The Right Way to Dispose of Cement Slurry

It’s half past three on a summer scorcher and the Friday afternoon happy hour is calling. After a big day on the tools, you can be forgiven for wanting the end of day washout to be as fast as possible. So what to do with this slurry waste? 
 
You steer the barrow towards the dump pit, but you know that’s only delaying the pain. A quiet corner of the garden on the edge of the site catches your eye, but you know that’ll mean a Monday morning grilling from the boss, let alone the client’s wife. How about a quick tip down the street gutter drain? Surely not. 

Proper management of cement slurry waste has never been more important, and cutting corners at the end of day washout can equal big environmental impacts and even bigger fines. 

Thankfully, safely disposing of cement slurry waste doesn’t have to be a headache. In this article, we explain why slurry waste management is important, outline how to set up and monitor a compliant washout area, and show you why more Aussies are choosing SLURRYTUB to get the job site done right.

Why is Cement Slurry Waste Management Important? 

It makes sense that a barrow full of potentially caustic, corrosive and toxic slurry waste down the drain might do a bit of damage. But exactly why is cement slurry waste management important? 

Today, contractors are operating in a higher regulation and higher eco-conscious environment than ever before. Not only won’t clients and surrounding local residents raise the alarm over waste dumped in gardens and gutters, but regulatory bodies like the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) won’t hesitate to hand out severe fines. 

Regardless of the reputational and financial damage that poor waste management can cause, better slurry disposal is simply the right thing to do. It’s better for the environment, will provide you with visibly clear water to reuse on the job site, and avoid putting your business at unnecessary risk.  

How Does Slurry Waste Impact the Environment? 

Before we get to some tactics for managing your slurry waste, it’s important to outline exactly how slurry waste can impact the environment. 

Slurry Waste Can Poison Soil and Groundwater 

Damage to soil and waterways is perhaps the greatest environmental threat that slurry waste poses. Depending on the composition of your slurry and the tools involved in washout, the waste can contain heavy metals that can damage plant growth and impact drinking water. 

Slurry Waste Can Impact Wildlife 

High PH levels in waterways aren’t just dangerous to local residents. There have been several cases of wildlife being impacted by job site runoff, including marine animals in creeks and rivers. 

Slurry Waste Can Be Unsightly 

You might think that cutting corners with your slurry disposal is an “out of sight, out of mind” activity. But grey streaks along gutters and mounds of muck in gardens is one of the quickest ways to attract unwanted attention to your job site.  

How to Manage Slurry Waste Effectively 

So what are your options when it comes to better slurry waste management? Let’s look into two products that can help, cement slurry solidifiers and our own innovation, SLURRYTUB, and also how to set up and monitor a compliant washout area on your job site. 

Are Cement Slurry Solidifiers a Good Choice? 

Cement slurry solidifiers are chemical mixtures used to turn liquid slurry waste into disposable solids. Contractors mix a measure of the absorbent powder on their slurry waste and dispose of the resulting solid once dry. 

Solidifiers can be a faster option than the traditional method of letting slurry waste dry in a dump site. However, not all products are made equal and it’s up to you to use the right ratio and method to make the process effective.  

SLURRYTUB 

We’ve had our boots on the ground at job sites for decades, and know that the call of the Friday knockoff is strong. That’s why we created a simple and fast product to manage slurry clean-up - SLURRYTUB.  

SLURRYTUB is a non-chemical solution that turns cement slurry waste into visibly clear water and a hardened mixture that is safe to dispose of. 

SLURRYTUB’s heavy-duty recycled plastic tub provides sturdy access for wheelbarrows and mobility for all types of wet trade waste, with a biodegradable filter liner to turn previously harmful slurry into usable recycled water. When the mixture has dried, you can dispose of the hardened waste and the biodegradable filter into the skip. Simple as that. 

Setting Up and Monitoring a Washout Area 

Now that you know why slurry waste management is important and have a few tools under your belt to get the job done, it’s time to set up one of the most important corners of any job site: a compliant washout area. 

Washout areas are a dedicated zone where you can clean equipment and dispose of cement slurry waste without risking any damage to the environment. Whether you’re cleaning hoppers of concrete pumps or chutes of mixers, your washout area will contain any runoff liquids and combine solids for safe and easy disposal. 

Is Your Washout Area Compliant? 

So what should your washout area look like? To comply with your state’s regulations, your washout area will have to meet several criteria including: 

• Positioned away from drainage lines, water bodies and stormwater drains. 

• Clearly signposted. 
• Conveniently positioned for equipment to be cleaned. 

But washout areas aren’t “set and forget”. To stay compliant, it also needs to be monitored to ensure it’s functioning as intended and has enough storage capacity. Monitoring is especially crucial before, during and after rain. 

Job Site, Done Right 

As you can see, effective slurry waste disposal is essential in avoiding environmental damage, big fines and a tainted reputation. It’s also not as hard or time-consuming as it sounds.  

With the right tools like SLURRYTUB, your end of day slurry clean can make the process go down as easy as that first glass at happy hour.  

To learn how you can create a safer, cleaner and more environmentally friendly worksite with SLURRYTUB, get your Starter Kit today.