We live in a great time. Technology has brought us so many advances in the last century, from automobiles and airplanes to computers and the internet. But this technology has also created a problem: we’re producing more waste than ever before. And some of that waste is dangerous chemicals and plastics that can threaten our health and environment for generations if we don’t act now. It’s time to find safer ways of disposing of these dangerous chemicals — starting with plastics. Skip hire Adelaide collects chemical and plastic safer for disposal.
We have a problem.
The problem is that we have created an ocean full of plastic. We’ve filled landfills with it and we’re not sure how to get rid of it. And while we’re throwing all this plastic away, it’s ending up inside our bodies too.
Plastic has taken over our lives in ways that haven’t yet been fully realized, but researchers are starting to study its effects on humans and the environment—and they’re seeing some disturbing results.
What’s the solution?
The solution is to find a way to recycle these chemicals and plastics, dispose of them safely and make them safe for human consumption. This means finding ways to make them safe for the environment as well as the economy.
The “Science” of recycling plastic.
Recycling plastic has become a common practice in the U.S. and other countries. The thought of recycling is appealing because it seems like a good first step toward creating a more sustainable society. But what happens to all those recycled plastics? Are they being disposed of safely? And what about other chemicals?
Plastic recycling is one solution for reducing pollution; however, there is no guarantee that plastics will be recycled or processed into something useful at all times. In fact, only 5 percent of plastic products are currently made from recycled materials, meaning that 95 percent ends up in landfills or oceans after use—either directly tossed away or down the drain without treatment (and eventually making their way into our environment).
How about recycling other chemicals?
What about other chemicals? We must find ways to safely recycle them. It’s not just plastics and chemicals that we need to dispose of safely. There are many other things that need to be recycled, including batteries, glass, metals and more. We all want to reduce our use of the earth’s natural resources, but when it comes time for us to throw out these materials that have been used up or no longer needed by us personally (or our companies), we don’t want them ending up in landfills where they could potentially leak into ground water or pollute our air supply with harmful gases from decomposition processes.
We can find safe methods to dispose of these dangerous chemicals and plastics — we just need to make it a priority.
There is no reason why we can’t develop safe disposal methods for these dangerous chemicals and plastics. We have the technology and expertise to do so, but we just need to put our minds to it and make it happen!
Conclusion
We can make a difference by making sure that the chemical industry is regulated and monitored. We need to be able to dispose of dangerous chemicals and plastics safely, without them leaking into our soil and water supply. With proper disposal methods, we can ensure that these chemicals don’t harm people or wildlife while they are being used or disposed of properly. ecoskiphire.com.au help for safety disposal for dangerous chemicals.
In an emergency situation, you can count on our team of skilled emergency electrician Brisbane appliance repair technicians to fix any rogue electrical devices, including electric ovens, cooktops and hot water systems. The following advice will give you different ideas on how to approach your security system. It’s not easy making such a large decision that costs so much money. In order to make the best decision, you must have the right knowledge about the subject.
Do you have a dog that stays in your yard when you’re not at home? Your furry friend is also a great storage place for your extra key. Stash the key on the pup’s collar to keep it out of sight. This is especially useful if the dog does not take kindly to strangers.
If you keep a spare key outside to prevent yourself from being locked-out, think carefully about where you hide it. Placing a key above a door or under a doormat is quite obvious! For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.
When you’re going away, turn off your phone ringers. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.
If you have a stranger at your door, do not open it. People often think of ways to trick others into letting them in so they can steal from them. You should only open the door to people you were expecting.
Be sure you have secured your attached garage. Lots of folks are concerned about burglars gaining access to the garage and then the home, but this can be addressed. However, you can use a C-clamp to help keep the door secure.
Install lights that have motion sensors. The motion sensors turn on the lights whenever anyone approaches your home. This will discourage would be thieves and alert you to any movement on your property. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.
Be certain your wires are hidden, if you have installed a security system in your home. One of the ways an intruder can get around a security system is by disconnecting or cutting the wires. Do not make things simple for a burglar, but rather bury all wires or hide them in the wall. Your system will be far more effective this way.
If you are throwing away the box an expensive item came in, wait until trash day to put the box out. You are alerting thieves that there is something worth stealing inside your home.
Are you aware that your home’s wires are worth something? A lot of people don’t realize this fact until a robber steals it from their home. A skilled intruder could remove all the copper from your home within less than an hour. Hide your wiring for optimum security.
Keep a flashlight with good batteries in every room of your home, just in case you lose power. These items will help you remain safe when there is no electricity. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the flashlights are.
When a security company wants in your home ask for an ID and see if they’re in uniform. It is simple for a thief to pose as a representative of your home security company as a means of gaining access to your house. This could be quite dangerous. Proceed with caution.
Any time you let a stranger into your home that is doing some kind of work, it is best to ask for references. Do not hesitate to hire someone to run a background check if you have doubts. You never know if the maid, repairman or contractor you hire is on the up and up, and letting them in or giving them a key could be a fatal mistake.
If you are seeking home safety ideas that are simple and inexpensive, you should buy outdoor lights with motion sensors. Cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing, these lights really add value to your home. Properly-situated motion detectors will give your home a complete field of protection and make it impossible for a miscreant to approach undetected.
