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Making some changes at home? Do it right with BINGO.
Any home renovation – from a simple addition to a complete makeover – is a job that needs to be done properly.
Even with a team of experienced builders, making sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently is key and a major part of that, says The Block’s foreman Dan Reilly, is to think about the end goal, then make sure you have all the right steps in place to get there.
“Usually when someone starts thinking about a new kitchen, bathroom or whatever, they’ll have a pretty clear vision of what they want the space to look like when it’s completed,” Dan says.
“That’s important, because it’s how you figure out what trades you’ll need to find or what materials you want to source, but it’s even more important to think about what you need in place to get there.”
Before any renovation can begin, for example, there’s usually an existing structure that will need to be demolished or at least gutted which means a lot of build debris that will have to be removed.
And then as the build progresses, even more offcuts, leftovers or final demo debris can pile up.
“And on a building site, that can be where problems begin,” Dan says.
“With the right skip or a selection of bins on site when they’re needed, it can make a world of difference.”
BINGO is a recycling and waste management company with operations across the east coast of Australia providing end-to-end solutions across the resource management supply chain including collection, processing and recovery, disposal and recycled products.
And importantly to home renovators, that extends from big builds such as The Block to smaller home makeovers.
“The right waste removal strategy obviously has a lot of benefits for the environment but first up, let’s just look at the build,” Dan says.
“If you keep your site clean it means trades can get in to do what they need to do, deliveries of new materials can be made more easily and the whole work flow happens a lot more smoothly.
“And an efficient site means fewer cost overruns, which is vital when you’re renovating!”
There’s also the obvious benefit of a clean site being a safe site, he adds.
“A site cluttered up with debris is just unsafe, there’s no doubt about that,” Dan says.
“Loose timber – which will almost always have exposed nails or screws if it’s been ripped out during demolition - pieces of concrete, pipes etc are trip hazards, they’re often sharp with jagged edges exposed and you do not want anyone stumbling into that.
“Have it removed quickly and safely and it’s one less worry.”
And yes, a recycling strategy such as BINGOs is obviously better for the environment than just trucking everything off to a tip.
“Absolutely, well organised debris removal means more can be recycled and that’s great for sustainability,” Dan says.
“The timber for example can often be reused or even chipped to go to another site. The metals can usually all be recycled and soils can be sifted and used as fill.”
Bricks, rubble and concrete for example, one of the most common forms of debris at a renovations are crushed and screened by BINGO roadbase, fill or aggregate.
“Everything that can be reused or recycled is one less thing going into landfill,” Dan says.
So, what’s Dan’s tip for anyone starting out on their reno journey?
“Talk to the experts!” he says.
“Tell BINGO what you’re planning to do, what materials will be coming out and they’ll advise on what you need and when.
“That might be a single skip you can fill it with everything that comes out of the site and then they’ll send it off to be sorted at their waste facility, or separate bins or small skips so you can separate that waste right from the start.”
And it could even mean those separate skips arrive at different times – the first for bricks, concrete and rubble from demolition, for example and the last for timer offcuts from trades.
“You might need also need a separate skip for timber, another for gyprock, one for soil or garden waste – and then there’s wiring, piping, any metals that are coming out,” Dan says.
“That’s not to say you need a whole range of bins, but if you talk to the BINGO experts and tell them what you’re removing, they can advise you on what you need.”
And remember to use the bins properly, he says.
“To get more bang for your buck, make sure offcuts and other debris are stacked correctly and boxes are collapsed,” Dan says.
“Air pockets take up space if you let them.”
Do it right, BINGO’s Head of Sustainability Matt Hyatt says, and everyone wins.
“With a range of waste collection options focussed on recycling rather than disposal, we’re aiming to reduce carbon emissions and achieve a significantly better sustainability outcome,” Matt says.
And even if your job is small enough to not need a skip or bin service, 20 BINGO recycling centres in Sydney and Melbourne are there for a ute, trailer or truck drop off.
“For a small fee they’ll sort and dispose of your leftover safely and sustainably,” Dan adds.
“Plus it’ll keep your site clean and help get you into that newly renovated space on time and on budget.”
