb side pick-up or appointment times for service while the loud and distracting parts of your work are going on, so you can still promote your core service without tie-ups on people while checking into your site.

Create a temporary entrance/exit that is no less ‘clean’ than your core services: use clear temporary signage, make sure the paths are clean and even use mats or stanchions to direct customers to the new temporary entrance/exit. Cover the floors with ram board; put a fan in the window or door to exhaust. Keep a rolling “Quiet kit” (signage, vacuum, broom, wet wipes) clean several times per day. Communicate post milestones weekly on your door, make updates to your website and social pages, and properly train your staff to explain new routes and temporary hours, or service changes. When in doubt, over-communication; it’s best to be straight with messaging to your customers while you continue to manage construction work, and waste hauling.

Recycling Options for Businesses

It’s good PR to recycle and it will request costs in landfill costs, allow. Refuse the e-waste is a minor project: establish stream or streams; set up containers; and create clear labels. Ask for diversion reports from your contactor for sharing about your environmental achievements with your staff and customers. For more recycling options and ideas, make sure to visit this site.

• Cardboard, metal studs, copper wire and clean wood are often recyclable, and rebate opportunities.
• Carpet, ceiling tiles and drywall usually have had taken-back programs through manufacturers, or specialty programs through some of the regions.
• Salvage and donate any gently used doors, fixtures and furniture; note or record for donations to consider tax donation opportunities.

An efficient recycling strategy can help reduce your disposal costs, keep your site areas organized, and demonstrate brand values. If you have the right partners and proactive plans in place, you can manage your construction waste quickly, keep people safe and re-open confidently – on time and on budget.