So, what are you supposed to do with your old concrete rubble? The quick fix might appear to simply toss your old retaining walls into your household trash can and call it a day. However, this might get you into trouble with the trash company.
According to Science Direct, “concrete is one of the most widely used materials globally, and therefore huge amounts of concrete waste, which is usually strongly alkaline, are generated.”
According to Christian Meyer of Columbia University, over ten billion tons of concrete are produced worldwide each year.
Therefore, in order to prevent harmful environmental effects, it is important that you properly recycle your old concrete debris, landscaping, steps, driveway, etc.
One reason you should learn how to dispose of concrete safely is because it is unable to break down on its own. Therefore, improperly discarded concrete creates space issues in landfills, which ultimately leads to landfill waste.
Columbia University states “the demolition and disposal of concrete structures, pavements, etc. constitutes another environmental burden. Construction debris contributes to a large fraction of our solid waste disposal problem, and concrete constitutes the single largest component.”
According to the EPA, reducing the amount of concrete disposed of in landfills will:
Recycling concrete and other hazardous waste, therefore, will conserve environmental energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease construction costs, sequestrate carbon, and decrease landfill space.
The cost of concrete disposal depends on how much concrete you wish to dispose of and the method you choose to dispose of it.
Junk removal companies often rely on bedload price structures to move heavy materials like concrete. What this means is that you can stack your materials 1 – 1 ½ feet high within their 80-square-foot truck. This allows you to remove roughly 2 tons of concrete for $600.
However, it is far more cost effective to rent your own dumpster. A 10-yard dumpster rental can hold up to 10 tons of concrete for an average cost of about $530. An average two-car 16 x 40-foot driveway usually contains about 8 tons of concrete, allowing you to remove it entirely with a 10-yard dumpster. Whereas a junk removal service would require at least 4 trips.
If you’d like to dump your old concrete yourself, it usually costs between $32 - $40 per ton at most landfills. However, this won’t include the cost of gas, a truck, labor, or time spent hauling your concrete debris.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to safely dispose of your old concrete:
An inert dumpster is made for heavy materials like rock, asphalt, concrete, brick, sand, floor tiles, and roof shingles. It is made to hold the heavy materials that landfills can’t accept in a regular dumpster. Instead, inert dumpsters are taken to the proper facilities to dispose of such materials.
This is a great option if you have a lot of concrete debris – say, for instance, an entire concrete driveway to dispose of – and you don’t mind doing some of the dirty work yourself.
A concrete or landscape supplier will usually accept your old concrete bricks and debris. These facilities will crush and recycle your leftover concrete into new concrete chunks that can be used as gravel or underlayment for roads. Contact your local concrete supplier to see if they will take your old concrete off your hands, however, be weary that they might ask you to haul it.
If you’re looking to dispose of your unused concrete yourself, you can always take it to a landfill or transfer station. Not all landfills accept old concrete though, so make sure you call ahead first.
Landfills usually charge between $32 - $40 per ton for your old concrete, making it a budget-friendly option. However, it is your responsibility to handle its transportation.
We will say that this might not be the most environmentally friendly option, as used concrete will take up valuable space in landfills and contribute to landfill waste.
Taking your concrete and construction debris to a proper recycling center is a great way to save landfill space and ensure the proper disposal of your debris. Recycling centers will take your old concrete and transform it into new concrete aggregate. Recycled concrete can then be used in a variety of residential and corporate building projects.
Construction and demolition recycling centers will often take old drywall, cardboard, dirt, and paper as well. Again, all you really have to worry about is transporting your construction debris there.
If you have tons of leftover concrete rubble, and don’t have a truck to move it yourself, then consider hiring a junk removal company. Although junk removal companies are on the costlier side – it typically costs about $600 to remove 2 tons of unused concrete – it saves you time and labor that otherwise comes with removing it yourself.
This option is great if you have less than 2 tons of concrete debris and don’t want to bother with disposing of it yourself.
Although this method is less than fool-proof, it is a great free concrete disposal option. You could try stashing your old concrete in your front yard with a “free” sign attached to it. Neighbors could use the blocks for homemade fire pits or other DIY projects, and your unwanted concrete will be off your hands.
You could also try selling concrete rubble on Craigslist or Letgo. You probably won’t be able to sell your old concrete, but it is a great way to get it out of your hair. Although be wary you need to be able to transport the concrete or find a buyer who can haul it themselves.
Donating your used or unwanted concrete blocks is a great way of giving back to your community, while simultaneously getting old concrete off your hands. Concrete isn’t cheap, and local business are almost always on the hunt for used or leftover concrete that they can use for projects.
You could post an advertisement on Craigslist, or you could reach out to local businesses and nonprofits to see if they have any use for your concrete mix or blocks.
It’s your responsibility to ensure the proper disposal of your old concrete rubble. In order to prevent environmental harm and landfill waste, we hope you take the time to find the right concrete disposal option for your project.
Not to mention, illegal or improper waste dumping can result in large fines if you are caught. So, don’t let this be you.
Here at Discount Dumpster, we would love to help you properly dispose of your project waste. Give us a call and our professional team would be happy to help you find the best fit for your concrete disposal needs.
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