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5 Ways to Maintain Safety on a Dumpster Rental Site

5 Ways to Maintain Safety on a Dumpster Rental SiteJunk disposal with a dumpster rental is usually not as simple as tossing waste in and forgetting about it. Throughout the waste disposal process, upholding safety is still a priority. Precautions regarding how to handle garbage and learning how to mitigate common hazards is key.

 

The first way to maintain safety on a dumpster rental site is by wearing the required safety apparel. At times, this might refer to protective face gear, goggles, gloves, and footwear. This ensures that anything with moving parts, materials falling to the ground, and/or debris bouncing off and from the dumpster is not going to seriously injure any person. Even if what is being tossed in does not come with moving pieces and even if it maintains very low safety risks, it is still generally recommended to wear safety apparel.

 

The second way to uphold safety with a dumpster rental is to make sure anyone handling materials and/or around the dumpster is wearing tough clothing. If the clothing is durable, then it is more likely to protect you against any nails, screws, wood, or metal splinters you come into contact with. Though you do want the clothing to be breathable, tough clothing is required to ensure that skin is not punctured or cut at any point during waste disposal.

 

Read more: 5 Ways to Maintain Safety on a Dumpster Rental Site

Find a Local Dumpster Rental Company that is Fast, Affordable, and Convenient

Find a Local Dumpster Rental Company that is Fast, Affordable, and Convenient Construction dumpster rental makes cleaning up a site safe and simple. For many contractors, they choose a local dumpster rental company over more corporate options, in part due to the fast service, affordability, and convenience.

 

When disposing of waste materials, sometimes there may be a concern or question that comes up. Attempting to deal with a corporate representative does not always result in an ideal resolution. For many construction dumpster rental customers, they choose to rent from a local company. In many cases, they’ve found that renting locally can sometimes nab better rates and in the event of a concern or question, someone can be sent down to evaluate that same day. Instead of working with a company whose head office is potentially a thousand kilometres or more away from your construction site, there are many advantages to choosing someone in the same city.

 

Beyond the affordability factor and the convenience of having your dumpster rental company close by for any additional assistance, you can build a relationship with those in charge. Though the vast majority of us don’t need construction dumpster rental services on a daily basis, perhaps down the line, you will require one for another new build or home renovation project. The waste that these sorts of projects emit is sizeable. It’s important to know who to call to find the best service and rate. If you are ever involved with similar or unrelated projects producing large amounts of waste, you will already have the number of someone who can provide same-day dumpster rental services. No delays – there’s always someone on the other line ready to pick up.

 

Read more: Find a Local Dumpster Rental Company that is Fast, Affordable, and Convenient

Plastic Recycling seeing an Increase across Canada and Internationally

Plastic Recycling seeing an Increase across Canada and Internationally The plastic recycling movement is gaining momentum across Canada and internationally. Countries in the European Union have been debating long-term strategies to reduce plastic waste, while seeking new creative ways to reuse existing plastic materials. In Canada, municipalities from sea to sea are considering new methods of plastic recycling, including banning plastic bags.

 

Today, the many opportunities to recycle plastic ultimately boils down to strategies related to reusing and reducing. The less plastic out there in use and the more processes to reuse the plastic that has already been manufactured means a greener planet.

 

Throughout the years, plastic has been used to create and manufacture so many of the goods we use on a daily basis. Food wrappers, water bottles, takeout containers, grocery bags, and even components of our mobile devices and computers come from plastic. Plastic is everywhere in our lives and without it, the world to human beings would be virtually unrecognizable. For too long, plastic has been allowed to enter our landfills, and in this day and age, it’s no longer acceptable for it to continue being sanctioned as waste.

 

The latest developments across the world include Canada seeking to work with plastic manufacturers to make plastic items more easily recyclable, Canadian regions like Montreal and Saskatoon considering bans on plastic grocery bags altogether, countries like Norway having implemented deposit-based plastic bottle recycling that has increased plastic bottle recycling by 97 percent, and China who recently banned imported plastic waste.