A good way to scare off intruders is to keep your house lit at nighttime. Most intruders avoid anything that could reveal their identity. It makes it look like you are home and makes it difficult for thieves to hide. At night, keep your lights turned on to boost security.
What do you need to personally feel safe? Some systems aren’t necessary for some, while others may have a need for them. Depending on your neighborhood and your household, you might well be better served by a reliable guard dog or self-defense training than by high-tech gadgetry. Ensure that you have considered all your options before making a final decision.
If the front door is open when you get home, resist the temptation to go in alone to find the reason. The thief may remain inside. Instead, call the police to inform them of what happened, and wait on them.
Make sure your address numbers are clearly visible from across the street. If you need assistance, emergency vehicles may not locate your home in a timely manner if the numbers don’t stand out. Thankfully if you notice a problem it’s an easy and cheap thing to fix.
Keeping people out of various areas of your home does not have to involve using multiple locks and keys. Instead, key-less key code locks can work just as well. You can either install these locks by yourself, or have them professionally installed if you are not that handy yourself.
Hopefully, you’ll remember what you have just read as you continue your home security plan. It’s important to take home security seriously. Use the things you’ve learned here in order to make this a reality.
Rubbish removal Northern Beaches Sydney will get rid all your home waste. When you need to book a skip bin, chances are that you have a large mixture of different types of waste that you are looking to get rid of. Good news is that the team here at National Skip Bins are experts in waste disposal and can effectively and responsibly dispose of the vast majority of your waste on your behalf. However, as with all things there are exceptions, the big one being hazardous materials. Unfortunately, for the safety and well being of all of our staff, we are unable to accept the disposal of any hazardous materials in any of our skip bins. So if you are looking to book a bin, Perth, read on below to understand what hazardous materials can not be disposed of in a skip:
Hazardous waste comes in many different forms, but regardless of the type it can cause extensive damage to the health of humans and animals, as well as the overall health of the environment. Both households and commercial properties produce hazardous waste, although naturally commercial businesses usually produce this kind of waste on a larger scale; however, regardless of whether you are a resident or business owner, one should be mindful of the hazardous waste that they produce.
What common materials are considered hazardous?
Asbestos
The biggest threat in terms of a hazardous material is asbestos which is not only extremely hazardous material but is also associated with causing various diseases including cancer. Therefore, for the safety of our staff we can never, under any circumstances, accept any material which contains, or may contain asbestos. If you do have asbestos that you need to dispose of you will need to contact a specialist asbestos removal contractor who is able to do so responsibly and safely.
Paints, oils or liquids
Paints, oils and other liquids such as bleach and detergents can contain dangerous chemicals. Good news is that it is just the liquid solvents that you need to be mindful of, a dried paint can is safe to dispose of in a skip but one that still contains liquid paint is not. If you have paints, oils or hazardous liquids that you need to get rid of you should contact your local council to determine where your nearest licensed disposal centre is located.
Batteries
Regardless of whether you have big or small batteries to get rid of, they can never be disposed of in a skip as they contain a load of dangerous chemicals and metals. Please recycle your batteries separately, for example at local collection points for your everyday batteries or even your local garage for your old car batteries.
Tyres or other car parts
Speaking of car parts, as well as car batteries, other car parts such as tyres cannot be dispose of in a skip. Tyres are are notoriously difficult to dispose of and can be hazardous; however, local tyre collectors and specialist companies are able to recycle tyres, for example into useful things such as the rubber flooring of a children’s playground.
Gas or aerosol canisters and other explosive materials
For obvious reasons we are unable to accept the disposal of any explosive materials in our skips, which includes gas or aerosol canisters, regardless of whether they are full, half full or even empty. Gas canisters such as these often leave behind a harmful and hazardous residue inside them which puts the safety of our staff at risk. Try to contact your local supplier to find out where you can dispose of you unwanted gas or aerosol canisters, or alternatively check your local gas supplier who may be willing and able to take the canisters of your hands and re-use them.
What value do you place on home security? That is definitely 24 hour electrician Brisbane could answer. Are major security companies and systems beyond your budget? Do you want to know about cheaper solutions? The security solutions you need may be just around the corner, waiting to make you and your home safer. This article has some cheap tips for home security.
Security systems are more than just an alarm. You can have your system alert you of any movement in certain areas of your home. Parents riding herd on small children will be thankful for this feature which makes it harder for kids to sneak outside without supervision.
Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. This ensures during a break in that the most important things are not stolen. Keep the safe hidden in a hard-to-find location like an attic or a basement closet.
When looking to purchase a good home security system, it is best that you look at many companies. Wild variations in pricing can exist for similar security products. Try to get two or three quotes before making a decision.
Buy fire resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling materials. This give your home an extra protection layer. You can enhance home safety with excellent fire precautions.
Ask your friends for advice before you choose a home security system or company. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Taking a little time to listen can make you a much better decision maker when it comes to home security.
You should not let anyone inside your home. Remember that intruders have a lot of experience with tricking people. Some people just want to know if there is a security system so they can plan on coming back later or not.
Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. They are a potential fire hazard during warmer months. Clear yard regularly to maintain your house safe.
Make your home safer by storing your car inside the garage. Keep the car within the garage will make sure no one harms or steals it. This will also make it more difficult for burglars to track when you away from home.
Keep the wires of your home security system hidden. Intruders can disable a system if they see the wires. Instead, make sure the wires are hidden. This way, you will be safer.
Are you aware that your home’s wires are worth something? A lot of people do not know this until a thief steals them from the house. The wiring contains valuable copper than can be quickly stripped from a home. Be sure that you keep all your wiring hidden and make it hard to access.
When about to sign a contract with any home security firm, read all the small print. There are early termination fees, and there may be fees for extra equipment procured in the future. You’ll want to avoid any surprises so be sure and read your contract carefully.
Consider home security and safety when you are planning your landscaping. Keep your doors and windows clear of any shrubbery. If they can be seen, people will not hide there and attempt a break-in. Put landscaping farther away from the house for greater safety.
A paper shredder can be a good security investment. Thieves might go through your trash bags to find bills for valuables or personal information. You can tear your documents up by hand before disposing of them if a shredder is out of your price range.
Can you read your house numbers clearly from the street? If an emergency happens, the police can’t get to the home as quick if your numbers are obscured in any way or are too small. There is a cheap and quick fix if you see an issue.
Ask about the different contract durations that a security company can offer you. They probably each have their pluses and negatives. Long contracts are cheaper every month, but can outlast your stay in the home. Short contracts leave you with freedom, but also a larger bill.
Your auto registration is best kept somewhere other than your glove compartment. Anyone with access to your car can find out where you live, so it is not a smart thing to do. Keep them on you or hide them somewhere else in your vehicle. Make sure you can easily and quickly access them in the event that a police officer pulls you over.
Always store your irreplaceable valuables in a secure place. Some examples include legal documents, expensive jewelry, financial records, passports and family pictures. You can buy a cheap floor safe to put these items in. A better choice is storing them outside your home in a deposit box at the bank.
Inquire whether or not your security company offers motion sensor lighting. Most companies will offer this service, and it illuminates the outside of the house whenever there is any movement. Therefore, if a burglar approaches, you will know.
Try not to get sliding glass doors in your home if security is a serious issue. They can be unlocked very easily if you shake and lift them. Without a security system to protect your home, you should shove a pipe or rod behind the sliding door–between the sliding half of the door and the door frame–to brace it against the frame. This keeps the door wedged closed so that it is harder to pry open.
It all depends on what you are able to afford when it comes to home security. If you are unable to afford the costlier options, you can employ several less expensive solutions. Hopefully, the suggestions you’ve just reviewed have given you some ideas for cost-effective security measures. These tips will be very helpful down the road.
Office rubbish removal Sydney are everywhere because most of the employees don’t have more time to fix their garbage. In many households, the garage tends to be one of the main places that becomes filled with clutter. This undervalued space can often end up being a storage room for items that you don’t really want any more. If you’re going to do a little life laundry, we have some garage cleaning tips to help you out.
Get Emptying:
Although this may appear daunting, the first step to cleaning your garage is to remove everything. This will not only provide you with a blank space but also help you to determine which size you need when you book a bin. Perth homeowners should empty all boxes and cartons and arrange each of the items into one of four designated areas; throw away, donate, sell or keep. This will give you a good idea of how much waste you need to dispose of and whether you’ll need to make several trips to the donation point.
Book a Skip:
Now you have an idea of how much rubbish you want to get rid of you can book a skip. Most companies offer a variety of sizes, so you should be able to have a fairly accurate assessment of your needs. If you don’t have a lot of time, you may prefer to book a skip bin before getting started, so you can throw rubbish away directly. If this is the case, opt for a larger bin, so you can avoid the inconvenience of trying to overload a small bin.
Deep Clean:
Once your skip is filled, you can start cleaning. Most garages don’t get attention very often, so you’re likely to find a layer of dirt on most surfaces. Give the floor and walls a good brush down to remove any cobwebs and dust, then use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of this debris. Give the windows a good clean, so you’ll have plenty of light to work with, and you’ll be able to see any areas you may have missed.
Organise Your Storage:
Now’s a great time to organise your storage to hold all the items you want to keep. Storage units, shelves, hooks and bike racks can all be put to good use here. This will help you to create order, so each item can have a specific place. Put each item back in the garage and enjoy your new tidy and organised garage.
Cleaning out a garage can be challenging, but it can also be therapeutic. While you’ll need to book a skip and spend a day or two completing the task, it is well worth the effort. You may even find you now have room for your car.
If you are looking to book a bin, Perth residents should speak to us. We have a wide selection of skips available, so you can book a skip bin to suit your specific requirements. You’ll also find the National Skip Bins team ready to answer any queries to help you book a skip as soon as you need one.
The
question that frequently comes to my mind is that how far can a newly
established recycling project be sustained in Nigeria? First and
foremost, the success of solid wastes management through their recycling
into useful products and, in fact, any waste management strategy
depends on how well the mixed solid wastes are separated into different
components. In Nigeria, like other developing countries, waste
separation at home or point of generation is considered as a messy
exercise. Almost everybody wants to move waste from his or her sight as
quick and as cheap as possible, immediately after their generation.
