I usually bag the dust after sanding and leave it next to the customer's waste bin for collection by the local council. However, just lately people have been asking me to take it off site saying that the council may refuse to take it. I have done as asked and now have quite a few bags in my yard to dispose of. This has made me think of whether there would be people out there who are actually looking for some on a regular basis. Perhaps pet-lovers, horsey types gardeners etc would even pay for it??? Anyone got any ideas as to what I should do with it? (clean answers only please) Bob www.floorfixer.co.uk
Local rspca would probably happily take it too if you want to just get rid for the little critters they keep.
Thanks for pointing this out, this was one of my main concerns and why I am asking others if they have an alternative use for the stuff. Some of the dust from top-layer sanding may also contain nasty toxins from previous finishing, so it's probably not a good idea to involve animals. Bob www.floorfixer.co.uk
Put it in your T & C's that you cannot take the waste from the sanding job away with you...i also mention to the clients on the initial site visit about waste disposal, so when the bag/bags of waste are left onsite its no surprise to them, at the end of the day its mostly the dust from their floors that are in the bin bags.
My Ts & Cs already include this but a few people are still asking for it to be taken away even after a mention during the survey. It can be a bit difficult to refuse after the work has been done and I wouldn't want this to give the customer a reason to delay payment so just take it anyway. What I was hoping for from my post was somebody to come up with an idea for using the stuff, such as making some kind of "brick" that could be used in a wood-burning stove, or for mopping oil up on a garage floor etc. Bob www.floorfixer.co.uk
The real problem with sawdust waste is that if you leave it in the bag it can spontaneously combust. Always empty the bags after each use and never leave full dust bags inside your unit or van.
Did a S & S job for a farmer many years ago, he wanted all the dust we generated from the sanding, he used it to put all over the floor in the cattle wagons when he was taking them to market, said it helped soak up the animal unmentionables and also made the cattle wagon easier to clean after he got back from market !!!