 

Read more: Plastic Recycling seeing an Increase across Canada and Internationally

3 Ways to Maximize Commercial Waste Disposal for your Small Business

3 Ways to Maximize Commercial Waste Disposal for your Small Business It might be time for you to set up commercial waste disposal services for your company. Any successful small business eventually grows to the point where they require commercial waste disposal.

 

Be it an office environment, retail store, hotel, restaurant, or corporate firm, each of these spaces produce large amounts of waste over the course of even a week. When waste is adding up, contact a commercial waste disposal company to assist. Prior to doing that though, there are some aspect of commercial waste management you may want to weigh.

 

#1 – Establishing a recycling program

 

The first step is coming up with a recycling program for your building. This should help in reducing waste output and in keeping excess materials off your property. Recycling bin services are typically easily ordered from most commercial disposal services. Depending on your work environment, you may wish to look into recycling specific materials including plastic, paper, cardboard boxes, and tin cans.

 

Read more: 3 Ways to Maximize Commercial Waste Disposal for your Small Business

Reduce and Re-use Plastic to see the Biggest Impact

Reduce and Re-use Plastic to see the Biggest Impact It’s highly likely that if you look around, your immediate surroundings are filled with plastic. Electronics, laundry baskets, lamps, kitchen accessories, and parts of your home theater system. Plastic is everywhere! Now, think about how much plastic is thrown away every day – candy wrappers, water bottles, and fast food containers, among so many other items.

 

When it comes to plastic in our landfills, this is something that nearly everyone admits needs to change. When it comes to plastic recycling, the most effective way to go about this is to reduce the amount of plastic being consumed and re-use the plastic that is. Specifically, this applies to the top recycled plastic type in Canada and the United States, known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This type of plastic is used to make bottles for ketchup, mouthwash, salad dressings, sports drinks, juice, pop, sodas, and water. Almost every consumer comes into contact with some form of PET plastic on a routine basis. Needless to say, there’s more that can be done to reduce and re-use as it applies to this plastic.

 

According to a recent study published by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling a 1-gallon milk bottle saves the amount of energy required to power a clothes washer for 1 hour. A similar study also suggests that recycling a 20-ounce bottle can save the energy required to power an average size laptop for twenty-five minutes. Apply these energy savings over the course of hundreds, thousands, and potentially millions of bottles, and now one can recognize the amount that can be saved. Plastic recycling and studies such as these are going to play a role in the future of how plastic is manufactured, handled, and managed by populations to come.

