The construction site is usually ridden with numerous forms of waste, all of which needs to be disposed of properly. Examples here include:
· Human waste: This is a universal concern and a requirement for sanitation. Depending on the scope of the project, and thus the number of workers available, this could range from a simple pit latrine to a whole lavatory block. Remote projects like road construction pose a unique challenge in that they cannot permit permanent washrooms. This will therefore call for provision of mobile toilets. To minimize costs and prevent duplication, a permanent septic tank for the project could be done initially and then be utilized by the workers as the project progresses.
· Excess excavated material: Dumping excessive or inappropriate excavated material is another headache in a construction site. Long haul routes will mean more costs, while unauthorized dumping will lead to prosecutions. Reusable material like red soil or murram should be sold off or given out to brokers of the same, which will lead to a saving in cost.
· Material and equipment wrappings: Wrappings range from biodegradable items to non-biodegradable ones, some are bulky and some are not. Some, like crates, are reusable and the same should be done, while others are worthless and should be burnt. Such burning should be such that it leads to minimum pollution.
· Used materials: Some materials like timber formwork and scaffolding can be easily reused for other works, including as firewood. Crushed stone for example during dressing, should be reused for road maintenance or as subbase material for parkings and pavings.
· Used vehicle and plant parts: depending on the material type, they should be reused or disposed of appropriately. For example, used tyres and oil filters are best incinerated in controlled environments to minimize pollution.
· Used water: Depending on the use it was put to, this can be directly recycled, allowed to run off or contained for further purification.
· Petroleum arisings: These are mostly found in parkings and garages and are laden with petroleum waste. Proper petrol disposal procedures should be followed.
It is important to note that at the point of construction project approval, waste management is one of the requirements to be planned for. There are statutory bodies charged with the responsibility of ensuring that proper waste management procedures are put in place and followed. This will minimize environmental disturbance as well as curb pollution. Workers welfare as well as that of the surrounding communities should be considered. Taking for example of effluent disposed in rivers, it will lead to the death of aquatic life.
· Human waste: This is a universal concern and a requirement for sanitation. Depending on the scope of the project, and thus the number of workers available, this could range from a simple pit latrine to a whole lavatory block. Remote projects like road construction pose a unique challenge in that they cannot permit permanent washrooms. This will therefore call for provision of mobile toilets. To minimize costs and prevent duplication, a permanent septic tank for the project could be done initially and then be utilized by the workers as the project progresses.
· Excess excavated material: Dumping excessive or inappropriate excavated material is another headache in a construction site. Long haul routes will mean more costs, while unauthorized dumping will lead to prosecutions. Reusable material like red soil or murram should be sold off or given out to brokers of the same, which will lead to a saving in cost.
· Material and equipment wrappings: Wrappings range from biodegradable items to non-biodegradable ones, some are bulky and some are not. Some, like crates, are reusable and the same should be done, while others are worthless and should be burnt. Such burning should be such that it leads to minimum pollution.
· Used materials: Some materials like timber formwork and scaffolding can be easily reused for other works, including as firewood. Crushed stone for example during dressing, should be reused for road maintenance or as subbase material for parkings and pavings.
· Used vehicle and plant parts: depending on the material type, they should be reused or disposed of appropriately. For example, used tyres and oil filters are best incinerated in controlled environments to minimize pollution.
· Used water: Depending on the use it was put to, this can be directly recycled, allowed to run off or contained for further purification.
· Petroleum arisings: These are mostly found in parkings and garages and are laden with petroleum waste. Proper petrol disposal procedures should be followed.
It is important to note that at the point of construction project approval, waste management is one of the requirements to be planned for. There are statutory bodies charged with the responsibility of ensuring that proper waste management procedures are put in place and followed. This will minimize environmental disturbance as well as curb pollution. Workers welfare as well as that of the surrounding communities should be considered. Taking for example of effluent disposed in rivers, it will lead to the death of aquatic life.