Meanwhile, storing wastes together make recycling operations a very
tedious exercise. It reduces the productivity and increases cost of
production at waste recycling plant. It also reduces the quality of
recycled products. For instance, organic fraction of mixed wastes stored
together decomposes with foul odour that attracts flies and pests of
economic importance.
Apart from waste separation into major
components like glass, rubber, paper etcetera at points of generation,
another challenge faced by waste recyclers is the complex nature of some
components like plastics, nylon and metal that involves post separation
at site. Nylon and plastics in a waste stream are of different kinds,
based on their chemical make-up. They can be LDPE- low density
poly-ethelyne, HDPE- high density poly-ethelyne, PP raffia, PP stripe
and so on. Just like nylon and plastics, metal scraps also include
ferrous and non-ferrous metal that cannot be recycled together because
of their different melting points. This secondary separation at waste
recycling site requires skill and time, making the recycling process
labour intensive with attendant cost implication. Perhaps, poor
separation of recyclable materials affects the quality of recycled
products and reduces their marketability.
Successful recycling
requires that recyclables can compete well with virgin materials in
quality as well as price. The price of refined or recycled materials is
determined by the over all cost of collection activities. The quality is
influenced by the way collection activities including sorting are
performed. However wastes are not normally collected in cost-effective
and environmentally sound manner in this country. Research has shown
that waste collection and segregation into different components account
for largest share of total costs of solid wastes recycling. The practice
that is common in the country up till now is that governments collect
commingle wastes and dispose them at landfills that are not sanitary and
properly underlined for leachate control. This practice is neither
sustainable nor environmental friendly. It does not give room for
resource conservation through waste recycling. In many cases,
scavengers, poor and jobless people from low socio-economic stratum,
parade such landfills to salvage recyclable materials like plastics,
bobbles and metal scraps, at the extent of their health and well being.
Recyclable
fractions of mixed wastes can be segregated and transported into
recycling centre by different methods. Most of these methods are not
practicable and cost-effective in many countries of the world. In the
first method, waste segregation is carried out at homes during the
storage processes and the sorted wastes are collected directly from
households. In another situation, mixed wastes are collected from
households and transferred into a designated sorting centre where people
are employed to carryout the separation. The sorted recyclable
components are then transferred into recycling facility for processing
while the non-recyclables are transferred into landfills. Anyhow, the
first scheme is cheaper than the second. It is also possible for waste
producers to bring recyclable wastes directly to recycling facility
without being charged for waste disposal service. In some cases, such
wastes are sold to the facility at a predetermined cost. Independent
buyers may be involved in both collection of waste and recovery of
materials. The buyers often pay the generators of materials, either in
cash or by barter. The buyers popularly called ‘paaro’ (means ‘exchange’
in Yoruba language) exchange plastic pails for fairly used cloth,
jewelries and shoe materials. Waste sorting can also be done by waste
collection team who quickly remove valuable materials from waste stream
on their way to land fill. This can rather not be well controlled.
Modes
of waste collection and transportation also have great impact on waste
segregation and recycling operation. Co-collection occurs when all
separated fractions are collected from households in the same vehicle.
Segregated collection occurs when different fractions are collected in
different vehicles. Co-collection can also be performed in two ways. A
multi-compartment vehicle can be used to transport sorted wastes at the
same time. Each component of separated wastes can also be bagged at
household level and transported in the single compartment vehicle. The
third possibility is to use alternating schedules whereby one component
of sorted wastes is collected today and another component the following
day. It is not feasible to have one vehicle for one waste component in
Nigeria as well as many developing countries because of their economic
situations. The third possibility is not cost-benefit either.
Finally, mixed waste collection directly from communities by Nigerian government is seen to be very easier but this result into separation complexity at recycling facilities. On the other hand, transportation of sorted wastes from households makes collection and transportation complexity but ensures easier operation at reduced costs at recycling facilities. It is right time determine the best segregation and transportation scheme for the country. The methods that favour waste recycling and material recovery should be considered as permanent solution to persistent waste management problems in the country. The schemes whereby wastes are segregated at household level; bagged and transported in a single compartment vehicle need to be encouraged. Alternatively, Government should also consider intermediate sorting center where mixed wastes will be sorted before final transportation into recycling facilities. This offers a big advantage in terms of income generation for the jobless and teaming population of unemployed youths.
The Project Manager, Alesinloye Market Environmental Health Project, Ibadan, Nigeria Mobile Phone Nos- 08054718224 and 08026337916
Household hazardous waste materials include many things that you probably are storing right now in your garage, basement, bathroom, or kitchen. Some, like paint thinner or car batteries, are pretty obvious, but there are many that you might not ordinarily think of such as polishes, insecticides, mercury thermometers and glues. Household garbage should be contained in in your Town-provided rollout cart. Please seal garbage in plastic bags.
Hazardous Household Waste is defined as items
containing ingredients that could be harmful to humans, pets or the
environment. These include common items found in many households, such
as cleaning products, paint, and garden chemicals.
