How to Dispose of Concrete
Clean concrete is one of the few materials that is often free to dispose of — many landfills and recyclers take it at no charge because it's crushed and resold as aggregate. The catch is that "clean" means genuinely clean, and the weight is what usually catches people out.
Short answer: take clean broken concrete to a recycler or transfer station — often free, sometimes a small per-ton fee. Never put it in a regular dumpster without checking, and never overload your vehicle.
What "clean fill" means
Facilities distinguish sharply between clean concrete and mixed debris, and the price difference is large.
| Clean concrete | Mixed / contaminated | |
|---|---|---|
| Contains | Concrete, brick, block, stone, asphalt | Any of the above plus rebar, wood, plastic, soil, tile, insulation |
| Typical cost | Free to $25/ton | $40–$100/ton as C&D waste |
| What happens to it | Crushed into aggregate and reused | Landfilled |
Rebar is the usual disqualifier. Small amounts of embedded steel are often tolerated because crushers use magnets, but heavily reinforced concrete may be priced differently or refused. Ask when you call.
Wire mesh, plastic sheeting, expansion joint material and lumps of soil all move a load from "clean" to "mixed." Sorting on site is worth real money here.
Where to take it
- Concrete recyclers — the best option. Search for "concrete recycling" or "aggregate recycling" plus your area. Many take clean concrete free because they sell the crushed product.
- Transfer stations and landfills — most accept it, frequently at a reduced "clean fill" rate. Wichita's landfill, for example, takes clean concrete, stone, brick and asphalt millings at no charge while general waste is priced per ton.
- Construction and demolition recyclers — take mixed loads, priced higher.
- Landscaping and materials yards — some accept clean concrete for reuse as fill or rip-rap.
The weight problem
Concrete weighs roughly 4,000 lbs per cubic yard. A standard half-ton pickup is legally and mechanically overloaded by well under half a cubic yard.
This is the single most common mistake with concrete disposal, and it's a genuine safety issue — overloaded vehicles have compromised braking and steering, and blown suspension is a real outcome.
Rough guide: a 4-inch-thick slab produces about a cubic yard of debris per 80 square feet. A small patio is easily several tons.
| Vehicle | Realistic concrete load |
|---|---|
| Half-ton pickup | ~1/4 cubic yard (about 1,000 lbs) |
| Three-quarter-ton pickup | ~1/2 cubic yard |
| Small trailer | Check its rating — most are under a ton |
| 10-yard dumpster | Usually the largest offered for concrete, and often only part-filled |
Dumpster companies price concrete separately and typically supply only their smallest container, because a full large dumpster of concrete exceeds what the truck can lift. Always tell them it's concrete when booking — putting it in a general dumpster unannounced usually triggers a substantial overweight charge.
Give it away — this genuinely works
Broken concrete, often called "urbanite," has a real second-hand audience. Listed free locally, clean flat pieces move quickly to people building:
- Retaining walls and terracing
- Garden borders and raised beds
- Informal paths and stepping stones
- Fill for low-lying ground
Flat slab pieces are far more wanted than irregular rubble. Be clear about quantity and whether they need to break it further, and let people load their own — you don't want to be lifting it either.
Breaking it up
If you're removing a slab yourself:
- A sledgehammer works for thin slabs, up to about 4 inches, and is slow.
- A rented electric breaker is dramatically faster and worth the day rate for anything substantial.
- Break it into pieces you can actually lift — roughly 12–18 inches. Larger pieces are how backs get hurt.
- Undermine as you go. Slabs break more easily when there's a void beneath the section you're hitting.
- Wear eye protection and steel-toed boots. Concrete fragments travel.
Watch for buried utilities before breaking any slab — particularly around older patios where services may run shallow.
Common questions
Is concrete disposal free?
Often yes for clean concrete, because it's crushed and resold as aggregate. Mixed or reinforced loads are usually charged. Call your local facility — the difference is worth a phone call.
Can I put concrete in a dumpster?
Only if you tell the company in advance. They'll supply a smaller container and price it separately. Concealed concrete in a general dumpster typically results in a significant overweight fee.
What about concrete with rebar?
Small amounts are usually fine — crushers separate steel magnetically. Heavily reinforced concrete may be priced higher or refused. Ask first.
Can I bury it in my garden?
Generally not advisable and often not permitted. Clean fill placement is regulated in many jurisdictions, and buried concrete causes drainage problems and complicates any future work.
What about asphalt?
Treated similarly and also recyclable — many facilities take clean asphalt millings free.
Related
Facility pricing, clean-fill definitions and acceptance criteria vary considerably by location and change. Vehicle weight limits are a legal and safety matter — check your vehicle's rating. Always confirm before hauling. Last verified August 2026.