An environmental service is used on construction projects to remove debris that can be recycled and reused as well as removing materials that are considered toxic and unusable. From the basic recycling bin for wood, metal and plastic, to the entire removal of layers of contaminated soils, an environmental service can be the only solution to an environmental catastrophe or the complete solution to jobsite waste recycling.

LEED or leadership in energy an environmental design is a national benchmark for energy efficient design. With the use of various environmentally friendly building practices, points are added to a list that verifies how energy efficient and environmentally friendly a structure is. With the addition of environmental services that promote LEED rating points, a prospective building project can meet or exceed guidelines that allow the owners to reap rewards such as lowered taxes, cheaper energy bills and higher resale values when compared to conventional structures.

But besides being a boon to new construction through government rewards, an environmental service can be the only option when it comes to brownfield sites. A brownfield site is a land or property that has been previously used for various industrial or commercial uses that has been contaminated. All brownfield sites can be reclaimed with the help of an environmental service. The benefit of reusing a brownfield site is that once the contamination has been removed, a new business can take its place and the new business will receive property tax breaks for the cleanup. But without an environmental service, the job will always remain a contaminated piece of land.

Whether it’s a gasoline depot, an industrial cleanup or a simple utility line leak, an environmental service has the required licenses, permits and insurance to ensure that your property will be cleaned up to EPA standards. Without the proper federal, state and local licenses, an environmental service might not be qualified to remove contaminated materials like asbestos, lead or mold. Not only is it dangerous to handle toxic wastes without the correct training and certification, it can also be illegal. And no matter who does the work, if they aren’t properly licensed, it’s up to you as the owner to pay fines or incur costs for unlicensed work.