How to Properly Dispose of Cement Waste
Cement manufacturing is one of the biggest sources of carbon dioxide, accounting for 4–8% of global CO2 emissions. Cement waste contributes to air and water pollution, soil erosion, and straining landfills. Concrete plants must have environmental permits if they discharge effluent or pollutants, legally speaking.
Demolition debris, such as concrete dust, accounts for much air pollution. Concrete also includes some additives that, depending on the toxicity and radioactivity of the substance, can also be hazardous. Moreover, discarded concrete uses up space in landfills and, if disposed of illegally, can leach chemicals into the soil and pollute groundwater, whereas crushed concrete releases toxic dust.
In Australia, concrete disposal is heavily regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency in each state and territory. Such relevant legislation includes the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) and the Cement Fibre Board Waste Order 2014.
This blog will provide you with practical steps for safe cement waste disposal. This includes sorting, packaging, and professional assistance.
Whether it’s a minor or major renovation, and you need to dispose of cement waste, All Gone Rubbish Removals is the expert for specialised waste disposal. We offer same-day pickup after booking our service before 2 PM.
Why Cement Waste Needs Proper Disposal
Cement is a major environmental and health hazard. Its waste disposal must be done properly as it is potentially harmful to water and soil, contributing to air pollution and human and animal health danger.
Environmental Concerns
Cement waste must be disposed of properly as improperly disposed of cement waste may contaminate water and impact aquatic life and drinking water. Cement also has dangerous elements such as hexavalent chromium, which can change the pH of water bodies, adversely affecting marine fauna.
Regulatory and Safety Issues
In Australia, a multi-layered regulatory framework consisting of federal, state, and local law governs cement waste disposal. These include national and state government policies, the NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act, the Environment Protection Authority Victoria, and the Queensland Waste Reduction and Recycling Act, prioritising waste to landfills and maximising recycling.
Benefits of Correct Handling
Proper management of cement waste disposal can result in many environmental, economic, and social benefits, leading to sustainability and responsible construction activity. [text from 2nd part: Appropriate disposal techniques help to minimise environmental impact, conserve resources and provide economic benefits, promoting well-being and employment opportunities in the community.
Sorting and Preparing Cement Waste
Hardened Cement vs Wet Cement
Hardened cement, removed as crumbled chunks, can be recycled, either by crushers that break it down into small pieces, sent to landfills through regular routes, or used for other purposes. Recycled cement can be used in road construction as aggregate bases, new concrete mixes, and landscaping, reducing environmental impact.
On the other hand, wet or liquid cement typically necessitates slurry solidifier agents, which are mixed with the concrete slurry to absorb it and convert it into a powder solid, ready for disposal. The slurry cement is known to be dangerous, which is why dumping it down the drain is illegal.
The liquid slurry can similarly be recycled by extracting the water from the solid waste, leaving only the waste incinerated or sent to a landfill while the extracted water becomes reusable. Once filtered, the water can be reused for equipment cleaning or in new concrete mixes.
Segregating Mixed Debris
It is important to separate cement from other materials, such as rebar or wood, to get better quality recycled material and minimise recycling process contamination. This, in turn, increases the efficiency and economic viability of the recycling industry.
Safe Storage
Instead of waiting for this waste to be picked up, appropriate containers and tarp will help to prevent the dust and residue from dispersing while you wait for disposal. Here are some helpful tips:
Container Selection
Roll-Off Dumpsters: Great for large-scale projects because they are strong, rectangular-shaped dumpsters with an open top that easily loads junk, trash, and debris onsite.
Front-Load Dumpsters: These are a terrific option if you need a smaller-scale ongoing waste management solution, available in a more compact form.
Heavy Debris Containers: Whether it is brick or other heavy material if the weight is high, so should the debris container. The containers are built to support the weight and to avoid spills and collapse.
Yard Waste Bins: You need special yard waste bins to comply with local green waste disposal guidelines for organic waste, such as landscaping trimmings and brushes.
Tarp Usage
Covering: Construction materials — such as sand, gravel and cement — should be covered with tarps or plastic sheeting to reduce dust emissions during storage and handling.
Polyester Tarps: These are highly durable and resistant to mould and mildew, making them a good option for long-term outdoor use.
Vinyl Tarps: The only fully waterproof tarps, these are given to potential water or moisture exposure and keep the underlying materials moisture- or dust-free.
PVC Coated Tarps: Holds up to the sun for 3-5 years, 100% waterproof.
Debris Lifting Tarps: These include steel D-ring lifting loops and high-strength cargo webbing for lifting debris securely.
Disposal Methods for Cement Waste
These facilities connect solid waste collection programs, community recycling centres, and waste disposal facilities. Across Australia, there are 2,846 waste management facilities, including transfer stations, resource recovery facilities and landfills.
