Dig & Demo is a full-service, environmentally-friendly removal company that handles everything from simple debris removal projects to full-scale building demolition and site clearing projects. The company’s specialty is residential swimming pool removal, and it has removed hundreds of swimming pools across the Bay Area. Its self-owned equipment is set up with rubber tracks and tires for residential projects and varies in size to squeeze into any backyard.
President Chris Burd credits much of Dig & Demo’s success to its highly skilled and experienced employees, all of whom share his passion for worksite cleanliness. “We take our time and treat each site as if it was our own, which our customers really appreciate,” he says. “Our combination of industry knowledge and jobsite cleanliness really sets us apart.”
As a Bay Area Green Business, Dig & Demo is committed to preserving the environment through its business practices. The company recycles a minimum of 50 percent of all the materials it receives and donates usable items to Bay Area nonprofits.
“We understand that many of our clients have worked their entire lives to get their houses or pools, so we treat every job very seriously and take a detail-oriented approach that ensures quality results. We take the time to communicate with our customers and do whatever it takes to make sure they're satisfied with our work.”
Electronic waste is easy to overlook, but it’s also easy to dispose of properly. In recent years, there’s been a tremendous increase in Americans’ electronic waste (e-waste) production. E-waste represents two percent of U.S. landfill trash, but it equals 70 percent of overall toxic waste. Americans dispose of two million tons of electronic products every year—including 50 million computers and 130 million cell phones. In 2010, the United States will discard 400 million electronic units. To help slow this process, consider these tips:
Make sure your e-waste is going to an e-stewards recycler. This means the recycler has taken and demonstrated the Pledge of Responsible Recycling required by the Basel Action Network (BAN), creators of the e-stewards program.
Check with your local government, schools and news outlets for proper recycling options. Government offices and schools often assign days for residents to bring their unwanted electronics to a designated drop-off location for proper recycling. Many times this information is posted on a community calendar that can be found on your local newspaper’s website.
Donate your electronics. It removes the possibility of having your products contribute to e-waste pollution and health hazards. It also provides others with an opportunity to access technology that may not be readily available to them.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has implemented a WasteWise Electronics Challenge to persuade Americans to reuse, upgrade or remanufacture e-waste. Some activities it encourages include:
• Buying remanufactured equipment instead of new equipment.
• Contracting with suppliers to lease electronics.
• Recycling equipment that can’t be reused.
The program also encourages electronic product manufacturers to do their part in reducing e-waste. Some options include:
• Redesigning an electronic product so it can be easily upgraded or remanufactured.
• Establishing a take-back program for electronic products from customers and remanufacturing or upgrading these products for resale.
Dig & Demo was created with one purpose in mind–to provide valuable hauling services at reasonable prices. Owner Chris Burd says his company achieves this goal by hiring only the highest-quality employees, using the best equipment available and always putting customers before profits. "Our customers choose us because they always know exactly what to expect–kind, courteous, affordable, transparent service."
Recycling is a big part of Dig & Demo's business. "We're required to recycle 50 percent of what comes in, but we try to recycle at least 80 percent of the material," says Mr. Burd. "We're a very environmentally-friendly company." Dig & Demo runs two waste service centers that collect electronic waste, scrap metal, household appliances, and mattresses and box springs for recycling. If customers have enough material, the company offers free pickup.
Mr. Burd says customer service is a great source of pride for his company. "We're very concerned about customer satisfaction. We offer a wide range of services to make the hauling process as convenient as possible. We can do everything from taking away a couch to tearing down an entire house or removing a swimming pool." Dig & Demo also offers commercial and general residential construction cleanup, including services that prepare foreclosed houses for sale.
Dig & Demo prides itself on giving customers free, no-obligation estimates and thoroughly explaining its services to the uninitiated. "Our rates are upfront," says Mr. Burd. "There are no hidden costs in anything we do."