Read more: Reduce and Re-use Plastic to see the Biggest Impact

Is Commercial Waste Disposal Right for your Business – a Discussion

Is Commercial Waste Disposal Right for your Business – a Discussion  Every business has their own waste management needs. Whether a company is in health care, construction, retail, higher education, or medical, there are a range of waste management needs related to small business. There comes a point when even the smallest of growing businesses has to ask itself whether a commercial waste disposal arrangement is right.  Core Mini Bins specializes in a range of waste management services, including commercial waste disposal. Throughout our time operating in Toronto and the GTA, we have paired with numerous small businesses, assisting them dispose of their waste in safe, environmentally responsible ways. Even in times requiring emergency dumpster rentals, we can provide same day service on mini bin rentals, waste collection, and removal and disposal. Just give us a call during the day, if you are in a position where you require waste removal immediately. Fully licensed and insured, and with more than 25 years of experience in GTA commercial waste removal, we are fully confident we can assist your business with its waste management.  No business should be held back by waiting for waste removal to happen. If you are requiring commercial waste disposal, Core Mini Bins has been providing its commercial customers with fast, efficient service and all at affordable rates. We uphold the highest standards of service at our company and make it a point to meet the expectations of our customers – every time. If you have any concerns or special requests that need to be made throughout the year or with your waste management services, don’t hesitate to bring them up. A representative would be happy to discuss with you any needs that should be considered, recommending the appropriate waste disposal solution for your business.  A large part of our success has been learning from experience. Throughout the years, there’s little our operators have not encountered when it comes to commercial waste collection, removal, and disposal. Always striving from excellence, we’ve picked up on many tricks of the trade, ensuring local environmental and waste disposal is followed, and that the client receives the best possible service from our end. Junk removal, garbage removal, clean fill removal, and more, we’ve literally done it all in commercial spaces in addition to residential and more industrial settings as well.  If you are looking into commercial waste disposal, we encourage you to get in touch with Core Mini Bins. The conversation costs nothing and in discussing waste disposal, we can help answer any questions you might have and provide pricing on the most appropriate disposal solution. No hidden fees, no surprises, and free quotes. There’s no reason not to give us a call!  Commercial waste disposal in Toronto has never been easier. All you have to do is give us a call and, if need be, that very same day, we can have a representative at your commercial space for waste disposal. Friendly and knowledgeable, we’re always happy to answer any questions. For more information on waste management, removal, and disposal, get in touch with Core Mini Bins today.Every business has their own waste management needs. Whether a company is in health care, construction, retail, higher education, or medical, there are a range of waste management needs related to small business. There comes a point when even the smallest of growing businesses has to ask itself whether a commercial waste disposal arrangement is right.

 

Core Mini Bins specializes in a range of waste management services, including commercial waste disposal. Throughout our time operating in Toronto and the GTA, we have paired with numerous small businesses, assisting them dispose of their waste in safe, environmentally responsible ways. Even in times requiring emergency dumpster rentals, we can provide same day service on mini bin rentals, waste collection, and removal and disposal. Just give us a call during the day, if you are in a position where you require waste removal immediately. Fully licensed and insured, and with more than 25 years of experience in GTA commercial waste removal, we are fully confident we can assist your business with its waste management.

Read more: Is Commercial Waste Disposal Right for your Business – a Discussion

Choosing a Local Dumpster Rental Company for your Construction Project

Choosing a Local Dumpster Rental Company for your Construction Project For the highest quality service when it comes to a dumpster rental, selecting a local dumpster rental company comes highly recommended.

 If you’ve never rented a dumpster before, doing so is an easy way to dispose of waste and garbage. As long as weight, loading, and material limitations are adhered to, see a big difference in how tidy your construction or renovation site. Now there are large, corporate dumpster rental companies servicing multiple regions across Canada however they don’t always come with the same care and attention as a local company will.

 Few people rent dumpsters with any sort of regularity. If you’re in the process of undergoing renovations, a remodeling project, or are involved in a new build, construction dumpster rentals may be a necessity. After all, immense amounts of waste are produced when construction projects like these get off the ground. Dumpster are required in order to dispose of the trash safely and quickly, ensuring work can proceed.

Read more: Choosing a Local Dumpster Rental Company for your Construction Project

Here’s How to Remove Furniture in Toronto in an Inexpensive, Environmentally-Friendly Way

Here’s How to Remove Furniture in Toronto in an Inexpensive, Environmentally-Friendly WaySearching for the most affordable or environmentally-friendly way to remove furniture in Toronto may lead one into several different directions. Depending on your situation, you may be wondering what’s best. Every day, there are Toronto residents moving residences, selling their home, downsizing, and/or removing furniture from a property to clear out some space. To make the most informed decision, here’s a few different methods for furniture removal in Toronto and the GTA.

 City of Toronto pick-up

 The City’s normally scheduled garbage days accommodate a range of furniture. For any oversized items that do not fit into the City-provided garbage bins, simply leave it at the curb. For no cost, the City will pick up furniture and on its way, it will be. The negative is that it will end up a landfill.

 Junk removal companies

 For any furniture you need gone right away and you don’t have time to wait, a junk removal company can oftentimes send someone down that same day. The most popular junk removal companies charge a fee however. That said, they are more than happy to drop in and in turn, you’ll know that if there is an opportunity to recycle or donate something, they will most likely follow through on that.

