Excavation in Victoria presents several possible risks to the environment. From improperly disposing of waste, to emissions from machinery, excavation can easily leave a negative impact on the outside world. While you may be tempted to leave these concerns in the hands of your contractor, it is important that you do your due diligence in making sure that the company you hire is invested in protecting the environment. This is true for both residential and commercial projects. Besides, minimizing the environmental impact of excavation usually just means doing a good job. In this article, we will be going over a few key items your contractor should do to ensure that they are being as eco-friendly as can be. Continue reading below to learn more!
Ways Your Contractor Can Reduce the Environmental Impact of Excavation in Victoria
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
When excavating a new site, there is often extra material like rock, clay, and dirt. Instead of throwing these materials out, determine if they can be reused somewhere else. Or, at minimum, recycled in some way. Furthermore, if there has been demolition to an existing structure on the site, there may be leftover building materials that can be reused or recycled for something else. For instance, you may be able to repurpose old flooring, appliances, or lumber. Be sure to discuss with your contractor how you can reduce waste by reusing and recycling old materials.
- Correctly Disposing of Waste
Proper waste disposal is an essential part of minimizing your environmental impact during excavation. This means separating materials into appropriate categories for the landfill and making sure that any hazardous substances are dealt with properly. Failing to do so can result in fines from your local landfill and serious consequences to the environment. Choosing a company that is committed to correctly disposing of waste is vital in preserving the environment.
- Erosion & Runoff
Excavation requires a lot more planning than meets the eye. A good excavation contractor will make sure that they have considered not just the present implications of their dig, but also the future ones. This means taking into account waterways, soil erosion, and runoff. Factoring these items into an excavation plan is necessary for preserving the proposed structure(s) and the environment. Asking questions about soil contamination and structural integrity is key when starting a new project.
Additional Ways to be Eco-Friendly During Excavation
- Keep Dust to a Minimum
Dust goes hand in hand with any sort of construction project. However, too much dust can pollute the air and cause harm to those in the vicinity of the job site. Thankfully, there are lots of ways to keep dust to a minimum. One of the most common ways that contractors reduce the amount of dust production on a construction site, is by having a water source nearby. This may come in the form of a hose which helps to keep the ground damp and dust down. If too much water is required, contractors may need to use chemical additives to achieve the same effect. Additionally, any materials on the site should be kept covered to keep dust from spreading.
- Emissions and Fumes
Contractors should also be mindful of the emissions from their equipment and machinery. There are lots of harmful odours that can come from an excavation project. Being conscientious of how diesel emissions pollute the air is a key part of reducing the environmental impact of excavation. This means turning machines off when they are not in use, limiting the number of machines on-site, carpooling when needed, and keeping machines in good working order. Ask your contractor how they plan to deal with harmful emissions and odours before hiring.
- Soil Treatment
Soil contamination can happen as a result of excavation. If the soil removed from a site is contaminated, it is important that the soil is either treated or disposed of correctly. There are a few specialized ways that soil can be treated to remove any contaminants. If soil is treated properly, it can be reused on-site instead of adding more waste to the landfill.
Contact us Today!
For more information on reducing the environmental impact of your excavation project, contact us about excavation in Victoria today! If you are not sure what services you require for your next project, reach out to one of our experienced team members. We’d be happy to give you a quote on your project and determine what services you’ll need. At SWIPE we have several years of experience dealing with demolition, excavation and asbestos/mould removal. If you have any questions regarding our services, feel free to reach out. We look forward to working with you in the near future.