Glossary

Aggregates

Composite materials used in construction that might be composed of sand, gravel, concrete or other substances. Aggregates typically work as foundational material to provide support and reinforcement to a structure. They may also be mixed into asphalt and concrete for a variety of construction projects. Aggregate hauling if usually done with a 30 to 40-foot tractor trailer that can accommodate up to 25 tons of material, which allows for both the efficient transport and dumping of these heavy materials.

Appliance Removal

The safe disposal of appliances from a residential or commercial property. According to the EPA, and appliance may pertain to any sort of refrigeration or air conditioning device. These appliances might include (but are not limited to) household refrigerators and air conditioning units, car air conditioning units, commercial refrigerators and freezers for retail food and cold storage warehouses. Units must be rendered for “safe disposal” before they are allowed to go to scrap or a landfill.

Backhoe

One of these most common vehicles seen in the trucking industry, a backhoe is an excavator with a bucket attached to a hinged pole. The bucket is pulled toward the vehicle when the truck is in operation. Backhoes have been used in all types of construction projects since it was first introduced as a dipper shovel in 1835. It is primarily used to dig trenches for utility projects and drainage and is typically used in large-scale construction projects such as highways.

Bins

A bin, also referred to as a dumpster bin, is a large receptacle used to hold and transport waste. Typically steel or metal in structure, this bin may be standard or customized for specific uses. Most dumpster bins are designed for the ability to be lifted and transported by a vehicle. The bins are lifted for transport by hydraulic systems, which may be located on the front or back of the vehicle, depending on the size and type of dumpster.

Biodegradable

This adjective is commonly used to refer to items considered “environmentally-friendly.” The term is used for components that can be broken down to their original state through natural processes. The substances commonly responsible for the breakdown of a biodegradable item are fungi and bacteria, although other basic substances can be used as well. The amount of time it takes for an item to biodegrade is highly variable, ranging from a few hours to many years.

Carbon Footprint

The method of measurement is used to calculate the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by an individual, entity or activity. The carbon footprint is increased when people burn fossil fuel for heating homes, producing or consuming foods, or for operating transportation. Carbon footprints are formed by both a primary footprint, which is a direct measure of emissions of Co2, and a secondary footprint, which is the indirect measure of Co2 emissions found in the full life cycle of products.

Carpet Removal

When carpet is replaced in a home or commercial building, the remnants of old carpeting must be disposed of responsibly. This process typically involves recycling the old material into a new product, rather than sending it to a landfill. When carpet recycling is not possible, carpet removers will be familiar with the best dump or landfill nearby. The process of hauling the carpet to a dump or recycling center can also be a daunting task, which is why it is often left to professional removal services.

Clearing

This service is typically a part of the hauling options offered by trucking companies. Clearing might refer to land clearing, which involves removing all substances from a specific tract of land. This service is an important one in the trucking industry, because it ensures clients end up with land cleared of obstacles that could get in the way of construction or development. The trucking company is also responsible for providing the best way to haul the items to ensure they get somewhere secure.

Compressed Natural Gas

Also referred to by its abbreviated name CNG, compressed natural gas may be used as a more environmentally-friendly fuel for vehicles converted for this purpose. This typically includes automobiles, but some school buses and trucks have also been converted to run on compressed natural gas. The gas is free of odor and color, and it is non-corrosive under pressure. Sources for natural gas include oil wells, coal bed methane wells and natural-gas-and-condensate wells.

Curbside Collection

A service typically provided to residential communities, curbside collection consists of placing household waste in large containers near the curb of the home for pick-up by larger waste management vehicles. Curbside collection began during the latter part of the 19th century, when some homeowners began generating enough waste to require the service. In most communities, collection is scheduled for the same day each week, to allow for ease and predictability of the collection process. Special receptacles might also be provided by the waste company for this purpose.

Debris

Trash or waste left over at construction sites, whether building involves a house or building, bridge or road. Construction debris of this nature is typically too large and heavy for individuals to move on their own, so special equipment is required to collect the debris and special trucks are used to haul waste to where it needs to go. While much debris from construction locations can be recycled today, a certain amount may still go to local dumps or landfills for disposal.

Demo Job

A demolition job, or demo job, refers to the process of tearing down or eliminating a building, road or other structure. The demolition process may be completed using a variety of tools, including trucks, heavy machinery and explosives. Demo jobs are potentially dangerous and require the knowledge of experienced professionals to be done safely and responsibly. The type of demo job will be determined by the materials used in the structure as well as the structure’s design.

Demolish

The act of tearing down or breaking up a structure like a house, home, road, building or bridge completely. When a structure is demolished, it must be done carefully and responsibly, to ensure damage is kept to a minimum and injuries do not occur. The process may require the use of special trucks and vehicles, heavy machinery and even explosives. Once the demolition process is complete, disposal of the debris must be done either through recycling of materials or hauling waste to an appropriate disposal facility.