 Donating to a thrift store

 Toronto’s most popular thrift shops sometimes accept furniture that isn’t looking too beat up. If you have a means of getting it there, donating furniture to a thrift store means that it will be repurposed to someone in need while the financial proceeds go back into a community charity.

Read more: Here’s How to Remove Furniture in Toronto in an Inexpensive, Environmentally-Friendly Way

5 Guiding Principles to Follow when Renting a Dumpster

5 Guiding Principles to Follow when Renting a Dumpster To someone who is about to tackle a construction, renovation, or demolition, renting a dumpster is an unknown part of the project that comes with many questions. In all honesty through, when you boil it down to the bare essentials, this simple guide can be used to give a clear idea on where to start in your search for the right dumpster rental company. For those of us who are not in the commercial, industrial, or construction industries, it’s as easy as following this checklist on guiding principles to follow.

 Determining dumpster size

 Renting a dumpster begins by knowing what size you need and commonly, this ends up being the biggest mistake that most make. Renting too big makes little sense as you end up paying for more than you need. Meanwhile, going too small means you’ll inevitably need to upgrade to a larger size, increasing cost in the long run. The general rule of thumb we recommend following is to go with a 10-yard dumpster for small-sized renovations, a 20-yard dumpster for medium-sized renovation projects, a 30-yard dumpster if it’s a commercial construction project or a major home addition, or a 40-yard dumpster for commercial or industrial purposes. Be sure to speak with a representative before deciding on a size to get their input.

 The type of waste you will be dumping

 Dumpster rental companies generally do not allow one to throw out a mix of materials together. For example, wood cannot be mixed with gravel and/or fill. Depending on the material being dumped, there may also be weight considerations. The heavier it is, the more likely it will exceed weight limits. It’s key to consult with a representative before putting any money down to ensure there won’t be any unexpected surprises along the way.

Read more: 5 Guiding Principles to Follow when Renting a Dumpster

Why Sitework is a Necessary Step in Preparing a Construction Site

Why Sitework is a Necessary Step in Preparing a Construction SitePreparing a site for construction is a key component to the success of a project. Depending on the requirements of a construction, there may be any number of things done to prepare the site. As a critical piece to any construction, sitework typically centers on any of five unique processes.

 Clearing the site

 The first preparatory process involved in sitework and one that is quite standard among all construction sites is clearing and grubbing. At this stage, one removes any trees, bushes, or plants from the site. Depending on the extent of the vegetation located on a site, there may be more to it than a simple clear. In the event of more substantial work, always ensure environmental regulations and local laws are followed.

 Stabilization

 To maximize the safety of a construction site and to ensure the long-term success of a structure, subgrade stabilization needs to happen. This involves stabilizing the soil levels found immediately below the topsoil. By doing this stabilization, you guard against the ground shifting or caving in while the project is ongoing or after completed. When this step is left undone, it opens up the possibility of foundation cracks, structural damage, and even a complete building collapse.

Read more: Why Sitework is a Necessary Step in Preparing a Construction Site

4 Key Signs that you’ve Chosen the Right Dumpster Rental Company

Dumpster Rental CompanySo you’re about to get started on a construction, renovation or demolition project but you don’t exactly know where to put all the garbage you’re about to make – we’ve got the perfect solution!

Junk removal is made very simple and easy with the right dumpster rental company to assist. That said, with at least a few different companies to choose from, how do you know you’ve gone with the right one – check out this list of signs to look for. We want you to be confident in the company you choose. Throughout the years, serving customers across the GTA in this space, we found these to be the keys so many of our clients have used. Whether it’s cleaning out the yard, tackling a demolition, beginning a renovation, or taking on a new construction, the right dumpster rental company can make a huge difference in getting rid of waste.

If the dumpster rental company is local

By going with a local dumpster rental company, you’re saving yourself unnecessary transportation fees and a range of other issues that could present themselves. For example, a local company will know the rules and regulations regarding waste removal, recycling, and waste disposal. When it comes to renting a dumpster, a local company that is licensed and insured is the way to go.

