With any excavation project in New Jersey, there are a number of aspects that could impact the environment negatively. It’s easy to wash your hands of the topic and leave it to your contractor. But it’s important to take accountability and ensure you find a contractor who is equally invested in protecting the environment.
Whether you are ready to hire a team for a commercial excavation or a residential excavation, you should always know how your project will impact the environment. What questions can you ask? Here are a few ideas of where to start.
1. Reuse and Recycle Materials
First and foremost, what happens to all the rocky dirt after the excavation of a building foundation or pool? What soil or clay can be saved in the process?
Talk with your team about the steps included in excavating a plot of land. If demolition is involved, the building can always be scavenged for materials worth saving, whether it be flooring, appliances, office equipment, or electrical wiring. The owner is welcome to remove and keep items prior to demolition.
Once the land is ready to prepare for new construction, where does all the excess dirt go? What happens during the excavation process? At Mikula Contracting, we promote the recycling and reuse of any salvageable backfill during the project. In particular, rocky and sandy soil can be used to create concrete or utilized as extra soil during landscaping projects.
2. Properly Dispose of All Waste
There is a greener alternative to waste disposal. Instead of piling all undesirable dirt into a landfill, the soil can be sorted by rocks, clay, and sand. Construction projects can very easily have a negative impact on the environment. Choose a company that is conscious of the amount of waste during the construction process. Are they making a significant effort to reduce waste in the construction site?
3. Have a Plan for Erosion and Runoff
A big part of excavation in the construction industry is planning for the future. An excavation contractor not only digs a foundation that will last for now, but they also consider erosion and water pathways during the construction and into the future, ensuring longevity for the structure and for environmental safety.
Will the water runoff go through wet cement and lead to chemicals spreading into other properties and contaminating soil? This issue is always a consideration on a safe construction site. These factors should always be considered at the start of the project when starting a new building excavation in New Jersey.
We construct pathways that will keep water runoff on our property. We pool the water on the construction site and use it to spray the area to reduce dust.
4. Reduce Your Dust Production
What is another aspect of the environmental impact of construction? While some dust is inevitable during an excavation project there are ways to reduce the production of it. For example, having access to water and hoses can help and scheduling during a damp or rainy day can also assist with keeping dust to a minimum
At Mikula Contracting, we actively work to take responsibility for our dust production. The site is kept wet or damp throughout the duration to minimize the production of dust spreading into other properties. If loose materials are organized into stockpiles, the piles are covered to eliminate the spreading of dust throughout the construction project.
In addition, we always try to work on reducing noise pollution in the area. No one wants to suffer from irritating, repetitive noises when trying to sleep or concentrate. We consider all surrounding residential and commercial neighbors as precisely that– neighbors. And we work to build trust and harmony with them. We are conscious of the environment and the people in it.
5. Consider Your Diesel Consumption and Carbon Emissions
The truth is that excavation in New Jersey requires equipment that is not considered environmentally friendly. The diesel consumption of one truckload is enough to negatively impact the surrounding air quality. To combat this, Mikula Contracting does its best to reduce the number of vehicles whenever possible through proper planning. For example, if the job site is large, contractors can ride together to other areas of the project instead of driving individual vehicles.
In this vein, we always consider alternative fuel sources at Mikula Contracting. When possible, we use hybrid equipment meant to reduce carbon emissions on the work site. And if we have to use trucks and machinery with diesel engines, we are always conscious of minimizing carbon emissions. This means taking fewer trips back and forth to soil treatment facilities and job sites. We do not run the machinery when it is not in use. And each machine operator is highly trained on the environmental impact that construction equipment can have if used irresponsibly.
For an excavation project, there can be a lot of back and forth from a job site for trucking and dumping. This can often use a lot of fuel contributing to increased carbon emissions and diesel consumption.
At Mikula Contracting we always consider our diesel consumption and carbon emission, we avoid idling and try not to keep trucks and equipment running when not in use. In fact, good planning, efficient scheduling, and proper routing to and from job sites can help reduce the use of fuel and limit carbon emissions.
Protect the Environment During Your Excavation Project with Mikula Contracting
Are you ready to complete your New Jersey excavation project with Mikula Contracting? We have the experience and professionalism you need to complete a project in a responsible manner. Speak with our planning team to ensure we are on the same page before the project begins.