Hazardous waste
is mostly produced by industry where strict legislation is imposed on
these processes due to their hazardous emissions such as heavy metals,
but the household presence of this material can be dangerous too.
Hazardous
waste is a particular class of “solid” waste (which includes solid,
liquid, or gaseous material) which, if improperly managed, poses a
substantial threat or potential hazard to human health and the
environment. Typical wastes generated at many factories include, but are
not limited to: spent solvents, waste laboratory chemicals, waste
paints and used oil. Some of these will be hazardous and others not, so
the skill is in ensuring that all are properly disposed of in the right
manner.
Hazardous waste is a term applied to those wastes that
because of their chemical reactivity, toxicity, explosiveness,
corrosiveness, radioactivity or other characteristics, constitutes a
risk to human health or the environment. Such wastes maybe generated as a
by-product in the manufacturing processes or maybe generated from the
use of various catalysts, which need to be disposed off when spent.
The
European Commission has issued a Directive on the controlled management
of such waste (91/689/EEC) and hazardous waste is defined on the basis
of a list, the European Waste Catalogue, drawn up under that Directive.
Hazardous waste is generated by all sectors of society, from large
industry, to small businesses, households, schools and farms. It is for
the most part managed by the professional hazardous waste industry and
is treated appropriately and in accordance with legal requirements.
If
you think that a material may be hazardous ask to see the Material
safety data sheets (MSDSs) or CSSH sheets containing the risk data for
that material. These datasheets are a commonly used source of
information for this analysis. If a material is chemically unchanged
(e.g., uncontaminated ink), the MSDS would be representative of the
material as a waste. Materials that are not going to be used (mixed or
concentrated) shall be managed in accordance with the instructions on
the specific guidelines issued by the supplier.
Regulations
require a permit for the transport of hazardous waste on public roads.
Discharging hazardous wastes and chemicals in sinks is prohibited by
wastewater regulations in most nations.
Regulations were adopted
in 1991 pertaining to the transportation of non-hazardous waste within
the State of Maine. Unless exempt, all vehicles and/or containers
transporting non-hazardous waste within the state must have a license.
In the UK there are regulations under what is called the duty of care
which apply to the transport of all waste materials, and are
particularly important in tracking hazardous waste materials to ensure
proper disposal takes place.
Household waste is exempted from
being regulated as hazardous waste in most nations. Nevertheless, it
should not be disposed of indiscriminately. Households, small
businesses, farms and the healthcare and construction sectors also
generate large quantities of hazardous waste including batteries,
electrical equipment, healthcare risk waste, solvent based paint,
varnish waste, sheep dip and fluorescent lamps.
Garbage, and
garden waste for composting will usually be collected weekly, while
recycling rubbish will continue to be collected bi-weekly. Special
collection is needed for large amounts of hazardous waste such as
asbestos, and special regulations apply to dealing with such which must
always be done by qualified experts.
Hazardous waste should never
be disposed of with regular household waste, unless the containers are
completely empty, as they can cause harm to people and to the
environment. This includes used batteries, leftover pesticides, or
cleaning products. Always seek advice from an expert unless you are
certain of the material and how to safely dispose of it.
Take care
because these things can be hazardous to you, hazardous to your family
and hazardous to our environment if not used up or disposed of properly.
Disposing
of household chemicals in your trash is dangerous. When mixed,
household chemicals such as bleach and ammonia cause poisonous gases and
fumes or cause fires. Dispose with normal curbside garbage. Residents
are asked to remove the lid and allow the paint to dry up before placing
on the curb.
Hazardous household waste should not be disposed of
in the same way as regular waste. For example, a gasoline drum buried in
the ground can affect rivers and find its way into drinking water.
In
some countries and states hazardous waste was collected at home or at
receiving stations (bring/drop off-sites) in one country this applied to
415 municipalities in 2001. The corresponding figure for 1997 was 136.
Hazardous products have four classifications: flammable , poisonous ,
corrosive and reactive (explosive). Federal law requires that products
with hazardous ingredients be labeled.
Household hazardous wastes
may also, subject to special arrangements in some states be collected by
special waste collection vehicles, which tour in the metropolitan area.
So, take advice from your local waste officer, but if you have very small amounts of hazardous material in your household waste you probably can discard it in your household rubbish for collection. Any larger amount as we have said already must be discussed with your waste expert locally. All local laws must be complied with.
If you liked this article, then Steve Evans tells you how it is on other subjects too. Click on the link that follows to see more about the Waste Settlement ebook
Sustainable construction is an emergent trend that has begun to make real inroads in projects across the market spectrum. But while many owners are interested in the long-term economic and environmental aspect of green building, they are often scared away by the perceived upfront costs. However, a recent study conducted by the Urban Green Council in one of the most expensive cities in the world found that while it may have been the case in the past, the fundamental perception that it costs more to go green is simply no longer the case.
