Guest Post
Renovations can leave many homeowners in a frustrating predicament. The work can be lengthy, stressful, and expensive, but the rewards of renovating a home are amazing once finished. But what about the leftover waste? What should be done with it? Who will dispose of it? And how much will this cost me anyway?
Leftover waste is inevitable during home renovations. Whether you’re renovating your entire kitchen or just replacing a single tap, there will be some leftover waste. And while the problem of leftover waste is common, it doesn’t have to become overwhelming.
There are simple steps that homeowners can take to reduce the amount of renovation-related waste they produce while cutting costs associated with their renovations.
Here are our top tips to staying waste-free during your next home renovation:
1. Never leave paint tins outside of the bin once your project is finished
Paint tins are especially problematic when it comes to leftover waste. Not only do they take up a significant amount of space, but their lids are difficult to remove after drying, meaning that they must be crushed before disposal. Doing so only breaks the paint tin further and makes it almost impossible to recycle.
If you have paint left in the tins offer them on local freecycle sites as someone may be able to make use of them.
If you can’t give the leftover paint away check how to recycle them with your local recycling centre as this can vary between areas.
2. Hire waste removal services to transport and recycle your leftover waste
If possible, hire a service to take care of the transportation and recycling. This not only takes the stress out of dealing with leftover waste, but it will save you money too. For example, hiring (eco-friendly) skip bins to take away all of your waste if you’re renovating a kitchen.
Skip hire companies are adept at recycling materials, so you can rest assured that your leftover waste will find its way to where it belongs – whether that’s a recycling facility or landfill. The most important thing is comparing different skip hire companies based on reviews and recommendations and choosing the best.
3. How to deal with plastic wrap
A lot of items you buy for your renovation project may come wrapped in plastic wrapping. Most of this plastic wrap is tricky to recycle and you will need to know what type of plastic it is before you dispose of it.
Don’t be ashamed if this is difficult – when faced with plastic wrap, many people find that they struggle to find a way to break this waste down into manageable sizes.
The best solution is to have a dedicated waste bin for plastic wrap that you can easily transfer to your local recycling plant or skip bins under the supervision of your waste removal service.
Hiring someone else to handle the transportation of your leftover waste will help you to avoid breaking this plastic down yourself – which can lead to (you guessed it!) spilling and breaking the plastic further.
4. Don’t leave leftover waste hanging around
This sounds like an impossible task, but leave your waste for too long, and you may find that it becomes just that…waste! If you’re renovating your bathroom, pack away any waste and leftover bits in an out-of-the-way cupboard and leave it there until you’re ready to dispose of it.
This will save you from transporting the waste around your home, which can lead to spillages and more broken plastic.
Clean up as you go along with Natural Cleaning products to keep your home clean and tidy as renovations can be very messy.
5. Break up large pieces of leftover waste into smaller, more manageable sizes
Large pieces of leftover waste can make transporting them to where they need to go a real pain. If you have a particularly large item – such as a broken toilet or bathtub – it might be safer and easier for you to break these items up into smaller pieces before transporting them to your local recycling plant or rubbish removal service.
Breaking larger pieces of waste down into smaller pieces is safer and more environmentally friendly. When you utilize a skip bin service in Melbourne, your waste is sorted according to the type and category of material.
This means that if you break (or damage) materials down before they’re sent for processing, you’ll increase the efficiency of your waste removal.
6. Avoid transporting waste in plastic bags
You may find yourself tempted to transport leftover waste in plastic bags, or even paper bags. However, these are not great materials for storing large amounts of broken-down material – and using them will only lead to further spills and mess.
Your best bet is to use ready-to-go cardboard boxes with the lids intact, as these will provide easy and safe storage for your leftover waste. Your leftover paint tins, for example, can be stored safely in cardboard boxes. Throw your unused materials in the box and secure it with tape – done.
7. Mind where you park when transporting waste
If you’re using a car to transport your leftover waste, make sure you are mindful of where you park when transporting your waste to a recycling plant or rubbish removal service. Avoid blocking other cars, and do not park where you may be causing an obstruction (for example, entrances/exits).
8. Inspect your waste before taking to Recycling Centre
Suppose you’re going to a recycling plant or rubbish removal service. In that case, it is vital that you thoroughly inspect your leftover waste before dumping it into a skip bin or tipping facility.
There are strict safety measures at these places, and the staff will refuse your waste if they determine that it contains any hazardous materials. If you suspect that your leftover waste may contain hazardous materials, then you will need to ensure you dispose of it correctly. Find somewhere safer to dispose of your hazardous material – such as a specialist recycling facility.
9. Store leftover rubbish in accessible locations
When you’re storing what remains of your renovation, try and keep the items nearest to where they need to go as you begin the renovation process. For example, if you’re renovating your kitchen, keep all leftover paints and tools in a garage or garden shed closest to where they will be needed for your bathroom renovation.
Storing waste materials in accessible locations means that you won’t have to waste time transporting them across your home to where they need to go. Additionally, you won’t risk damaging (or even losing!) any of these items if they are kept in direct view during the renovation process.
10. Recycle your leftover waste materials when appropriate
Did you know that recycling is one of the best ways of getting rid of waste? Look out for recycling facilities for the types of material that you are throwing away. If you’re remodelling your bathroom, for example, try to recycle or reuse any remaining drywall; this material can be broken down and repurposed in a variety of ways.
If you have any leftover paint, this can be donated to local schools that often utilize these materials for art lessons. Check with your local tip or recycling plant to see what types of materials they accept before disposing of anything – it’s better to do so rather than contaminate the recycling process.
Renovation can be a frugal and eco-friendly way to give your home an updated look. However, it is important to consider environmental factors when you embark on your next renovation project.
Remember to mind where you park; keep leftovers hidden (but accessible); inspect before dumping; store in easily accessible locations; and finally recycle your materials when appropriate.
If you heed these tips, your renovation will be a green success!
