Month: December 2016

So you’ve paid a waste management company to haul away your garbage. What do they do with it now? How do they safely, efficiently, and affordably dispose of your waste?

Waste management companies all work in slightly different ways. Different state regulations mean waste management varies widely from state to state.

In general, however, waste management companies will dispose of your trash in the safest, most efficient way possible according to local regulations.

There Are Three Different Waste Streams

Waste management companies will typically deliver your trash to three different waste streams, including:

-Recycle: Any recyclable materials follow this stream.

-Waste-to-Energy Facility: These facilities use extremely high-temperature furnaces to combust your trash, converting it into clean and renewable energy which is used to power local homes and businesses.

-Landfill: Any trash that cannot be recycled or converted to energy is brought to a local landfill. Landfills may be called “dumps”, but they’re high-tech facilities designed to isolate waste from the environment while minimizing damage to the surrounding area.

Obviously, the goal is to maximize the number of recyclables and waste-to-energy products while minimizing the amount of trash headed to the landfill.

Recyclables Trash

Your recyclable trash will be reduced and reused without heading to the landfill. Recyclables include all of the following:

-Paper: Paper recycles include corrugated boxes, old newsprint, mixed paper, and office mix (these are four distinct categories, and they’ll be separated after your dumpster is picked up). Paper recyclables are baled and sold mostly to paper mills.

-Plastics: Mixed plastic containers are sorted by type and color. Recycling facilities actually use blown air to separate heavy and light plastics from one another. These recyclables are optically scanned to see if they fit into different plastic categories (like HSPE) before being shipped to plastic plants.

-Glass: Glass recyclables are crushed into a new product called cullet. Cullet is then cleansed of debris and contaminants. Some facilities sort the glass by color before crushing. These recyclables are shipped to glass plants.

-Metals: Facilities typically use magnets to separate steel from the rest of the recycled metals. That steel is removed to a storage bin for baling, while other metals – like aluminum – are sent to places like aluminum plants. Metals are melted down, then reused.

Waste-to-Energy

Today, many environmentally-conscious countries and regions operate waste-to-energy facilities. Certain types of waste are brought to these facilities, then burned to release energy.

Waste management companies will deliver waste to the facility’s refuse pit. Then, the facility loads trash from the pit into its hoppers, then uses hydraulic rams to shove that trash into the boiler units. The boiler units use trash as fuel. The heat from the combustion of the trash converts waster in the boiler into steam, and that steam is sent to the utility infrastructure as a clean source of energy.

Landfills and Gas-to-Energy Systems

Most additional waste gets buried at a landfill.

However, some landfill waste gets turned into energy. Certain types of waste – especially organic waste – will produce methane gas and carbon dioxide as it decomposes. Eco-friendly landfills will recover this gas using a series of wells drilled into the landfill. This gas is fed through a piping system, then gets sent to power-generating equipment as a type of pressurized gas-based fuel.

The next time an Eagle Dumpster Rental truck drives off with your dumpster full of trash, you’ll know exactly where that trash is going to end up!

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Landfills, also known as dumps, are something few people understand. You drop off your garbage at the landfill, or you pay a waste management company like Eagle Dumpster Rental to do it for you.

But what happens to your trash in the landfill after you drop it off? Does it get absorbed into the ground? Do they burn it? Do they recycle it?

To help you answer those questions, we’re giving you all of the secrets about how landfills work – and where your trash goes after your rental dumpster is picked up.

There’s More Engineering than You Think

You might call it a “dump”. Sanitation engineers, however, may get insulted. There’s a surprising amount of science behind your local landfill.

Typically, the place you call a “dump” is known as a Class 3 landfill that accepts municipal solid waste (MSW). It’s where most of your household garbage ends up when you live in a city.

Class 3 landfills are scientifically-engineered facilities built into or on the ground. They’re designed for one specific purpose: to hold and isolate waste from the environment.

Today, federal and state regulations strictly govern the way landfills work. Federal and state laws, for example, dictate the location, design, operation, and closure of Class 3 landfills. Without these laws, human health – and the environment – could be at risk.

How Trash Gets to the Landfill

Today, most states – including Pennsylvania and Delaware – are reducing the number of landfills. Instead of having many smaller landfills located across the state, governments are choosing to have a smaller number of larger landfills.

Typically, your trash gets from your home to your nearest landfill by a garbage truck. If you rented a dumpster from Eagle Dumpster Rental, then we’ll take it to the landfill for you.

An average garbage truck can hold 12 to 14 tons of waste. To put that number in perspective, an average mid-sized car weighs about 1.5 tons, and many larger SUVs and trucks weigh 2.5 or 3 tons.

12 to 14 tons of waste is approximately the same amount of waste that comes from 800 to 850 homes. Once your local garbage truck is full, the truck heads to the landfill. The landfill weighs the truck, the truck dumps the waste (usually, just by tipping its container), then the truck is weighed on the way out. The garbage truck moves on to another neighborhood to repeat the process.

