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Topping out at 119 degrees, half of the highest temperatures in Texas’ history have occurred in the summers of 2023 and 2024. 2025 is shaping up to be no different, meaning that you need to know how to dispose of waste when the heat turns up.
That’s why we here at Trashco Inc. are here today - to take you through what you need to know to effectively handle your waste management during what could well be the hottest summer on record.
We’ll even throw in a secret extra tip for anyone dedicated enough to read to the end!
Here’s what we’ll cover:
First you’ll need the equipment to effectively contain all of your waste until it can be collected for disposal (more on collections in the next tip). We’ve talked about the benefits of trash compactors, roll-off containers, and front load dumpsters many times before, but with the heat rolling in it really pays to know which you need.
More specifically, most recyclable waste or bulky items can be held in roll-off containers, making them perfect for most waste created at construction sites and larger retail locations. Front load dumpsters are instead ideal for waste that needs to be fully contained for sanitary reasons, such as food or smaller non-recyclable materials.
Remember, nobody wants horrible odors and flies buzzing around uncovered trash!
Having the right containers will do nothing if they overflow before the next collection truck comes in.
Get a rough idea of how much waste you regularly produce (and of what kinds) and then book with a waste management company to come and empty your containers. If you’re working with an especially savvy company (cough Trashco Inc.! cough) then you’ll probably discuss collection frequency at the same time as what containers you’ll need to rent - getting the right balance of container size and collection frequency can save you a lot of money.
Just make sure that you don’t leave your dumpsters for degradable waste for too long; nobody wants to be around the smell of hot trash in the summer.
No matter how cute raccoons, possums, and other trash-dwellers may be, it’s bad for business to have animals rifling through (and potentially spreading around) your garbage. This means following some basic protocols to reduce the chance of your waste attracting critters.
Namely, make sure that your waste containers are locked tight when not in use, that they are suitably distanced from any main buildings, and that they aren’t kept in direct sunlight.
This is as much about protecting local critters as keeping your sites clean, clear, and pleasant!
No, we’re not joking. It sounds obvious, but it’s vital that you make sure that your waste is actually going into the containers you’ve rented rather than being thrown just anywhere.
Throwing the odd banana skin or apple core into a corner of the construction site might not seem so bad, but in the Texan heat that’s very quickly going to start rotting, smelling, attracting critters, and making your team sick. Either make sure that your team is following protocol and trashing their waste responsibly, or give one of your team (new or old hire) the task of going around and collecting discarded trash, whether you’re on a construction site or cleaning up the back of your retail store.
Organizing your waste into categories such as recyclable, biodegradable, non-recyclable, hazardous, etc, and housing them in separate containers means that when the collection trucks come there won’t be any delays or misunderstandings. It paves the way for a fast handoff, which is always good when it comes to waste disposal.
Your waste will spend less time on site, and we can effectively process it as quickly as possible, which is even better for the environment.
A common mistake we’ve seen is that companies fail to plan for the ebbs and flows of their business when it comes to waste disposal. Think about it; a retail store might sell more stock and earn more money during the summer, but it will also produce far more waste in the form of packaging, food waste, and so on!
Whether it’s due to large upcoming projects, a public holiday, or a usual seasonal boom in business, if you’re producing more waste you need to account for that with either larger containers or more frequent collections.
We all want to help the environment, but sadly the solution isn’t to throw as much as possible in with the recycling. It’s wishful thinking that, say, plastic that still contains food waste can be recycled without issue, hence “wishcycling”. This can cause massive issues when the waste is being processed, potentially contaminating a large portion of waste and making it unusable, forcing it to be incinerated or thrown into landfill.
Do your part - know your recycling!
Trashco Inc. is dedicated to cleaning up Laredo and the wider Texas area. As a waste management leader, our friendly, helpful team can take care of all of your waste disposal needs come rain or shine.
Whether you’re figuring out your container needs, need a reliable collection service, or want to go the extra mile with a company that cares about environmentally friendly disposal, we’ve got you covered.
