In todays environmentally concious times, there are a few important
considerations. Its not rocket science but sometimes the cost can seem like it!
Cost
The cost of removal of waste can be quite considerable - the days of someone paying to take your top
soil away are long gone. If you have a lot of topsoil, or subsoil to remove, unless you can find
someone to pay for topsoil, you will probably have to pay to remove any that you cannot accomodate
when landscaping. The 2 main options are:
- removal by haulage contractors
- skip hire
If you have clean topsoil or subsoil that has not got too much stone, then usually this can be
taken away in bulk and will go to cap a landfill - at your considerable expense! Haulage companies
may offer you 2 choices:
- rental of a lorry and a charge per ton. Our local
rates for 07/08 have been £28 per hour and £4 per ton
- charge per ton. Our local
rates for 07/08 have been £6 per ton
The option depends on how quickly you can fill a lorry. If you have a small digger at your disposal
(something over 1.5 ton, otherwise it'll take forever) then it will take something like 15 - 30 minutes
to fill a 16 tonner and hire of a lorry per hour may be best.
If you can hire a large digger (we mean something like 13 ton - the haulage company may
have one) then paying per ton may be the option. Discuss it with the
haulage company.
The cost per ton to remove rubbish is very expensive. Typically about £70 per ton via a
haulage company. For a skip, the cost is about £50 per ton, plus the skip hire of around £50.
Recycling
So it makes sense to recycle. See if you can bury rubble - deeply. Take plastic, cardboard and wood to
recycling points. Well, you are probably aware of the options.
Hazardous Waste
Asbestos waste (you may have to demolish an old building with asbestos roof) needs specialised
contractors.
Check the H&SE site
for the regulations.
Invasive Weeds
If you have any invasive weeds on your site then there is very strict legislation covering
their removal - check out the Environment Agency sites:
Advice on
managing Japanese Knotweed and other invasive species and their PDF on
Guidance on the
control of invasive weeds in or near fresh water.
One ton disposal bags
There are specialist companies that will deliver and collect one-ton bags - check some companies
in the
National Directory - waste management