How Landfills Work and Manage Trash

A well-designed landfill consists of six crucial components, including each of the following:

1) The Bottom Liner System: This liner prevents trash from seeping into the groundwater. It typically consists of two feet of clay, a plastic liner, and a two foot thick protective layer (usually sand).

2) Cells: The cells of a landfill are specific areas where trash is dumped and crushed.

3) Storm Water Drainage System: Without a drainage system, rain would wreak havoc on a landfill. The storm water drainage system collects rainwater using plastic pipes (and other equipment), then relocates the water to a pond before it comes into contact with the garbage.

4) Leachate Collection System: This system collects liquids (called leachate) that come into contact with the garbage. This water is collected and treated before being re-introduced to the environment.

5) Methane Collection Systems: When garbage decomposes, it generates methane gas (and carbon dioxide). Landfills have a capture system for this methane, which reduces the risk of explosions and burns.

6) Final Covering/Cap: The final covering or cap is placed on top of a Class 3 landfill when it’s closed. This typically consists of 18 inches of clay, a plastic liner, and two feet of soil.

Landfills are designed to last 30 to 50 years. Governments typically prepare to monitor landfills for 30 years after they close. And that’s how garbage gets from your home, into your rental dumpster, and into a landfill.

One of the most important decisions you need to make before renting a dumpster is its size. How big does your dumpster need to be? How can you avoid paying for space you don’t need? How much debris can we expect from our kitchen or complete home renovation?

At Eagle Dumpster Rental, our specialists will walk you through the dumpster rental process. We’ll ask what type of construction project you’re working on, and use our experience to help you decide the perfect size for your needs.

 

We’ve seen what works for other customers, and we’re pretty good at guessing dumpster sizes.

That being said, it’s always nice to know what’s out there. Here are the top 3 most popular dumpster sizes and how they’re typically used:

15 Yard Dumpsters

A 15 cubic yard dumpster is popular for homeowners and smaller commercial contractors. It’s a “jack of all trades” type dumpster, and it can easily slot into a front yard or backyard to make sure your project goes smoothly. You can even fit this little guy inside a parking stall or a small residential driveway. We’ve even seen 15 yard dumpsters used on larger projects where a larger dumpster won’t fit – like in crowded downtown neighborhoods. On larger projects, you can just empty the dumpster more frequently to keep the project running smoothly.

Ideal For:

-Renovation debris from smaller projects

-Garbage, trash, and junk removal (like spring cleaning projects)

-Homeowner garage cleanouts

-Asphalt shingle re-roofing

-Smaller commercial construction sites

-General waste collection and disposal

-Situations or properties where you can’t fit a larger dumpster

20 Yard Dumpsters

A 20 cubic yard dumpster tends to be the sweet spot for our customers. It’s plenty big enough for most renovation projects, and it holds enough junk for even the most intense spring cleanings. It holds significantly less waste than the 30 yard containers, which are used primarily on commercial construction sites. The 20 yard dumpster can be delivered to most residential locations (it will fit on one-half of a double car driveway). It’s also a popular option with contractors for construction dumpster rentals on demolition sites.

Ideal For:

-Demolition debris

-Garbage, trash, and junk removal

-Larger house cleanouts

-Larger residential renovations

-Commercial construction sites

-General waste collection and disposal

-Flat roof tear-offs

-General trash and garbage removal

30 Yard Dumpsters

30 yard dumpsters are almost exclusively used on commercial construction sites. Unless a home is going through a multi-room renovation project, this dumpster is larger than most homeowners need. 30 cubic yard dumpsters require a tandem axle truck for delivery and pickup, and it can be difficult to place the 30 yard dumpster on some residential spaces. Nevertheless, many of our customers are surprised by how easily the dumpster fits into a lot or property – and with no lasting damage!

Ideal For:

-Permanent placement bins for industrial or commercial companies

-High volume renovation, demolition, and construction projects

-High volume junk removal jobs

-Commercial flat roofing

-Industrialized construction and civil projects

-General waste collection and disposal

-Wood and pallet recycling

Which Size Dumpster is Right for You?

Still don’t know which size is right for your project? That’s okay! Many of our customers at Eagle Dumpster Rental are first-time dumpster renters. If you’re clueless about roll-off container rentals, you’re not alone! Fortunately, friendly staff is on-hand to assist you with your decision. We’ve seen what works for other customers, and we’ll help you pick the perfect dumpster for your needs.

Dumpster Rental

A renovation is a stressful time to be a homeowner. Whether you’re performing a renovation on your own, or you’re hiring a contractor, your house is going to look a little different for the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, homeowners often make big mistakes during renovations. These mistakes can make life significantly harder. They can extend the renovation process and send costs skyrocketing.

Which mistakes should you avoid during your renovation? Let’s take a closer look.