Read more: 4 Key Signs that you’ve Chosen the Right Dumpster Rental Company

To Build the Perfect Home Lawn, here’s what you need to Know

Green LawnThere’s a lot that goes into soil preparation when it comes to building a successful home lawn. How well the soil and site are prepped for the installation of a home lawn plays a key role into how well a lawn takes to its surroundings. 

The first step to any soil preparation begins with eliminating weeds across the site. Prior to seeding, perennial weeds need to be handled. Among the options homeowners use to keep weeds under control include digging them up by hand or using systemic herbicide. Be it chemical in nature or organic, it is important to follow label directions when applying a weed control product.

Though some believe weed control to be the sole preparation to installing a lawn, prior to seeding, work the soil. For soils that are not top quality, adding organic matter is required. Consider compose, peat, and quality topsoil. Please note that sand is not a recommended material to improve low quality soil. Adding organic material comes with a wealth of different benefits, not just associated with improving soil structure. With it, there comes micro-organisms that help to absorb nutrients in the soil and that build life. Also, instead of layering organic material on the surface of the soil, mix it. Ideally, lawns should have a minimum of six inches of thoroughly prepared soil.

Read more: To Build the Perfect Home Lawn, here’s what you need to Know

Top 5 Mistakes made when Building a Gravel Driveway

Gravel DrivewayMore Canadian driveways than ever before are being filled with gravel as an effective, stable material. The benefits of building a gravel driveway are well-established. They’re more affordable than a paved driveway and have an equal lifespan.

As a material, gravel may be particularly attractive especially if you don’t mind the upkeep and maintenance required. Before beginning your build though, we recommend taking a quick browse through these common mistakes that others have made when planning and construction their gravel driveway.

Preparing and stripping the ground

Always, always, always prepare the ground before laying any gravel out. Leaving leaves, grass, weeds, or other vegetation across the surface you are dumping on is a hazard waiting to happen. To properly install a gravel driveway, you will need to remove the topsoil and get down to the hard rock underneath. This way, you know you have a solid foundation to build on.

Read more: Top 5 Mistakes made when Building a Gravel Driveway

Why Dumpster Rental Companies emphasize Safety Tips and Tricks so Much More

Customer SafetyAs one of Toronto and the GTA’s premiere dumpster rental and waste collection companies, we understand the value of safety and security. To customers, this counts for a lot. 

In order to bring the best service to our clientele, safety needs to be at the forefront. Dumpsters are heavy and they create an environment where there is increased possibility of someone being hurt or harmed.

There are many safety procedures we have in place to ensure our dumpsters are used correctly. We have also written on a number of safety subjects related to dumpsters and waste collection, informing our customers on how best to proceed when renting from us.

We strongly advise anyone handling debris to wear the appropriate safety clothing, including gloves, foot protection, eye protection, and tough-material clothes. The last thing we want is personal injury occurring to someone handling a dumpster rental. Any clothing that is worn should prevent the wearer from getting scratched or snagged on something.

Read more: Why Dumpster Rental Companies emphasize Safety Tips and Tricks so Much More

What you Need to Know before Starting a Residential House Demolition

Demolition ServicesDemolishing a house can be an immensely satisfying experience if you want to clear out a space for something new. The best advice we can give to get going to contact a demolition contractor who is licensed, insured, and who can provide an estimate on cost. A well-written estimate will indicate where the responsibility for what is and where to obtain permits, if any are required. By speaking with a demolition contractor directly, you also have the immediate opportunity to get questions answered and concerns addressed. 

Next, alongside a demolition contractor, inspect your home for any hazardous materials, lead paint, or asbestos that may be present. Remediation may be an additional step that needs to be taken prior to and during demolition. Identify any materials that can be recycled, re-used, or donated prior to beginning the demolition. Also, be sure to confirm with utility providers that everything is disconnected prior to undergoing a demolition. As demolition is ongoing, you don’t want to find out that gas, water, or electricity is still connected. That presents a major hazard so be sure to have things turned off long before then.

