When most people picture our hydrovac trucks in action, they imagine underground utility work or retention-pond cleanouts. But earlier this year Biolein took on a very different challenge: removing more than 60 cubic yards of planting mix from a downtown Denver rooftop and donating every pound of it to the Barnum Community Garden and a nearby Denver Public School.
It became our most sustainable, community-focused project to date, a perfect example of how environmental services can go far beyond compliance and infrastructure upkeep. Below is the full story of how we planned, executed, and celebrated a project that blended cutting-edge vacuum technology with good old-fashioned neighborhood teamwork.
The Project in a Nutshell
- Location: A six-story office building in central Denver
- Scope: Remove aging rooftop garden beds scheduled for renovation
- Volume: Approximately 60 cubic yards (about five standard dump trucks) of soil and mulch
- Goal: Prevent the material from going to landfill and repurpose it locally
- Beneficiaries: Barnum Community Garden and a Denver Public School gardening program
Why the Rooftop Garden Needed to Go
The building’s property manager had decided to overhaul its rooftop amenity deck. The plan called for new planters, irrigation, and seating, meaning the existing garden beds had to be stripped back to bare waterproofing membrane. Traditional removal methods (manual shoveling, cranes, or dumpsters) would have:
- Cost more in labor and rooftop crane rentals.
- Generated unnecessary landfill waste from perfectly usable soil.
- Created dust and debris that could have affected nearby businesses and traffic.
They approached Biolein for a cleaner, faster solution and asked if we could help rehome the soil instead of dumping it.
Mapping Out a Sustainable Alternative
- Pre-project assessment
- Our team inspected the roof’s access points, load limits, and planter composition.
- We tested the soil for contaminants to ensure it was safe for garden use.
- Community outreach
- We contacted Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) and the Barnum Community Garden board.
- We reached out to a Denver Public School that runs a science-based gardening curriculum.
- Both groups jumped at the chance to receive free, organic planting mix.
- Logistics planning
- Scheduling had to minimize disruption to tenants below.
- Soil had to be vacuumed directly into sealed debris tanks to avoid spills.
- Delivery windows to the garden and school were coordinated around classes and volunteer availability.
The Hydrovac Advantage
Using our high-capacity hydrovac truck gave the project three big advantages over conventional removal methods:
- Non-destructive: High-pressure water loosened compacted soil without damaging roof membranes.
- Dust-free: The vacuum hose sucked up soil immediately, preventing particles from drifting into HVAC intakes or neighboring balconies.
- Efficient: We filled a debris tank in about 25 minutes, compared with an estimated 90 minutes of manual bagging and crane lifts for the same volume.
Day-of Execution: How It Played Out
7:00 a.m. — Site set-up
We parked curbside, ran a suction hose up six stories, and placed protective mats to shield the parapet.
8:00 a.m. – Noon — Vacuum operations
- Two techs on the roof sprayed controlled water jets to break up compacted sections.
- The vacuum hose whisked the soil straight into the truck’s sealed tank.
- Safety spotters ensured the hose line remained clear of pedestrians and windows.
12:30 p.m. — First delivery
The truck transported its first 12-cubic-yard load to Barnum Community Garden off Lowell, where local volunteers staged wheelbarrows for distribution into raised beds.
Afternoon — Rinse and repeat
Two more trips supplied additional loads to the school and back to Barnum for compost top-dressing. Final rinsing of rooftop surfaces ensured no sediment entered city storm drains.
4:30 p.m. — Wrap-up
Roof cleared, debris tank washed, and traffic control cones collected—all before downtown rush hour.
Lessons Learned and Best Practices
- Early soil testing saves time
- Verifying nutrient content and contaminant absence ahead of the project prevented last-minute disposal hurdles.
- Hydrovac is not just for liquid waste
- Many people assume hydrovac trucks handle only wet slurry. With the right nozzle and flow settings, they can vacuum semi-dry soil efficiently.
- Partnering with local nonprofits multiplies benefits
- By tapping into existing community networks, we ensured the soil went exactly where it would have the most long-term impact.
- Detailed logistics minimize site disruption
- Coordinating elevator usage, hose routes, and delivery windows kept commercial tenants happy and reduced project duration by an estimated 25 percent.
How This Project Fits Biolein’s Mission
Biolein has always prioritized environmental responsibility and community service. This rooftop-to-garden initiative let us combine our technical expertise with a tangible neighborhood benefit, proving that industrial equipment can support circular economy goals.
- Sustainability: Diverting reusable soil from landfill and reducing trucking emissions.
- Community engagement: Providing resources to local gardens and schools at no cost.
- Innovation: Demonstrating a novel application of hydrovac technology for solid material recovery.
Thinking of a Similar Project? Questions to Ask
- What materials on your job site could be reused or donated instead of tossed?
- Do you have roof load or access limitations that make manual removal unsafe or costly?
- Are local schools or community gardens in need of soil, mulch, or compost?
- Have you considered hydrovac services for solid as well as liquid extraction?
If the answer to any of these is yes, a creative waste-to-resource strategy might be the solution.
Redefining Environmental Services
This rooftop vacuum project pushed us to think beyond routine compliance work and toward community-driven sustainability. By pairing high-powered equipment with local partnerships, we turned what could have been just another disposal job into a story of reuse, education, and neighborhood pride.
Biolein is committed to seeking out more opportunities like this. Projects where technical know-how meets environmental stewardship and public benefit. If you’re planning a renovation, demolition, or landscape overhaul and want to explore sustainable material recovery, let’s talk. Together we can turn waste into opportunity, one rooftop (or pond, or catch basin) at a time.
Ready to make your next project both efficient and community-minded? Contact Biolein for a consultation.
Biolein has become a trusted partner for hydrovac excavation, environmental waste management, environmental consultation for hazardous waste, and drainage solutions across Colorado and beyond. We’re not just an environmental services company in Denver — we’re the team you can count on to tackle the tough jobs and keep things running smoothly.