Using Cheap Materials

Unless you’re planning to dump your home on unsuspecting home buyers in the next six months or so, you should avoid using cheap materials. Just like with anything, you get what you pay for. Homeowners who use cheap materials are left with the consequences of that decision (repairs, leaks, etc.) for years.

Avoiding Prep Work

Prep work might seem dorky. It might seem unnecessary. Experienced homeowners might laugh at you. But you know what? Prep work works. It’s a little extra work today that helps you avoid a whole lot of extra work tomorrow. Let’s face it: prepping is an annoying and tedious process that nobody wants to do. However, it’s one of the easiest ways to save yourself time and money on your renovation.

Ignoring Lighting

Have you ever wondered how those before-and-after renovation pictures look so good? Take a quick peek at the lighting in the before-and-after picture. Did it change? Many homeowners ignore lighting during a renovation. However, lighting has an enormous effect on your colors, feeling, and ambiance of any room in your home. What’s the point of renovating your home if nobody can see your hard work?

Not Preparing for Chaos in the Home

Are you ready to eat pizza every night for 3 weeks? If you’re renovating your kitchen, you’re going to have to live without cooking appliances for a little while. Many homeowners fail to anticipate the chaos associated with a renovation. Renovations are messy. Make sure you’re ready to handle that mess. Don’t schedule a kitchen renovation 10 days before hosting Thanksgiving Dinner.

Ignoring Safety

We get it: you’re tough. You think safety goggles and earmuffs are for kids. You’ve used equipment like this before. It’s no big deal. Everyone does it. But you know what? These are the same things people think when they end up in hospital because they weren’t wearing property foot protection when they stepped on an upturned nail. Don’t be an idiot.

Not Renting a Dumpster

You might think: I have a truck. We can fill up that truck and make a few runs to the dump.

But just wait until you start renovating. Wait until you see how much junk you have. Even a smaller bathroom renovation can turn into 5 or 6 trips to the dump in a standard truck. On larger renovation projects, you’ll be on a first-name basis with dump employees within a week.

Roll Off rentals speed up every part of the home renovation process. For a reasonable price, you get a “magic” waste removal bin on your property. You throw waste into that bin, wait for it to pile up, and then somebody takes that waste away and makes it disappear.

Many homeowners are surprised by how cost-effective dumpster rentals can be. Request your quote today from Eagle Dumpster Rental and get ready for a smooth and efficient renovation.

One of the best parts about owning a home is that you finally have a place to store all your stuff. One of the worst parts about home ownership is that you collect way too much stuff.

Eventually, every homeowner needs to remove some junk. Today, a growing number of homeowners across America are happy to pay for full-service junk removal.

What are the advantages of full-service junk removal? Is it the right choice for you? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons.

Free Junk Removal Estimates

Most junk removal companies offer free estimates. Not sure how much it will cost to get rid of all this junk? Call a junk removal company. They’ll come take a look at it and provide an on-the-spot estimate. In many cases, that junk removal company can remove the waste right then, or schedule an appointment at a later date.

For many people, cost is a concern with junk removal. Free estimates and honest upfront pricing make this an easy concern to avoid.

Junk Removal Companies Can Donate Old Junk

Many junk removal companies actually have donation partners. They’ll spot anything of value in your junk. Instead of throwing that junk away – like old furniture, appliances, or toys – they’ll give it to charity partners in your local area. You get rid of unwanted stuff and support your local community at the same time. Many people are surprised to find how much of their “junk” can be put to good use. Junk removal companies will ask for your permission before donating.

You’re Being Environmentally Friendly

Junk removal companies deal with all types of junk. They know where to responsibly dispose old tires. They know exactly how to recycle a broken microwave. If they don’t know how to responsibly dispose of certain types of junk, then they know who to ask.

Professional junk removal isn’t just about paying someone to drag all your trash to the landfill. It’s about removing junk from your property in a responsible, environmentally-friendly manner.

Dumping Everything at a Landfill is Harder than You Think

Many people are surprised to learn that certain municipalities regulate junk removal. In certain regions, it’s illegal to send all your junk to the landfill. You can’t just throw all of your unwanted stuff into one big pile at the landfill. Instead, you need to take extra care to recycle, remove hazardous material, and avoid costly fines at the landfill.

Do you know your local junk removal regulations? Probably not. But junk removal companies do.

Make Your Property Safer

If you’ve owned a home for a few years, then you might have all sorts of junk building up. Some of those materials can be hazardous, including thinners and paints. The only thing these materials do around your house is pose a hazard. The longer you ignore these problems and put them off, the more risk they pose to you, your family, your pets, and your house.

Ultimately, junk removal is a convenient service. You’re paying someone to remove junk from your property. That person is a professional junk remover. They know how to dispose of your junk. They know where to dispose of it. And, they know how to do all of it in the cheapest way possible.
Request a free junk removal quote from Eagle Dumpster Rental today!