In the Urban Green Council
report in 2008, data was gathered on 107 projects throughout the five
boroughs of New York, 63 of which were either pursuing or had achieved
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
Surveys were conducted for buildings with and without sustainability
goals. Data points included construction costs, design fees, LEED design
fees, LEED additional fees, and commissioning fees. The average
square-foot construction cost for a high-rise residential building
without LEED certification was $436 while the average cost with
certification was $440. [1]
The best way to realize these savings
is by using an integrated, collaborative process from the beginning.
Lean and green only works when it is an integral part of the process,
and not something viewed as an add on or supplement to the project.
1. Pre-Construction Planning and BIM
Relying
on comprehensive pre-construction services is the best way to ensure a
smooth and predictable construction process and a high-quality project
that opens on schedule and within budget. Beginning with this kind of
collaborative design process helps you to develop a roadmap that
accurately depicts the project requirements and improves your ability to
put real numbers to the design. It is at this point where you can also
effectively examine cost-saving alternatives.
Areas to consider and analyze include:
• Creating opportunities to save money and build efficient, green facilities • Drawing reviews to reduce errors and omissions • Collaborating with in-house estimators on pricing and procurement strategies • Estimating and comparing the life-cycle costs of systems • Pre-purchasing equipment to expedite delivery • Verifying system requirements • Incorporating sustainable building practices • Instituting cost controls
An
exciting way to supplement this kind of collaboration is through the
use of advanced technologies, like Building Information Modeling (BIM).
BIM is a 3D, electronic modeling method that all users can utilize to
compare drawings and elements early on in the planning and
pre-construction. BIM also affords the ability to examine things like
time, cost, and supply chain – to assist in delivering project data in
an efficient and actionable manner. This gives owners, architects,
construction managers, and subcontractors the ability to avert problems
and make project planning and scheduling decisions that save time, money
and materials.
2. Schedule Management
Through promoting
efficiency in the design-build process, it is possible to simultaneously
maximize quality, performance, sustainability and ultimately the
overall value of your project. Reducing waste also means eliminating
time-wasting activities and keeping your project on time and on budget.
Time is money, especially in construction, but time also has a cost in
its expenditure of energy and resources. Streamlining each phase of the
design-build process helps make the best use of the time, money and
resources allocated for your project. In order to accomplish this, it is
essential to work with a construction firm that has a solid record of
scheduling dependability and keeping all involved parties on a tight and
firm schedule. Utilizing a Master Project Schedule which notes and
highlights pre-construction milestones for key deliverables and other
critical path activities is vital.
Categories typically in a Master Project Schedule include:
• Design deliverables • Estimating deliverables • Pre-construction decision dates • Building permits and approvals • Procurement and early release design packages • Critical path construction activities • Start-up and commissioning actions • Owner move-in activities
The
project schedule is updated and refined throughout pre-construction to
reflect the latest decisions and information. During construction, your
project superintendent should supplement this schedule with Three-Week
Look-Ahead Schedules, which can be sent to your project team, as well as
the design team, key subcontractors, and other consultants on a weekly
basis. These specialized schedules provide a more detailed picture of
the work to be performed over the coming weeks and ensure all trades
understand their weekly deadlines and the interrelationship between
scope of work and other trades.
Another way to keep a project lean
and operating at peak efficiency is though the use of just-in-time
construction principals. Using this method, materials are sourced and
delivered on a tight and exacting schedule, both reducing overhead and
storage costs and maximizing efficiency. The end result is a
construction plan that is useful during every stage of building and
which requires less space on site for materials – making for a greener
job site with lower overhead costs and reduced waste.
3. Material Selection and Sourcing
While
in the past owners and architects had to make choices between adhering
to brand standards and using sustainable materials, as green building
grows in popularity and demand, more and more materials are being
produced that meet both aesthetic and sustainability standards.
Consider
working with a construction firm with national experience and local
contacts that help them to procure locally-sourced supplies and
materials wherever possible. But not all materials can be sourced
locally. Sometimes it is necessary to use materials from other regions
our countries, and working with a national firm makes this a painless
process as well. Our experience in sourcing supplies from national and
international providers affords us the unique ability to get the exact
materials your project requires, while still meeting all scheduling and
budgetary goals, and usually in as efficient and eco-friendly way
possible.
4. A Comprehensive Plan For Reducing Waste
According
to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 130 million tons
of debris from construction sites is dumped in U.S. landfills annually-
more than half coming from commercial construction and renovation. Not
only is this wasteful and environmentally unsustainable but it is an
expensive problem for all parties involved. [2]
While job-site
disposal may not currently be on top of your list of budget items, it is
an item that needs serious consideration. More state and federal
regulations are on the horizon which will restrict the use of landfills
and impose tariffs for those who do. This makes the subject of reducing
and recycling job-site waste a mission critical part of any building
project plan. Accounting for the disposal and recycling of waste early
in the process will save time, money, and help to make your project more
resource-efficient.
Here are three simple actions to consider:
•
Track Your Trash – From the standpoint of efficiency and liability,
taking a look at what and how much material ends up in your job-site
dumpster can tell you a lot about your crews and your trade contractors.
Having a team that routinely tracks your job-site waste stream is a
great way to evaluate efficient use of materials.
• Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle – While many discussions begin with recycling, the best way to
consider the process of construction waste is reduce, reuse, recycle –
in that order. The largest waste components on most job sites:
cardboard, wood, and drywall make up 75% of all job-site waste, yet they
are fully recyclable. Other ways to reduce and save money include
salvaging existing materials which can be resold or donated resulting in
less waste and tax savings. In many cities, non-profit building
materials resource centers have been established to receive and then
redistribute this scrapped material.
• Local Resources are Vital –
Builders represent just one group that needs to be involved in
construction waste reduction. Others include waste haulers, recyclers,
local building product manufacturers, and landfill operators. Using
local companies not only helps area trades and reduces your carbon
footprint, it also allows you to get the best information on local and
regional rules and regulations from people that know them inside and
out.
5. Safe Jobs Save Money
Maintaining a safe job site is
not only essential to reducing waste and the overall environmental
impact of your project, but is vital in helping to protect your business
and your bottom line. Strong safety programs prevent injuries, save
lives, reduce liability and the risk of litigation. Establishing
guidelines, training programs, and a corporate culture around safety is
essential and every person involved in your project from field
personnel, to office staff, to executive leadership need to be on board
and committed to creating safe and injury-free environments and going
above and beyond industry standards in all aspects of safety. Ensuring
that every person returns home safely should be your number one goal,
every day, on every job.
A comprehensive safety program should include:
• Conducting safety training for all employees and subcontractors • Creating job specific safety plans taking into account unique aspects of project • Working only with subcontractors with exceptional safety ratings • Having onsite superintendents that are OSHA trained and CPR and first aid certified • Performing regular spot safety inspections on all jobsites • Enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for unsafe practices • Strict adherence to receiving insurance certificates and signed contracts for every vendor and subcontractor on site
[1] Epoch Times [2] EPA Study
About Shawmut Design and Construction Shawmut Design and Construction is a 100% employee-owned company headquartered in Boston with offices in New York, Providence, Las Vegas, and New Haven. Shawmut is a leading ENR top 100-ranked national construction management firm providing client-oriented services in the following markets: Academic, Commercial, Corporate Interiors, Cultural and Historic Preservation, Gaming, Healthcare and Science, Hotels, Restaurants, Retail, and Spas and Health Clubs. http://www.shawmut.com/
In the wake of the final episode of the ABC’s War on Waste, in which a dismayed Craig Reucassel canvasses Australia’s rubbish-related sins, the idea of “zero waste” is pretty hot right now.
But often when we hear of zero waste movements, or civic and corporate zero waste commitments, they are actually “zero waste to landfill” campaigns. They’re not aiming for zero waste to be produced, just for all waste to be managed somehow – usually, relying heavily on recycling.
In fact most of us have probably said, or at least heard, the
statement: “It’s not waste – it gets recycled!” or for food, “it goes to
compost!”
Certainly it’s old news to the waste recovery industry that one person’s trash is another’s treasure. High-quality, well-sorted waste isn’t just usable, it’s desirable – either for recycling or conversion into fuel.
The Australian recycling industry is doing a good job of repurposing most of our collected recyclable material. This contributes to developing circular economy, in which recycled waste displaces virgin material in production.
But, like many words, there’s a crucial difference between the common
and technical definition of waste. Conversationally, “waste” is
understood as something unwanted or unusable, that has no value. In
technical terms, it’s a classification of a resource or product at a
certain point in its value chain.
It might seem like a pedantic distinction. But language shapes our
understanding and behaviour, and our conception of what is possible and
important.
Albert Shamess, Vancouver’s director of waste management said recently, “we can’t recycle our way to zero waste”. It goes to the heart of the question: is waste still waste if it gets recycled?
The standard waste hierarchy generally demarcates between waste
avoidance and waste management, with recycling squarely in the waste
management zone. In this sense, recycling is something we do to waste,
not a way to avoid it.
The ‘waste hierarchy’ prioritises actions by those with the greatest environmental benefit.
UTS: Institute for Sustainable Futures
These days, recycling is standard practice in most Australian households and in general is fairly simple. It’s not that hard to place an item in a recycling bin instead of the rubbish when they’re side by side in the kitchen (or in an office, or public space).
But recycling sits fairly low down the waste hierarchy. When we say
“it’s not waste if it gets recycled”, it makes it easier to avoid more
important actions with greater potential impact.
Similarly, when zero waste commitments are defined as “not going to landfill”, it’s too easy for companies or cities to set a diversion target and focus on recycling and recovery, rather than setting targets for the more complicated task of waste minimisation.
But while recycling (and recovery) is a great last line of defence,
it’s nowhere near as effective as avoiding the waste in the first place.
Why is recycling low on the waste hierarchy?
The waste hierarchy prioritises actions based on how much they benefit the environment. Recycling is certainly magnitudes better than landfill, because it replaces virgin materials in the manufacturing process. For example, recycling aluminium is 95% more efficient than using virgin aluminium, recycling plastic is 85% more efficient, paper 50%, and glass 40%.
But the recycling process still consumes energy (and other resources), and costs money. And for many materials, particularly plastic and to some extent paper, recycling is also a downgrading process.
These materials can only be recycled a certain number of times before they degrade beyond all use, and generally then end up in landfill. At this point, they can’t be recovered for waste to energy.
