Brick Disposal and Recycling

Whether you run a construction company or are carrying out your own home renovations, you might need to dispose of some old, broken, or unneeded bricks. However, you can’t dispose of bricks alongside your general waste – due to their bulk and weight. Instead, when disposing of bricks, you should:

• Store all brick waste in a suitable bin or container before collection. We recommend using skips or roll-on roll-off bins for bricks and other forms of construction rubble.
• Ensure no other materials are kept in the same bin or container, to avoid contamination.
• Arrange for safe and proper brick disposal by having your brick waste collected by a licensed carrier.

The main places and options for disposing of bricks and rubble locally include:

• Using a licensed waste carrier to remove bricks and rubble from your business or property.
• Visiting a tip or recycling centre near you – check they accept bricks and rubble first.
• Hiring a skip to store them in and arranging removal.
• Using a HIPPOBAG or skip bag for smaller amounts of old bricks and rubble.
• Donating for reuse – such as a local school, community gardening project, or neighbours.

You can recycle old broken bricks, as the process involves crushing them down into smaller pieces. A few other ideas of what to do with old broken bricks are:

• Make a brick path through your home or business’ garden.
• Add an edge to your yard, garden, or pathways.
• Build a small dry-stone wall.
• Form raised flower beds or planters.
• Create artworks such as murals or brick mosaics.
• Build a birdbath or brick waterfall (if you have a pond).

As bricks and other forms of construction rubble are considered non-hazardous, their disposal is often relatively inexpensive. At Business Waste, we ensure that our services are cost-effective by providing you with free bins – you just pay for collection. Our experts also help put together a comprehensive waste management and collection plan specifically tailored to your business.

This helps you easily manage the costs of your brick disposal. We’ll even provide you with advice on how you can reduce waste (and, therefore, the costs associated with removal). For a free quote please contact us today – call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online.

Traditionally, bricks are made from a combination of clay, sand, and water. However, they sometimes contain traces of lime, iron oxide, and magnesia, which have various benefits. For example, iron oxide is used to add colour to bricks, whereas lime can make bricks stronger.

To create traditional bricks, dried clay is added to a machine known as the jaw crusher. This machine crushes and grinds down the materials. Following this, there are three main ways bricks can be made:

• Extrusion – During the extrusion process, pulverised clay is fed into a machine and mixed with sand and water. It’s then placed into a vacuum, where the air is removed and the materials compacted. They’re then put through another machine that shapes the brick – sometimes using wires to cut the material into segments.
• Moulding – Sometimes bricks are made using soft, wet clay that’s shaped into a specific mould. This is the most traditional method, and any ‘handmade’ bricks will be made in this fashion. However, in a factory setting, the moulding process is carried out by a hydraulic press that compresses all materials into the desired shape.
• Pressing – The pressing process is similar to moulding, though it tends to require more force. Typically, thicker clay is used here, as it creates a stronger brick. The material is placed into a container and compacted, then pressurised with a steel plunger.

After any of these processes, bricks are then dried before use. All moisture must be removed during this time, as it could cause irreparable damage to the brick itself, leading to it cracking or crumbling. They’re typically dried in chambers full of hot air, then placed in a kiln for the final stage of the process.

For new bricks to be created, raw materials must be mined and transported to the factories. Brick manufacturing therefore requires lots of energy and contributes negatively to the environment. This means many individuals and businesses now seek out eco-friendly alternatives to bricks that can still be used for construction purposes. This could include:

• Wood

• Bamboo

• Recycled plastic

There’s a consistent demand for bricks throughout the UK, specifically for construction. A few key facts about bricks include:

• In the UK, the average home is made from between 10,000 and 15,000 bricks.
• There are 1,200 types of brick used within the UK.
• The colour of bricks can vary depending on the temperature used in the kiln.

Find out more about other rubbish streams.