Dumpster Bag

This large, disposable trash bin is becoming a popular choice for wastecollection due to its convenience and versatility. The open bag is strong enough to hold up to
3,300 pounds of waste and can be used for construction debris, household trash and landscaping
waste. When the dumpster bag is full, a special truck can collect the bag, using the sturdy yellow
handles on the sides, and haul the bag directly to a dump or landfill.

Equipment Rental

When undertaking any sort of construction, demolition or renovation project, heavy equipment and machinery will probably be required for at least part of the job. This includes everything from the necessary tools for demolishing existing structures to the waste collection and hauling of debris left over at the end of the project. Equipment rental may be handled by a single company or multiple companies that specialize in specific types of equipment, such as demolition tools or waste management.

Excavation

The process of preparing a land site for any type of construction project, by removing excess dirt and soil and leveling the area. It might also be done to make way for a basement or crawl space in an existing home. Excavation requires the use of many different types of vehicles, heavy machinery and other tools to get the job done. Professionals specially trained to use this equipment are hired to complete the excavation process in most cases.

Green Waste

Biodegradable waste that eventually decomposes and can be used as a natural
landscape material in parks and yards. Some examples of green waste include grass clippings,
flower cuttings and food waste. The decomposition of such materials is known as compost and
offers a host of benefits to outdoor environments, such as food for plants and soil conditioning.
Green waste also releases substances known as biogas, which, if captured appropriately, can be
transformed into biofuel.

Hazardous Waste

A type of waste that poses a threat to the environment or individuals
living in the environment. It is also referred to as “solid” waste, although this term does not
describe its physical form. Hazardous waste can just as easily come in liquid or gas form, and
possesses common traits such as ignitibility, reactivity and toxicity. This type of waste cannot be
disposed of through usual means and often requires a trained professional to oversee its safe and
responsible disposal.

Household Waste

Trash generated by a household, which must be disposed of in a safe and responsible fashion. Household waste may include a variety of substances, including used household items, food waste and paper. Many items included in household waste can be recycled, keeping excess garbage out of landfills. Household waste is typically discarded inside the home and then sent out for curbside collection or recycling, where it is handled by a professional waste management company.

LEEDS

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and it is a certification process awarded to builders who construct environmentally-friendly homes and office buildings. LEED offers four levels of certification to new builds; certified, gold, silver and platinum. This certification is based on sustainable sites, water efficiency, materials and resources, energy and indoor environmental quality. The LEED certification ensures to potential buyers of the building that it has met standards for “green” living.

Open Top Container

As the name suggests, open top containers are large bins without attached lids, typically constructed of heavy galvanized steel and coming in a wide range of shapes and sizes. These containers are used to hold materials that must be lifted by heavy equipment, such as cranes or crabs. A portion of the container wall may be swiveled out for easy unloading of the materials inside, once they have reached their specified location.

Printer Recycling

The process of disposing of old, unwanted printers by careful dismantling of the device so the parts can be used in other components. Some computer retail centers will buy back old printers for the purpose of recycling them. There are also professional services that specialize in the removal of printers from homes or offices for the purpose of recycling them. Printer recycling keeps used components out of landfills and allows for the reuse of materials without using additional natural resources from the environment.

Rubbish Removal

The process of removing unwanted items and trash from a home or business. Rubbish removal is typically handled by a professional waste management service that provides customers with specific guidelines as to how to collect rubbish and place it curbside for pickup. In some cases, rubbish removal might require special handling, such as in the case of hazardous waste. It might also involve taking some items to a recycling center to remake them into new products.

Skid Steer

A relatively small vehicle that uses a wide range of attachments on the front to complete a variety of construction and landscaping projects. Although tools are attached to the front of the truck, the skid steer differs from other types of front loaders because the hinges attaching the front tool are located behind the driver. Modern vehicles offer fully enclosed cabs and additional features that provide better safety and performance over older models of these vehicles.

Tear Down

The process of home demolition that is frequently the preliminary step in a home improvement project. Before the new can come in, the old must go through destruction and removal of the current structure. In some cases, a remodeling company might handle the tear down process, but companies that specialize in the demolition process make it as safe and mess-free as possible. Tear down might involve a single element in a room, a full room or the entire building, depending on the scope of the project.

Trash Compactor

Large machines that condense waste into smaller amounts for easier disposal. Smaller trash compactor devices may be found in homes, while larger, commercial machines are used by landfills and waste management facilities. Many different types of waste can be placed into a trash compactor, including dry garbage like paper and boxes and wet trash like food waste. Trash compactors are especially good at compressing large, bulky items, greatly limiting the amount of space they must take up in a landfill.

Waste Can

A container specifically designed to hold waste and garbage of all kinds. Waste cans may be found inside homes to collect food waste, used papers and other unwanted items. Larger waste cans, known as dumpsters, are located outside commercial buildings and apartments, for the collection of larger volumes of garbage. All waste cans must be emptied regularly, so that professional collection companies can handle the safe and responsible elimination of the waste through recycling or other methods.