Is the work finished, but is there any building material left? Don’t worry, this is more common than you think and it doesn’t just happen to you.
By default, masons and builders usually order around 10% more material to guarantee replacement. However, if this material does not need to be used, it ends up being left over. And stagnant material is stagnant money too.
Not to mention the environmental problem generated by leftover construction material. For these and others, we have gathered in this post several tips to help you solve this problem and ensure that there is no waste or irregular disposal of construction waste. Come and see.
What to do with leftover construction material
There are basically two ways to solve the construction waste problem. The first is reusing (as you can) as you will see in the tips below, the second is making the proper disposal. See which of these situations your material is in and choose the best option.
return to the store
Is the material left over in your work stored and sealed in the packaging? So be aware that some stores may accept you back. For this, you will have to go to the place where you made the purchase and ask. But remember, the invoice is important, so take it with you.
If the store accepts the return, the most common is that you receive a voucher worth the product so that you can exchange it for another material.
Most of the time, the stores accept the return of electrical and hydraulic components, paints, varnishes, brushes, mortar, grout, among other materials where it can be verified that the product has not suffered any damage.
So, the tip is worth: just remove the products from the packaging at the time of use and always ask for the invoice.
Sale
Did the store not accept the products back? So your next alternative is to sell them to people who are also building or renovating.
Roof tiles, blocks, cement, iron, pipes and whatever else has stopped there can be sold. But it is also important to guarantee the quality of these materials. To do this, keep them in their original packaging, free from moisture and exposure to the sun.
You can offer these leftover material in person or create ads on social media.
To increase your chances of selling, advertise at below market value.
Another alternative is to sell this surplus material to demolition shops. This type of store usually receives doors, windows, gates, shower stalls, gratings, sanitary ware and metals, kitchen sinks and tanks, in addition to pipes and pipes.
make donations
Another great option is to donate building material leftovers. Ask people you know if they are in need of anything.
You can also offer these leftovers to churches, neighborhood associations or institutions that work specifically with building materials. These entities receive donations and send them to the right people.
Use creatively
How about if you take advantage of these leftover building materials to do something creative and different in your home’s decor or finish?
The leftover wood, for example, can be transformed into small benches, side tables, niches and shelves.
The pipes can be used to create industrial-style lighting fixtures. Blocks, on the other hand, can support vases or be transformed into planters.
With the remaining cement, you can make decorative pieces, such as vases, door weights, among other objects.
The internet is full of ideas that will make you ask “why didn’t I think of this before?!”.
Keep for future use
Do not discard or dispose of all materials left over from the construction. Some are important to keep for future replacement. This is the case for floors and coverings.
Imagine if one day you have problems with the water network and need to break the wall? It may be that the same coating that was used no longer exists.
Remains of paint and grout follow the same logic. In that case, just be careful not to lose the expiration date of the materials.
recycle
If none of the above have worked for you, then it may be the case to send the materials for recycling.
Currently in Brazil, there is a law called the Solid Waste Law, which provides for the recycling of waste generated by civil construction.
Among the materials that can be recycled are:
- Paper
- Plastic
- Paint cans (empty)
- Cardboard
- Metals in general
- glasses
- woods
For wood recycling it is important that they are not painted. Raw wood is better used. If it has already received ink, then the ideal is to discard it.
In the case of paint cans, you must ensure they are empty. Cans that still have paint leftovers should be emptied, but do not pour this paint down the drain. The product is toxic. It is recommended to throw the rest of the garbage onto pieces of cardboard and then place it in the common garbage.
To ensure that these materials are actually recycled, it is best if you send them directly to a recycling cooperative. There, they separate and process the material so that it can return to the industry’s production chain.
Dispose correctly
Finally, your last option is to discard. This happens when the material is no longer usable and you cannot reuse it in any other way.
Disposal must also be carried out for materials that cannot be recycled. This list includes, for example, Styrofoam, plaster, demolition debris, old and dirty pipes and pipes.
Other materials such as asbestos tiles, for example, which are toxic both for the environment and for human health, should be sent to specific companies in this type of collection. The same goes for mercury lamps and other toxic materials.
In order to properly dispose of the leftovers (when it is not toxic material) the first option is to hire a rental bucket, if the volume of leftover material is too large.
To do this, check if the company is legalized by the city. This ensures she won’t dump the debris anywhere.
But if the amount of leftovers is small, then the solution is to look for ecopoints. Most cities in the country already offer this type of service.
These locations are able to collect a maximum amount of construction waste, generally determined by cubic meters. When in doubt, just seek information from the city hall in your city.
So, which of these tips can you put into practice to get rid of leftover building material?