The actual process of demolition can extend for days, depending on what is required of a property. Following the demolition, any and all debris should be removed, ultimately leaving nothing behind. Even a home’s foundation requires removal. If you’re building on the same location and if excavation is required, you may be able to save some money by using a demolition contractor’s equipment to get the job done. With regards to cost for all of this, it varies significantly depending on the needs of a project. This makes it all the more important to procure an estimate.

Read more: What you Need to Know before Starting a Residential House Demolition

What you Can and Cannot Toss in a Dumpster – Rules, guidelines, and more

Dumpster SafetyThough renting a dumpster for a big project can be a huge benefit, there are some guidelines to follow when filling it. These rules and regulations may come from the dumpster rental company, and from local government as well, to ensure that any waste being disposed of adheres to the necessary safety and environmental standards.

What you’re allowed to throw in a dumpster (the list is long!)

In general, anything non-hazardous is permitted to be disposed of in a dumpster. Wood, furniture, roofing shingles, siding, renovation and construction debris, yard waste, and flooring all fit the bill. As it pertains to furniture, it’s always recommended to check with your dumpster rental company to confirm that you’re not breaking any regulation disposing of items such as mattresses or upholstered furniture. At times, there may be additional fees involved so always inquire!

Are appliances and electronics permitted – yes! …with some restrictions

The majority of household appliances and electronics can be disposed of in a dumpster. Refrigerators, AC units, washers, and dryers are all permitted. That said, any fluids or components that could be deemed as hazardous should be removed. When it comes to electronics, if these are of a high quantity such as from an office building, you may be required to dispose of them by other means. To this point, you may see additional fees from a rental company so always confirm before proceeding with any sort of electronics waste dumpster disposal.

Read more: What you Can and Cannot Toss in a Dumpster – Rules, guidelines, and more

5 Safety Tips on Loading your Dumpster Rental

Overfilled BinThe safe transportation of a waste bin’s contents is very important, for any dumpster rental company. For clients, staying on time and budget with a dumpster rental is equally important, and sometimes, safety is set aside for these priorities. No matter what the dumpster rental is for, knowing how to safely load a dumpster keeping in mind that it will be in transport is key. 

Contrary to how it may appear, tossing materials into the dumpster without giving additional thought is not ideal. With the following tips, you can safely fill your dumpster in a way that won’t cost more time or money down the line when pick-up arrives.

Knowing about the dumpster door

Most dumpsters come equipped with some sort of gate or door on either end. If you’ve opened this gate to load any materials, in, ensure that it is closed properly before you send the dumpster off for transportation. Should the door open as it’s being loaded or in transportation, it could create a significant hazard for any person in close proximity.

Read more: 5 Safety Tips on Loading your Dumpster Rental

What you Need to Know about Buying Bulk Soil

Bulk SoilBuying bulk soil is becoming a trend among many new homeowners looking to mold their properties. When the areas where a homeowner wishes to garden is primarily just clay and gravel, laying out some bulk soil is not such a bad idea. That said, ensuring that the soil you buy is good soil can be a challenge. If you’re considering buying bulk soil, here’s a few things to keep in mind. 

The first thing we need to talk about is cost. For high quality soil, expect to pay an average of $15 to $22 per cubic yard up to a maximum of roughly $30. So let’s say you are working with a garden that is roughly 50 by 20 feet in size. To cover this area with roughly nine inches of good top quality soil, it will run you about $550 if you’re paying $20 per yard. Remembering these numbers, it never hurts to check out some different sellers in your local marketplace and get some more concrete information on how much soil will cost to acquire. Before you begin doing your local research, ensure you’re looking for soil with a pH somewhere between 6.0 and 7.0 which is ideal for most plants. The more organic matter, the better. Speaking with other gardeners in the local community may provide some insights on what to buy and where.

