How Much Waste Will My Renovation Make – Why to Rent a Dumpster or Mini Bin

If you’ve ever watched an HGTV renovation program, you generally don’t see the big, big amounts of waste that get generated. Sure, they show a part of that but in all actuality, one’s renovation waste adds up quickly and can easily fill up a dumpster or two.

It’s notoriously very tough to eye how much construction waste you’re going to make. You don’t want to be without a safe place to put it all or struggling to find a method to transport it to the landfill.

If you’re excited to renovate the kitchen or bathroom, re-do the basement, or overhaul your landscaping, this generates a lot of waste. The best way to manage and control this waste is through a dumpster rental or mini bin rental.

A general rule for renovation waste

Although the amount of waste a renovation can make varies wildly, in general, we assume 60 pounds of waste per square foot. This means that an average sized kitchen is probably going to produce about 5 tons of waste in a renovation. The unfortunate thing is a lot of people try to manage this themselves, usually resulting in high costs, a lot of time and effort, and an environmental cost as well.

Why to rent a dumpster for renovation waste

You need a place to safely keep your renovation waste until it’s ready to be transported off property. That’s where a dumpster rental or mini bin rental for a renovation is needed. These bins get dropped off on your property and then, all you have to do is fill it up. Once it’s filled, a truck comes and off it gets hauled. It’s so simple and easy to do!

On top of that, you get a professional there to answer questions and help with the costs that accompany waste disposal. The whole process is made so much simpler when all you’re responsible for as a renovator is to fill the dumpster. From there, a company like Core Mini Bins comes to carry it off, recycle what can be recycled, and ensure waste is processed in the most environmentally sustainable way.

The problem of hazardous waste

There’s a list of what can and cannot be put into a dumpster rental for a renovation. Hazardous waste absolutely cannot go into a dumpster or mini bin as it could potentially contaminate everything inside, rending it unrecyclable. If you have hazardous waste like asbestos or other materials you’re a little unsure of how to handle, check with your dumpster provider.

 What renovation materials are allowed in a dumpster rental? Things like lumber, siding, drywall, roofing materials, general household materials, insulation, any decking or fencing, cabinets, windows, doors, carpet, flooring, all types of metal, and any general renovation materials are all permitted.

 What renovation materials are not allowed in a dumpster rental? The materials not permitted in a dumpster include hazardous materials, batteries, tires, animal by-products, food waste, biohazard materials, toxic materials, no Freon or regulated chemicals, no gasoline or propane, no highly flammable chemicals, paints, aerosols, and – unless otherwise specified – no concrete, asphalt, rock, stone, sod, loam, and/or dirt.

The three Rs of waste management hold true!

Before you start on a renovation project, get a rough idea of what sort of waste you will have, what you intend to do with it, and what ‘R’ it falls under – reduce, reuse, and recycle. This will affect how you dismantle elements and how they’re stored.

 Reduce – Identify any way there is for you to reduce the waste you will generate. Some materials can be recycled or reused thankfully. In your construction materials, ensure no unnecessary waste is generated from ordering too much.

 Reuse – Materials like hardwood flooring, brick, and certain pre-built elements in a home can be reused. For these things to be reusable though, you can’t just go in there with a demolition renovation. You’ve got to dismantle piece by piece, knowing full well what’s salvageable and what’s headed to the landfill.

 Recycle – In most renovations, there is a lot that can be recycled in some way. Some materials can be sent direct to a recycling facility while other more complete pieces can be donated through Habitat for Humanity or other organizations.

Where there are landfill fees for waste dumping

If you intend to do the whole renovation waste removal and disposal yourself, know that the landfill fees can be a huge problem. Weight adds up quickly. Why there are landfill fees like this are for several reasons, including to promote one to think of other ways to process and/or hopefully recycle the materials they need to get rid of. Things like paper, cardboard, wood, insulation, glass, wire, and metals – these are all things that can be recycled! Consider the alternative to going to a landfill.

What can be donated from renovation waste?

Construction building materials are reusable and recyclable, as is much of one’s renovation waste. Things like kitchen cupboards, bricks, masonry blocks, hardwood flooring, sinks, countertops, fixtures, and other similar elements can all be donated. If you intend to do this yourself, reach out to Habitat for Humanity to see what they’re able to accept. If you are partnering with a dumpster rental company or junk removal service, ask if they’re able to assist with the donation.

There is a lot of value in construction and renovation waste!

There’s such a long list of ways that the waste taken from your renovation can help other households, manufacturers, companies, and consumers live more eco-friendly lives. Here are some of the ways in which renovation waste can be repurposed and recycled.

 Any wood products that’s in decent shape can be shredded into a mulch or used for biomass fuels.
 Any metals taken from wires or appliances are very, very valuable as a recyclable. They’re usually smelted and converted into new metal products.
 Any cardboard or paper is ground up, turned back into pulp, and then used to create recycled new paper products.
 Fibreglass insulation is sometimes reused in cement creation, although this is one of the trickier materials to recycle.
 Glass is crushed or melted down before being reused in new glass products.

If you’re doing a renovation or new construction, know that waste will be created. Contact a company who can help. Get your own dumpster rental and waste disposal supports today. Contact Core Mini Bins now.