When you’re done with a construction project, you’re left with a lot of waste. Construction waste can be dangerous if not disposed of properly, so it’s important to know waste disposal in Malaysia. Here are some tips for disposing of construction waste safely and efficiently.
What Kinds of Construction Waste Are There?
You must correctly manage and dispose of the many types of waste that are produced by construction, demolition, and excavation sites in accordance with the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011. The majority of building, demolition, and excavation trash is inert waste, which is composed of concrete, bricks, asphalt, stones, and soils, but you will inevitably produce other categories as well.
These are some examples of construction waste:
- cement, ceramics, concrete, bricks, and tiles.
- Glass, wood, and plastic.
- materials with asbestos and insulation.
- Tar, tar mixes, and coal tar.
- Metal sludge (such as pipes).
- dredging, stones, and soil.
- varnishes and paints.
- Sealants and adhesives.
Knowing what kinds your company produces is crucial because a lot of them can be recycled, reused, or salvaged. It also enables you to precisely separate everything so that your garbage collectors can take it from your location in an efficient and secure manner. The European Trash Catalogue (EWC), also known as LoW (List of Waste), has a list of all the various waste categories along with categorization codes to assist you in doing this.
Cutting Back on Construction Waste
Always think about which garbage is recyclable and reusable before you dispose of anything on your construction site. Remember that the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 demand that companies attest to using the waste management hierarchy when transporting waste.
The following is the hierarchy of waste management:
i.Reduce.
ii.Reuse.
iii.Recycle.
iv.Dispose.
The best method to adhere to the hierarchy is to be proactive. To find out how much waste you generate and how much, you should conduct a site waste management audit.
Your audit and plan should take into account these 3 major factors:
1.What are the most typical materials on your location that might end up as waste?
2.The various project phases will have an impact on the kind of waste produced. For instance, you’ll probably produce a significant amount of concrete trash during the initial stages of excavation.
3.How to keep these materials from being thrown out. This can entail enhancing your purchasing procedure, researching accessible plans, and getting in touch with your garbage collectors.
You should decide how your company will minimise waste after the audit, with an emphasis on reducing, reusing, and recycling. To document the findings of your audit and your anticipated waste management strategies, your company should develop a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP).
Prior to 2014, having a SWMP was required by law, but this is no longer the case. Despite this, it is still regarded as industry best practise because it is a well-known and widely-used method that benefits your company.
Guidelines for Cutting Down on Construction Waste
The waste management hierarchy states that you should prioritise reducing construction waste, but it’s also critical to consider recycling and reuse options when this isn’t feasible. Here are some pointers for carrying this out at your building, tearing down, or excavating site:
Reduce
Consider your purchases carefully. Careful preparation will prevent you from purchasing surplus and/or inappropriate items that wind up in a landfill. For instance, you can simply reduce the amount of trash produced by offcuts, such as pipes and wood, by purchasing items in more sensible lengths and sizes in the first place.
Reuse
Consider which remaining materials, such bricks, windows, roof tiles, etc., you may reuse for a different project. Additionally, you can join bring-back programmes, trade materials with other building sites, and pass materials on. You can return packing to the original manufacturer, for instance, under certain of these plans.
Recycle
You can probably recycle a sizable portion of your waste, which includes things like metal, paper, plastic, wood, glass, concrete, plasterboard, asphalt, and more. So that collectors can properly remove and handle your recyclable material, you should separate it. The maker of your products and your waste management contractor are frequently able to give you guidance on what can and cannot be recycled as well as how to separate and store it.
Remember that there are also recycling programmes for items used on building sites. The building industry research and information association, for instance, maintains a list of recycling locations online. Similar to this, you can recycle PVC trash thanks to Recovinyl, a project of the European PVC value-chain. To find out if they have recycling programmes, you may also inquire with the company who made your products.
How to Get Rid of Construction Waste
The only options left are recycling and/or disposal if you decide that some materials cannot be reduced or reused. The most convenient and efficient way to get rid of building waste is to hire skips from a rubbish removal business. Making ensuring you have the right number of skips on hand can help you sort your waste into hazardous and non-hazardous categories as well as recycling.
Before sending waste out for recycling or disposal, you must also write a categorization description and waste transfer notes, which we’ll go over in more depth below.
The Use of Skips for Construction Waste
You should verify with the Environment Agency that the waste collector has the appropriate licencing to carry waste before hiring skips for your waste disposal in Malaysia. If you dispose of rubbish in an unauthorised location, you may be responsible for paying landfill tax.
You should also decide if your skips will be placed on private property. If not, you must request a skip permission from your local government.
There are three main sorts of skips, so keep this in mind as you choose which to hire:
- a little skip for builders. This is 6,000 kilogrammes or 6 cubic yards (approximately 50-60 bin bags).
- a sizable skip for builders. The most typical size is 8 cubic yards or 8,000 lb, or roughly 60 to 80 bin bags.
- maximum skip. This is typically used for larger projects and is 12 cubic yards/12,000 kg (equal to about 100 to 120 trash bags).
Your skips should be placed in an appropriate, secure area that is accessible to personnel. Additionally, you should give workers with PPE to reduce dangers and clear signage so they can dispose of materials in the proper skip. For instance, they must wear steel toe cap boots when handling glass trash. Thus, it is crucial to provide clear directions and training.
Classification Descriptions: How to Write Them
Create a classification description for your waste before sending it out for recycling or disposal. This assists you in making decisions on how to manage the garbage and give waste contractors the required papers.
Those things must be in a classification description.
- The code for waste classification (as described earlier in this article).
- Whether or not it poses a risk.
- the kind of location or enterprise where the garbage was generated.
- a list of the substance(s)’ names.
- the method used to create the garbage.
- a physical and chemical evaluation.
- Any unique issues, conditions, or waste-related knowledge.
Visit the government’s information page on classification descriptions for more guidance.
Writing Waste Transfer Notes
The government website states that you “require a waste transfer note or a document with the same information, such as an invoice,” “for each load of non-hazardous waste you move off your premises.” Online registration is available, or you can download a trash transfer note to fill out on paper. Its objective is to provide more details about the waste you generated and to make the transfer process clear.
Both your company and the company that collects your waste must:
-Fill in the appropriate parts of the trash transfer note.
-Sign it.
-Maintain a copy for two years.
-If requested, present it to an enforcement officer from your neighbourhood council or the Environment Agency.
Go to the government’s information page for more guidance or to download a trash transfer letter.
Regarding trash management and disposal on construction, demolition, and excavation sites, the law is very clear. You may simply abide with the law, maintain safety, and dispose of waste responsibly as long as you stick to the procedures described in this article and properly teach everyone engaged in managing waste.
Learn more about : waste disposal in Malaysia
Explore more interesting articles at Root Article, thanks for reading !
