Guide To Disposing Of Rubble and Building Waste
Whether you’re working on a construction site or in the midst of a home DIY project, construction waste such as bricks, rubble, cement, plasterboard and other building waste has always been difficult to dispose of. This is mainly due to the weight and quantities involved - this type of waste is often extremely heavy and difficult to transport.
Many local household waste recycling centres have placed charges and restrictions on the amount of building and DIY waste you can tip there.
The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) reports in the UK Statistics on Waste (updated May 2022) that in 2018 construction, demolition and excavation (CDE) was responsible for around three fifths (62%) of the 222.9 million tonnes of waste generated in the UK.
DEFRA’s report on Fly-tipping statistics for England, 2021/22 highlights the shocking reality that there were 59,000 instances of CDE fly-tipping in 2021/22.
Here at HIPPO we know how important it is to plan for disposal before starting your project, so check out our helpful pointers below.
How can you dispose of your rubble and building waste?
- Get a licensed waste carrier to remove it - You can hire a licensed waste disposal company to come and collect your rubble and building waste. Licensed waste carriers will recycle waste safely and correctly. This is an efficient method of removing rubble and building waste from your property.
- Take it to the local waste disposal centre - Most waste disposal centres will accept small amounts of rubble and building waste. If you have large amounts of waste, check with your local centre to see if they have restrictions or charges in place.
- Hire a skip - A skip is a common method used to get rid of unwanted rubble and building waste. Skips come in many different sizes and get dropped off outside your home - for more information take a look at our skip hire guide. Once you have filled the skip, the skip hire company will come and remove it.
- Use a HIPPOBAG - A skip bag can be used to dispose of building waste such as bricks, soil, broken tiles and concrete. Skip bags are an affordable alternative to hiring a skip and come in various sizes.
Recycling and reusing your building waste in construction
Firstly, remember that many building materials can be reused. Old bricks, tiles, ceramics, metal and other undamaged building materials can often be used again, especially by friends and family carrying out their own DIY projects.
Old bricks that are in good condition are particularly sought after, as they can be used for renovating buildings that are protected under conservation laws. You could even use them to create an outdoor barbecue, raised paving or garden path.
Broken materials, such as concrete slabs, rubble, bricks and ceramics, can be crushed and sold or given away as hard-core for building roads, as coarse aggregate for concrete or as filler material in other construction projects.
Don’t forget that materials such as packaging, plastic, glass and cardboard are standard recyclables. Materials like these can often be recycled through your local council recycling bins, depending on quantities.
Using a skip for rubble and brick disposal
Once you’ve determined what you think can be used or sold, it’s time to start thinking about what to do next.
At this stage, you need to choose a suitable and legitimate waste solution for everything that you won’t be able to dispose of yourself. The main waste solutions are to hire a skip or skip alternative, such as a HIPPOBAG.
To hire a skip, you’ll need to decide on the size, book the delivery and collection dates, and most likely obtain a permit from your local council to place the skip on the road.
You can place a number of household waste items in a skip including brick, concrete, metal, clay and stone as well as wood, tile, plaster, furniture and garden waste.
Disposing of rubble in a skip bag
You can also dispose of rubble and household waste in a HIPPOBAG. Skip bags are convenient, strong bags that can be used at your own discretion. They are sent out in the post and collected by a craned vehicle once full.
Unlike a skip, skip bags take up minimal space and you do not have to open the skip bag until you want to start using it for rubble removal.
A skip bag can be filled in the same way as a skip and comes in a range of sizes suitable for all your rubble removal needs. You can place garden waste, rubble, metals, carpet, furniture, and general waste inside a skip bag.
Removing rubble using grab lorries
Grab lorries are a great solution to removing large amounts of rubble and waste from your property. Grab hire is a lorry that clears waste by using a hydraulic arm.
Using a grab lorry is a straightforward and simple process that requires minimal effort on your behalf. The lorry will arrive at your property and remove the waste quickly and efficiently within minutes.
The lorry can remove rubble, soil, building materials and general waste from over fences and walls, and can reach awkward or tight spaces and around static objects.
How is rubble removal different from soil removal?
The simple answer is they aren’t different, both rubble and soil can be removed using HIPPOBAGs. HIPPOBAGs are made from 100% recyclable, ultra-strong and durable woven polypropylene, MIDIBAGs and MEGABAGs can be level filled with heavy waste weighing up to 1 or 1.5 tonnes respectively.
To find out more about how to get rid of soil, click here.
Why use HIPPOBAGs for rubble disposal and building rubbish removal?
- Made from 100% recyclable, ultra-strong and durable woven polypropylene, MIDIBAGs and MEGABAGs can be level filled with heavy waste weighing up to 1 or 1.5 tonnes respectively
- Purpose built collection vehicles use mounted cranes to lift HIPPOBAGs full of heavy waste from a place of your convenience (up to 4 metres from the road) and even from behind walls or fences (up to 6ft tall) - all in a matter of minutes
- Due to their size, flexibility and method of collection, HIPPOBAGs are perfect where access or space is restricted and Skip Hire is not suitable
For more help and advice on your project, check out our blog and don’t forget to order your HIPPOBAG to help with any garden clear up.