Read more: What you Need to Know about Buying Bulk Soil

How to Prevent Injury with Dumpster Safety Best Practices

Dumpster SafetyDumpsters are used every day on commercial properties, to appropriately remove materials such as metal, plastic, and wood. There are a number of safety concerns when it comes to dumpsters that any construction worker, warehouse employee, or residential homeowner need to be aware of, when using them. 

Preparing yourself with appropriate protection

When using a dumpster, think of the dangers that come with the materials being handled around it. Very easily, an injury can take place. The first step to guarding against injury is in preparing one’s self, ensuring they are wearing the appropriate protective equipment. Wear work gloves to place and/or remove items from the dumpster. Also, eye protection is recommended to provide protection from the dust and particles that are sent up into the air when materials are being tossed in.

Preventing muscle strain and personal injury

When filling a dumpster, ensure that it is never filled above the recommended limit. For any heavy items, always ask for assistance in lifting and placing it in the dumpster. If waste bags are particularly heavy or contain hazardous materials, use the dumpster door to place them in the container rather than attempting to throw them over. For any waste that is in an unfriendly shape, break the item down to make packing easier. These are all tips that can be used to guard against injury while using a dumpster. Keep in mind that back, shoulder, and neck injuries are common with workers who are frequently using dumpsters. This is why it is integral to employ best practices.

Read more: How to Prevent Injury with Dumpster Safety Best Practices

Getting to Know the Most Common Trenching and Excavation Hazards

ExcavationTrenching and excavation work is not only a tough job but it can be a dangerous one. Be it repair workers addressing water, sewer, and/or utility lines, or workers involved with digging operations, there are many common concerns when it comes to working in trenching and excavation including the risk of a cave-in. A cave-in can be caused by any number of things and is by far the biggest worry among those in the industry. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to guard against cave-ins and other hazards. Just like with other types of digging and construction work, safety and hazard prevention must be upheld as high priorities.

When it comes to cave-ins, they can typically be associated with any one of four causes. The soil may have been loosened from the use of construction equipment or traffic in the area and the subsequent vibrations of these heavy machines permeating the soil. At times, when equipment is too close to the edge of the trench, the weight can cause soil to loosen or collapse. When working with sandy soil which notably does not hold itself as tightly together as other types, this can be the cause of a cave-in. Water can also weaken the strength of the trench sides causing a structural collapse quite easily over time. By knowing the common causes of a cave-in, we better know how to prepare to guard against them happening.

Read more: Getting to Know the Most Common Trenching and Excavation Hazards

What Low Oil Prices’ Mean to Recycling and Recyclers

Falling Oil PricesEveryday consumers rejoice at the sound of low oil prices. It gets them gas on the cheap and lets them save a little extra. Low oil prices also help businesses and sometimes in a very big way. The amount of electricity and gas required to run some facilities, including in manufacturing and construction, is absurdly high! Those of us in the recycling industry though have a bit of a different relationship to low oil prices. In many ways, it’s a big negative. 

Before we get into all the jibber jabber on low oil prices and what they mean to recycling, it’s important to understand how oil pricing works. Depending on supply and demand, oil prices rise and fall according to the market. When less oil is produced but the same amount of people or more want the same amount of oil, it becomes more valuable and the price increases. When more oil is produced than what the population wants, there is more supply and so the price falls. Since 2014, the world has seen the oil supply increase overall. Nations such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, and North Africa continue to push out significant numbers. Also, Canada and the United States have begun exploiting their own resources to find oil. At the same time that this supply has been rising, global demand has been slowly falling. The result is the lowest oil prices in almost fifteen years!

Read more: What Low Oil Prices’ Mean to Recycling and Recyclers

How to Manage your Waste when your Dumpster Rental Arrives

Bin DeliveryFor everyday homeowners, dumpster rentals have become a key part of managing waste on a property undergoing renovations or construction. For novices though, if you don’t know what to do with your dumpster rental when it arrives at your property, you may not get the most out of the experience. 

