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Preparing Your Construction Site for Autumn
September has arrived.
The kids are back at school (thank God), the summer holidays are over and, whether we're ready for it or not, autumn is on its way.
For construction sites, that usually means one thing is guaranteed:
The British weather is about to become even less predictable.
Rain, wind, darker mornings and plenty of mud can make an already busy site harder to manage. And while construction site waste management probably isn't the most exciting thing on your autumn checklist, getting it organised now can save a lot of hassle later.
Here are a few things worth thinking about before autumn properly kicks in...
1. Keep construction waste areas organised
You know that corner of the site.
One skip becomes two. A few materials get left next to them. Someone isn't quite sure what goes where. Before you know it, you've created a waste mountain nobody wants to claim responsibility for.
Now add a week of rain.
Lovely.
Clearly designated waste areas, correctly sized containers and making sure everyone on site knows where different materials should go can help keep things much more manageable.
It can also make waste collections and segregation far easier as the project progresses.
2. Think about site access before the rain arrives
That perfectly accessible area in August can look very different after several days of heavy rain.
If you're arranging skip, RoRo or grab collections, think about how vehicles will safely access the site as ground conditions change.
Are access routes likely to become muddy?
Will vehicles still have enough room to manoeuvre?
Could stored materials or equipment end up blocking the collection point?
Good construction waste management isn't just about having somewhere to put your waste. It's also about making sure it can actually be collected safely and efficiently when you need it gone.
3. Don't let your skip become a swimming pool
Autumn rain + an uncovered skip = potentially a lot of unnecessary water.
Where appropriate for the waste type and container, suitable covers can help prevent rainwater getting in and stop lighter materials being blown around when the wind picks up.
Keeping waste properly contained can also help keep the site tidier and reduce the chances of debris ending up somewhere it shouldn't.
Your site team will appreciate it.
Your neighbours probably will too.
4. Plan construction waste collections before you're desperate
We've all seen it.
“We can definitely fit a bit more in there.”
Until a bit more turns into a mountain balancing on top of the skip.
Waiting until your waste container is completely full before thinking about the next collection can cause unnecessary disruption, particularly on busy construction projects.
Planning your construction waste collections ahead of time means you can keep waste moving without it getting in the way of the actual job.
And as autumn conditions become more challenging, a little forward planning becomes even more valuable.
5. Make sure you've got the right waste solution
Not every construction project needs the same setup.
Depending on the size of the project, volume of waste, materials being generated and access available, you might need skips, RoRo containers, grab services or a combination of different waste solutions.
This is where speaking to an experienced waste management team before things get busy can make life considerably easier.
At Sharp Skips, our team works with construction businesses and contractors to understand what the project actually needs rather than simply sending out a skip and hoping for the best.
Autumn is coming. Is your waste plan ready?
A little preparation in September can save plenty of headaches once autumn properly arrives.
At Sharp Skips, we work with construction companies and contractors to keep waste moving, sites organised and collections running throughout the year - whatever the British weather decides to throw at us.
And you're not just dealing with one person behind a phone.
We've got different teams looking after different parts of the process, from our sales team helping you find the right waste solution through to the operational side of getting collections organised and waste moving.
If you've got a construction project coming up this autumn, get in touch with the Sharp Skips team and let's get your waste plan sorted before the weather has other ideas.
Construction Site Waste Management FAQs
What is the best way to manage waste on a construction site?
Start by identifying the types and likely volumes of waste your project will generate. From there, you can plan suitable containers, designated waste areas, segregation and collection schedules rather than dealing with waste reactively.
How often should construction skips be collected?
There isn't one answer for every site. It depends on the size of the project, the waste being produced and how quickly containers are filling. Planning collections around your expected waste volumes can help prevent overflowing containers and unnecessary disruption.
What waste collection options are available for construction sites?
Depending on the project and waste type, options can include skips, larger RoRo containers and grab services. The most suitable option will depend on factors including waste volume, material type and site access.
You made it to the end… so here's a little something
If you're enquiring with Sharp Skips after reading this blog, make sure you mention the word “BLOG” to our team.
We won't tell you what you'll get, but we'll make sure there's a little surprise waiting for you.
Consider it our way of rewarding the people who actually made it all the way to the end!
