In the past, maintaining a good public image as a corporation was largely about offering good deals and being known as a good place to work. These days, it’s increasingly becoming more about being a good corporate citizen through running an environmentally sustainable operation and giving back to the communities in which we operate. As we have come to realise that our resources won’t last forever, societies now demand that businesses run their operations in a way that helps leave the planet in good shape for future generations. When running commercial construction sites, the onus is on you to ensure the sustainability of your operation. Following these four tips is a great place to start.
1. Recycle your metal and get cash too
Job sites can generate a whole lot of metal that can be a headache to get rid of. Metal obviously doesn’t break down in the environment, so if it goes to landfill it’s going to be sitting there for a long time. For the same reason, metal can be recycled again and again – in fact, all steel produced in New Zealand is made partially from scrap. The best thing about metal recycling is that you actually get paid for what you scrap, so it’s a win for the environment, and for your finances. If you’re looking for a scrap yard in Auckland, we offer a range of options for picking up scrap, so it doesn’t need to be difficult.
2. Scrap appliances after demo jobs
After demolitions, you may end up with a large amount of junk from the interior of a home or building, including appliances, computer waste, cabling and so on. Luckily, appliance recycling is also a great sustainable practice. You can scrap almost anything – basins, toasters, microwaves and hot water cylinders – meaning nothing from your demo job has to go to waste.
3. Collect rainwater
It’s relatively easy to construct a barrel to collect rainwater draining off the roof. You might not want to drink this water, but it’s great for all kinds of uses on commercial sites, like washing down tools and watering landscaped areas. Commercial operations place a big demand on freshwater resources, so using rainwater really helps to protect these systems from undue stress.
4. Recycle all packaging
The packaging from all kinds of materials, tools and other items coming into your commercial site can generate a lot of plastic, paper and cardboard waste. This should all be recycled and, to make sure that it is, ensure that there are bins for collection on your site and that your employees and any contractors know where to find them.
Is your recycling strategy up to scratch?
Every little piece of material is important, since it all adds up in the long term and over the thousands of commercial sites nationwide. The world is only becoming more and more sustainably minded, so you really need to join in on the trend sooner rather than later. Metal recycling is probably the biggest area of concern for most construction sites, so finding a good scrapper in your area is important. If you’re in Auckland, get in touch with us at Endless Metals to talk about our wide range of scrapping options and which one is the best suited for you and your business.