No doubt about it—concrete is heavy! Tearing out a driveway, taking down a wall, pulling up sidewalks, or doing demolition on some retaining walls can leave you with a mound of broken up concrete to throw out. Concrete waste disposal is an important part of any cleanup or construction job. When you have a demo or remodeling job that includes lots of heavy concrete, you may be concerned about how to dispose of it properly.
Can you throw concrete in with your residential trash? Unless it is just a very small amount of concrete, you typically cannot place concrete waste in your trash can. It is heavy and can injure the waste collector. It can also damage the equipment in the truck.
Most residential trash haulers do not allow concrete or other heavy materials in your trash can, and some municipalities or counties have further restrictions. Other restricted items may include sod, dirt, rocks, mulch, bricks, or cement blocks.
So how can you get rid of broken up concrete? The easiest way to handle concrete disposal is to rent a dumpster container. When you call to order a rental dumpster, it is important that you explain you will be disposing of concrete and whether it will be only the concrete or other mixed waste as well.
Why is this important? It’s all about the weight! Since concrete is so heavy, it can quickly exceed the weight limit for a typical dumpster container.
An overweight dumpster can cause unexpected complications. This can prove costly to you and may result in a rejected load at the landfill.
Handling concrete demo is a heavy and messy job, but disposing of very heavy material does not have to be difficult. Many heavy waste materials are what are called inert waste. Inert waste is composed of materials that are not organic and do not break down in a landfill.
Inert waste is considered unreactive, both biologically and chemically. It will not leach into water or soil and does not attract animals. This makes it easier to handle and manage this type of waste. Examples of inert waste include wood, bricks, masonry, metal, concrete, sand, chalk, dirt, rocks, and asphalt.
In a landfill, operators will often have separate areas or even a completely separate landfill for inert material. This is to prevent bio-matter from mixing in with the inert material. