Managing a construction site or large event and need a strategy to reduce your dumpster rental cost? Don’t end up with a mountain of garbage institute a a waste management strategy instead.
Dumpsters can quickly reach their maximum capacity when project managers don’t maximize their usage.
It is important to not only include resource optimization, but also reduce the overall environmental impact when creating strategies for waste management. What are the best practices to maximize dumpster usage?
Before diving into how to maximize dumpster usage, let’s discuss WHY dumpster optimization is so important.
- Resource Optimization: In any given project, the aim is always to avoid wasting resources. Just because there is a large budget, or a given number of employees, or even a large amount of raw material, it doesn’t mean that you want to waste money, material, and time. Resources should always be optimized. In the case of dumpsters, maximizing their usage is a strategy to optimize the investment and resource they represent.
- Cost-reduction: Dumpster rental costs relate to size, weight and type of material collected.
- When you maximize dumpsters’ usage, you may need to rent fewer dumpsters.
- When dumpsters’ usage is maximized, costs related to waste management (transportation and
disposal) are also reduced. - Lower Environmental Impact: Finding ways to minimize waste generation, recycle, and dispose of waste efficiently reduces the overall environmental impact of the project.
But What are The Most Effective Strategies to Maximize Dumpsters’ Usage?
Here are the most effective strategies to maximize dumpsters’ usage
Create a Waste Management Plan
A waste management plan should not be limited to considering how many dumpsters will be be located at a given site. Yes, this is one important aspect that should be included, but the plan should also address:
- Waste Type: What kind of waste is going to be generated? How much of that can be recycled or reused? How much of that is hazardous?
- Waste Sources: Where is most of the waste coming from? Can strategies be implemented to reduce waste? Can this type of waste be recycled or reused?
- Recycling Plans: What materials can be recycled? Where is the waste going to be sorted? How many dumpsters are needed?
- Disposable VS Reusable: Among the tools and equipment that are going to be implemented, can choices be made towards reusable items?
- Hazardous Waste: This is particularly important for construction sites, as they are often likely to generate hazardous waste. Plans need to be made to accommodate and safely dispose of such materials.
Recycle
Recycling is one of the most utilized strategies to reduce the amount of waste collected in dumpsters. Depending on the type of project, of course, you can have dumpsters dedicated to recyclable waste (for example, paper) but, ignoring the exceptions, having bins or small hoppers placed around the site would reduce the amount of waste collected in the main non-recyclable waste dumpsters.
Paper and plastic aren’t the only materials that have a second life. Common construction materials like wood, metal, and concrete can also be recycled. In both large events and construction sites, the waste management plan should address the type of waste that is expected so that proper recycling plans can be put into place.
Reduce Packaging
Reducing packaging would directly lead to reduced waste. However, project managers cannot always choose among packaging options for their resources.
In this case, ordering items in bulk is an effective way of reducing packaging material. This would also bring the advantage of lowering expenses. Speaking of packaging, paper and recyclable packaging should always be prioritized.
Use Reusable Equipment/Items
One of the most effective strategies to reduce waste and maximize dumpsters’ usage is to minimize the use of disposable items. When the choice can be made between a disposable or reusable item, the reusable one should always be selected.
This practice becomes particularly effective in large events, where – if not planned otherwise – a lot of disposable plastic items can be used in the course of the event. Disposable cups, towels, tablecloths, and gadgets can fill up waste dumpsters very quickly. Instead of increasing the number or capacity of waste dumpsters, the strategy to prioritize is, of course, to reduce the use of disposable items to the minimum.
If there are two areas where disposable cups are distributed to the guests, for example, the two areas should be adjacent so that, likely, individuals can use the same cup twice instead of using and disposing of two of them.
Avoid over supplying
For both construction and large events, supply is an important phase of the project. A lot of materials and items must be brought to the site. In this regard, organizers should have a plan to address the type and amount of resources required and order the right amount.
Overstocking of resources often leads to unwise usage. On the contrary, when staff members are aware that supply cannot be wasted or they’ll risk remaining without it, they’ll be wiser with its usage. This behavior automatically reduces waste.
Efficient waste management is imperative for any construction site or large event. Maximizing dumpster usage will not only save resources but also offer significant benefits. Considering this information can greatly reduce costs when planning an event or construction dumpster rental.