Management TipsStartup

Environmental Considerations When Demolishing a House

It can be a complex procedure to demolish a house and this will need careful planning and execution. This is undertaken for redevelopment or renovation but these projects can pose significant risks to the environment. This is why you need to carry out this undertaking responsibly so that natural resources can be preserved.

You can look for demolition contractors near me Perth when searching for demolition companies and you will be able to find many options online. You will need to research them carefully to narrow down the list. There can be hazardous materials present in the house and it is important that these are identified in the first stage and removed. Asbestos is a hazardous material that you can find in flooring, roofing materials and insulation. There are serious health risks that they can pose if disturbed. There are companies that specialise in their disposal. Lead can be found in plumbing, lead based paint and electrical components. This can contaminate water and soil if you don’t manage the disposal properly. Mercury can be found in switches, fluorescent lights etc. You need to correctly handle it so that you can prevent it from leaching into the environment. You can prevent contamination of air, soil and water during demolition when you identify these materials and take the right measures to dispose of them.

There is a lot of waste generated

By house demolitions and this can include metal, concrete, wood, debris etc. You need to have waste management plans in place so that you can minimise the environmental impact. You have to separate recyclable materials like wood, metal and concrete from items that cannot be recycled. By recycling these, you can reduce the demand for raw materials. This can conserve natural resources. You can also decide which materials can be salvaged and reused. This can be doors, windows, lumber and fixtures. You have to dispose of non-recyclable waste according to the local regulations. You should never take part in illegal landfilling or dumping as this can harm the environment significantly. There can be many airborne pollutants released by demolition such as particulate matter, dust and volatile organic compounds. You can mitigate the impact on air quality by ensuring duct control. This can be done by using water sprays, barriers or dust suppressants. This will minimise the emission of dust during the process.

When selecting equipment

You have to use low emission machinery so that exhaust emissions during demolition are minimised. You also need to contain asbestos properly and ensure ventilation so that the release of airborne asbestos fibres is reduced. You have to protect the soil and water as well. There have to be erosion control measures like erosion blankets, silt fencing and sediment traps so that sediment runoff can be prevented. You have to prevent sediment from entering streams, storm drains and water bodies. This can be done by using sediment basins and barriers. You have to catch stormwater runoff and treat it so that pollutants can be removed before the stormwater is discharged into water bodies.

Hester Griffith
the authorHester Griffith