Some facilities also receive excavated materials such as rock and soil, waste asphalt, bricks, concrete, plasterboard, timber, vegetation, asbestos, and contaminated soil. This includes concrete, wood, soil, and other construction or demolition waste.
Local Council Drop-Off Points
Here are some of the local council drop-off points where you can bring your cement waste:
Benedict Recycling: Expert in resource recovery and has facilities in Belrose, Chipping Norton, Mayfield West, Unanderra, and Smeaton Grange. They can accept aggregates (such as concrete, brick and soil), general form household waste, demolition and construction waste, and rubble.
West Metro Recycling Centre: This facility accepts asphalt, bricks, concrete, pavers, rubble, sand, and tiles.
Townsville City Council: Operates a landfill site with four transfer stations (including the Stuart Waste Facility). The Hervey Range Resource Recovery Centre accepts small domestic and commercial loads.
Waste Transfer Station Citywide: Headquartered in West Melbourne, it accepts municipal, residential, commercial, industrial, paper, steel and organic waste.
Mugga Resource Centre: Situated in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), this centre takes concrete, brick, tiles and building and demolition waste.
Logan City Council: Operates five waste and recycling facilities in Logan City.
Professional Rubbish Removal Services
All Gone Rubbish Removals offers an on-site rubbish removal service. Our professional crew does all the hard work, loading the junk onto the truck and cleaning the location afterwards. This saves customers time and effort without needing to "move stuff" to the front yard or load it in a bin, which also saves prices on additional trash bags.
Moreover, we specialise in removing many waste types, including household rubbish, commercial waste, disposal of construction waste, and deceased estates. We also ensure recyclables are transported to recycling centres and provide same-day service to resolve urgent removal requests quickly.
Recycling and Reuse
Cement is crushable and recyclable and takes up less landfill space. This is called recycling concrete, the process of demolishing existing structures, roads, footpaths, and structures made of concrete and breaking them down into smaller blocks for repurposing.
It not only prevents unnecessary burdening of landfills with construction and demolition debris but also helps to conserve valuable landfill area and prolong the active lifetime of landfills. Recycling concrete helps mitigate some environmental concerns related to concrete disposal, as concrete is not biodegradable and can take up a lot of space.
Handling Large-Scale Construction Projects
In large-scale construction projects, handling cement waste can be a multi-pronged approach with waste management planning, material selection, recycling, and appropriate disposal methods. There are more environmentally friendly, cost-effective, sustainable strategies.
Utilise Waste Management Plan: This helps implement waste management in the project right from the pre-construction stage and helps in significant waste reduction. Figuring out exactly what materials you need goes a long way to less over-ordering and waste creation.
Location Plan: A site plan should identify specific recycling, composting, and waste bin areas. Clearly defined areas help workers dispose of various kinds of waste correctly, increasing productivity and efficiency.
Allotting Measurable Goals: Setting measurable goals for waste reduction and regularly assessing waste generation allows for decisions and adjustments of waste management strategies based on metrics and digital tools.
On-Site Recycling: Strategically placing recycling bins on-location will help segregate recyclable materials like metal junk, timber wood, and concrete. Before making any adjustments, don't forget to research which recycling processes are specific to the waste stream so that they will be added to the waste management plan.
Material Recovery: Reusing construction and demolition (C&D) materials for repeated use is the best way of saving money while protecting natural resources.
Deconstruction: This process involves carefully dismantling buildings to salvage components for reuse and recycling and can maximise the recovery of materials. It creates jobs and job training, allowing the communities to develop local economic activities by manufacturing or reprocessing salvaged materials.
Recycling Concrete: Concrete recycling entails the crushing of concrete into reusable aggregates, which can be utilised in new concrete blends, road bases, or different development extents.
All Gone Rubbish Removals covers multi-phase removal of cement and construction waste, using environmentally friendly approaches to waste disposal while recycling materials whenever needed. We provide same-day rubbish removal services across Sydney, the Central Coast, Gosford, Newcastle, and the Gold Coast. Call us today at 0420 102 118 for your area's best-priced rubbish removal service!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I dispose of cement waste in my regular household bin?
Generally, you should not throw cement waste in your usual household bin since it is heavy and can harm the environment.
2. What is the process for recycling concrete?
Recycling concrete entails several steps, from demolition and collection through to crushing, removal of contaminants, and finally, reuse.
3. Do I need a permit to dispose of large cement waste?
The requirement for a permit to dispose of large quantities of cement waste depends on the country, state, or locality where you live and many other factors, including the type of waste and the disposal process.
4. Is wet cement considered hazardous?
Yes, wet cement is dangerous and creates many health hazards due to its caustic, abrasive, and drying properties.
5. How quickly can All Gone Rubbish Removals collect cement waste?
All Gone Rubbish Removals provides same-day cement waste collection. How fast we remove it depends on the volume of the cement, its condition (hardened or wet) and your location. With the help of our massive truck, we can haul in your cement waste in just one trip, saving you time and money.
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