Construction projects generate an awful lot of recoverable waste. For example, the building/renovation of an average 2,000 square foot home can produce 8,000 pounds of excess material. Much of that material, which includes packaging, lumber, masonry aggregate and appliances can be recycled or re-used, but it usually gets hauled to the landfill.

Sometimes, materials can simply be re-used in the way they were intended. Other times they can be reconstituted into other products or even donated to nonprofit organizations, which prevents clogging up landfills and supports a good cause.

The good news is, Gresham Sanitary Service rents drop boxes of all sizes for waste and recycling on construction sites and in other commercial areas. We can roll off your unit just about anywhere you choose, you can keep it as long as you need*, and we’ll pick it up when your project is finished.

Below are just a few of the materials that can be recycled in our drop boxes, and a few other options for re-use and donation.

Lumber

Untreated wood and lumber scraps can be used for energy recovery. We accept all kinds of untreated lumber in our drop boxes for reprocessing, but if you have any larger pieces left over they can be donated to groups like Habitat for Humanity and  The Rebuilding Center.

Masonry

You can recycle bricks, concrete and other masonry aggregate in our 10 yard drop boxes  Used concrete can also serve as pieces of a landscaping wall.

Cardboard and Paper

When recycling paper products it’s important to have it separated and stored in a dry place, such as a covered drop box. To cut back on cardboard mass, avoid products with excessive packaging.

Asphalt Roofing

Asphalt shingles can be placed in our drop boxes and reconstituted as road paving and patching material. However, if you have any shingles left over in full bundles, they can also be donated.

We will also accept separated dirt and rock, sod, and yard debris for recycling.

Miscellaneous

What we can’t accept in our drop boxes for reclamation could possibly be placed in a drop box for disposal. However, gently used construction materials like cabinets, sinks, bathtubs, light fixtures, hardware, nails, plumbing fittings and other supplies are all accepted by the organizations mentioned above.

Separation

A critical factor in recycling construction waste is on-site separation. In fact, we offer special discounted rates for clean, separated loads of recyclables. So, it’s important to have drop boxes for different materials clearly labeled. This will take some extra effort and training of personnel at first, but once these habits are established, on-site separation of recoverable materials can be done at little or no additional cost.

It may also be important to have drop boxes that protect recyclables from rain or containers that can be locked to prevent tampering.

If you’re in need of commercial drop boxes for construction waste and recycling, contact Gresham Sanitary Service today. Call 503-665-2424, use our contact form, or send an email to info@GreshamSanitary.com

* Rental fees may apply.

Big changes in China are making a serious impact on the trash and recycling trade in the U.S..

Many people are surprised to find out that the majority of the plastic, paper, and aluminum that we separate from the trash here In America gets shipped to China to be recycled. It’s a large part of our country’s trade economy and was worth more than $11 billion in 2011, making it our top export to China that year. Large Chinese corporations and mom-and-pop shops alike buy the recyclables we toss out and use them to manufacture all kinds of products that they, in turn, sell and distribute worldwide. Other countries in Europe have been sending their recyclables to China as well.

However, the endless bales of recyclable materials that are shipped across oceans to China for processing often contain bits of contaminating food scraps, trash, and even medical waste. For years, the Chinese government has overlooked this problem and their customs officials have been unclear on what the rules actually were. (more…)