The best way to manage a dumpster rental is in first ensuring that you’ve chosen the right dumpster rental company to partner with. From there, you want to identify and prepare the location on which the dumpster is expected to sit. Consider where you want to put your rental carefully. The wrong position can be a huge inconvenience to you or even your neighbors. Ensure the driver can easily access the location and ensure you don’t need to get any special permits to host it, such as if you intend to have it on the street.

It’s always recommended to have a dumpster on soft ground. This is because they are heavy and can end up doing major damage to a solid surface if it’s not properly supported. A grassy area or somewhere that is not an asphalt driveway is best.

Read more: How to Manage your Waste when your Dumpster Rental Arrives

8 Guiding Principles on How to Clean your Kitchen

Kitchen SinkAny kitchen can end up a real dump if a homeowner is not regularly cleaning the bacteria and residue that naturally accumulates here. Don’t let kitchen bacteria bring you down. There’s a number of ways to clean your kitchen from top to bottom, ridding it of any evil bacteria looking to make prey of you! Here are our eight guiding principles on how to clean your kitchen. 

Begin by reducing clutter on counters

By eliminating clutter on your kitchen counters, you make your job easy. Anything that is not required to the kitchen, remove it and consider returning after you’ve cleaned – only if you deem it necessary.

Apply an all-purpose cleaner to countertops

All-purpose natural cleaners produce amazing results in the kitchen and should be among the first steps you take in tidying up surfaces. Also, ensure that you are using a new sponge to clean all countertops as an old one can end up spreading bacteria that you don’t ever want to find!

Read more: 8 Guiding Principles on How to Clean your Kitchen

Toronto Pilot Project aims to Educate on How to Properly sort Garbage and Recycling

Blue BinThe City of Toronto has a huge problem when it comes to residents filling recycling bins with non-recyclable garbage. In many cases, studies have shown that this is in part because residents are simply not educated on what is and is not recycling. A new City pilot project looks to change that. 

The six-month pilot project will see inspections conducted on residential recycling bins with the purpose of identifying any unwanted materials. Through this new pilot project, when a worker finds contaminated items in recycling bins, the bins will be pulled from the curb and tagged. Residents will then have to remove the contaminated materials and re-submit their recycling bin on the next day.

Truth be told, contamination in recycling costs Toronto millions of dollars every year. Estimates by the City suggest that as much as 25 percent of what’s found in recycling bins are non-recyclable materials. To break it down even further, that means that of the 200,000 tons of recycling picked up every year in Toronto, roughly 50,000 tons of that is non-recyclable garbage. The items found in recycling bins that do not belong there include food contaminants, kitchen items such as frying pans, coffee cups, and old, used car parts.

Read more: Toronto Pilot Project aims to Educate on How to Properly sort Garbage and Recycling

How to Protect your Dumpster Rental from Inconsiderate Neighbours

DumpsterYou’ve got it all set up and you’re ready to go. The dumpster rental is parked out front awaiting you and as you approach it, you notice something inside. Then you realize what’s happened. If you’re one of the unlucky ones, you may have a rude and obnoxious neighbor who has decided to use your dumpster for themselves! 

But wait. Dumpsters have weight limits and size limits, and if these are exceeded, you’re the one who is going to be charged extra. Also, what happens if your neighbor tosses in a prohibited item – you’ve guessed it. That’s more fees for you! So before calling it quits on your clean-up, construction, or renovation project, here’s what we think is the best way to approach an inconsiderate neighbor who may be doing this to your rental.

Advise them before the Dumpster is even There

Don’t hesitate to politely go over to your neighbors and just give them a quick heads up on the dumpster being dropped off. Let me know in the kindest way possible that there are limitations to what can be put in and that there’s a risk of being charged extra if it’s over that limit.

Read more: How to Protect your Dumpster Rental from Inconsiderate Neighbours 

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