▪What's the best way to deal with construction trash and debris from your home remodeling or home building project? I have never done this, but I do believe that there are some companies that will recycle your construction debris. I hope to look into this for my next home remodeling or new home construction job.

The most common method for trash disposal on large house renovation projects is roll-off containers, otherwise known as dumpsters. If you have a good place for a dumpster and will be consistently creating lots of trash and debris, then this is a good, easy alternative. The drawbacks: sometimes it is hard to find a spot to place the dumpster on your home remodeling construction site. Also, the price can add up significantly over time. Additionally, you need to find the labor to put all of the trash into the dumpster, or do it yourself. Furthermore, your neighbors will frequently put their trash in your dumpster, adding to your hauling charges.

My favorite method, and one that is not used much in the industry, is to hire a trash hauling company. Usually, this is two or more men with a modified pick-up truck who will clean-up and haul your construction trash and debris on an as needed basis. I like this method because it solves my problem of having to find someone to pick up the trash around the site. Also, I am not paying for a dumpster to sit on my jobsite when I don't need it. Finally, my sites are usually narrow and cramped, without much space for a dumpster.

Former builder and instructor of "Save Time and Money in Home Remodeling" cont. ed. course at Emory University