Ways to Save Money on Building Projects

Photo Credit: Wood Recyclers Association
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Submitted by Thurston County Solid Waste

Photo Credit:  Wood Recyclers Association
Photo Credit: Wood Recyclers Association

Are you doing some building or remodeling this year? Whether you are a professional contractor or doing a DIY project at home, construction is an expensive undertaking. Waste management can be a big part of those costs but there are some little ways to save big money. You can even do some good for your community and the environment in the process.

Construction and demolition (C&D) debris represents a significant amount of the total solid waste produced in Thurston County. The good news is much of it is reusable or recyclable. Thurston County Solid Waste has some great tips on ways to save some green and be green. Since reuse is better for the environment than recycling, let’s start there.

If you have usable building materials and household goods, donating them is the way to go. South Sound Habitat for Humanity has three donation locations where you can drop items off: the stores in Yelm and Olympia, as well as the new donation station at the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center’s Recycling Area. Habitat accepts working appliances, cabinets, doors, flooring, furniture, light fixtures, hardware, lumber, plumbing, roofing, and non-aluminum windows. Donating these usable materials gives you a tax deduction and allows you to skip the cost of disposal. Habitat resells the items at their store locations and uses the proceeds to build housing for low-income families.

You can also list your reusable items, for free or for a charge on websites such as Craigslist or our own Thurston County www.2good2toss.com. Reuse websites, as well as the Habitat stores are great places to shop for used items at a significant cost savings. In addition, local contractors often donate new items and materials that they do not need to the Habitat stores, so you can snag those for well under retail prices.

Even if materials can’t be reused, many can be recycled. Recovery 1, Inc recycles a wide variety of mixed or separated construction materials, including gypsum, carpet/padding, and land clearing debris from new or remodeled construction projects. At $70 or less, Recovery 1, Inc’s per ton rate is much less than trash disposal at the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center. Located less than two miles off Interstate 5 in the Industrial Port of Tacoma, you can haul materials yourself or use a service. Depending on the size of your load, it can still be a cost savings, even with the drive. For more information and materials requirements, visit the Recovery 1, Inc website or call 1-800-949-5852.

There are plenty of locations in Thurston County that accept separated construction materials. Solid Waste maintains a database at www.WhereDoITakeMy.org of where to take a wide variety of reusable and recyclable materials.

There are several things to consider when you are deciding to haul materials yourself or have a company provide an on-site bin and hauling service. These include space constraints, if you are separating materials or doing mixed recycling, transportation costs, and staff time. The companies listed below will pick up material from your location. Specify that you want the materials recycled and remember to ask for proof of recycling, especially if you are applying for third-party green certification of your project. Certain restrictions, requirements, and/or permits may be required for recycling. If you know of a company that hauls C&D materials for recycling, please let us know so we can then to our list.

For more information on waste reduction programs in Thurston County, visit the Solid Waste website or call 360-867-2491.

 

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