On the other hand, if we could reduce the amount of material that needs to be recycled, or better yet, the amount that needs to be produced in the first place, these costs would disappear altogether. Better consumer choices can play a role, but more significant are improved resource management and smarter product design.
In our transition to a circular economy, the way we characterise things may shift to emphasise the that objects have value beyond the end of their intended life. But it’s essential we still call a spade a spade.
Regardless of whether something is “waste” if it gets recycled,
recycling (and recovery) needs to be seen as what is is – a last line of
defence. Minimising waste is more important than managing it, and we
need to keep our focus there.
This raw untreated sewage can carry a variety of dangerous bacteria. These bacteria can cause bowel problems and other diseases such as Hepatitis, Cholera, Salmonella and other severe illnesses. There are some ways to minimize the possibility and severity of these diseases.
After
sewage backup occurs there are some things you can do to protect
yourself and your family from contamination. First and foremost,
immediately call a certified sewage contamination restorer to begin
proper cleaning and disinfection procedures to contain the bacteria.
Never try to clean it yourself or touch the sewage with bare hands,
always wear gloves and boots. This keeps any cuts or sores from being
the avenue for the bacteria to enter your system. Keep children and pets
away from the contaminated area until proper restorative cleaning is
completed. Through out anything that has had any contact with the
contamination, especially food items. Keep any contaminated items away
from the mouth, nose or eyes, as these are easy points of entry for the
bacteria. Washing hands frequently with an antibacterial soap for added
personal protection. If you detect any difference in how you are feeling
after the sewage backup, contact your doctor immediately for medical
attention.
There can be various causes for sewage to backup into
your home. Many of these problems you can personally prevent by
following a few simple steps. This is true whether you have a septic
system or a city sanitary system. One problem can be caused by garbage
disposals installed under your sink to minimize the amount of household
garbage you have to put in your garbage can. In fact, it is better to
put garbage in the cans rather than a garbage disposal. A garbage
disposal system cannot be used if you have a septic system unless you
want sewage in your home. Even though the food products you put in the
disposal are biodegradable, they still leave greases and oils behind
that can eventually restrict your waste lines setting the scene for a
sewer backup. Putting items in toilets are also big troublemakers. Never
put disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, items that belong in your
garbage instead of your septic system down your toilet. That too is a
roadway to problems. A severe clog and backup will be imminent.
There
are other common causes for your sewer or septic to backup. These can
happen to either a septic system or city sewer system. Both can be a
very costly problem.
The first problem can be a structural defect
or failure. These can happen slowly over time causing major damage to
your system leading to a major overflow into your home requiring major
reconstruction of your system. These defects are caused by slow
deterioration of your pipes and access cleanout ports. This type of
damage could be from a collapsed pipe, sag in the line, cracks or holes,
separated joints or misaligned pipe. If the sewage flow can’t go out
into the tank or city line, it will come into your house with very
unpleasant results.
The second major cause of sewage backflow is
tree roots that grow into your sewage discharge lines causing severe
clogs. Tree roots can enter the pipe at joints and travel deep into your
system causing devastating clogs, again with unpleasant results. As the
roots grow the damage becomes more severe and replacement of the pipe
is the only repair.
The third problem can occur to either type of
system. In the event of heavy rains, like we all just encountered, the
water table can get so high that your septic system has nowhere to go
but into the lowest level of your house. If you have sanitary sewers you
can have a similar problem. These flooding rains overwhelm the city
sewer systems causing them to flood and force the backflow of sewage
into your home, sometimes under heavy pressure making the damage worse.
If
you have a city sanitary sewer system there is one sure way to prevent
the high-pressure flooded backflow of sewage into your home. There is a
valve called a backflow preventer that is a critical way to protect your
home from sewage backflow.
What is a sewage backflow preventer
you ask? Simply put, it is a valve that lets your wastewater out of your
house into the city sanitary system, but shuts if the pressure tries to
force the sewage back into your home due to some type of malfunction
somewhere down the line. It is relatively inexpensive to install and
should be a required part of every city system. In some towns in this
country, it is now mandated that one of these backflow preventer valves
be on every city line attached to your home. This valve is for city
sanitary sewers only and will not work on a septic system since there is
no backpressure.
If you are unfortunate enough to have a sewage
backup, it is best not to try to clean it yourself. A certified water
damage black water removal specialist should be called to restore your
home to a healthy condition and not create undo contamination to other
areas of your house. This creates a major health risk to your family and
can make your problem much worse instead of better.
Check with your insurance company. Some homeowner policies cover such a loss that can save you thousands of dollars and secure the safety for your family. A sewer backup is restored much differently that a clean water loss. The certified professional cleaners have the training and experience to properly care for the welfare of your home and family.
My name is Bruce Jackson, author of this article. I have been in the cleaning industry for over 35 years and am owner / operator of my company, Jolly Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners, Inc. of Jackson, New Jersey. We clean all types of carpet, fabrics and hard surfaces. Please visit our website for a wealth of information or to get any of your fabric, carpet or grout care questions answered or call us at 732-367-3145 for your FREE ESTIMATE TODAY!
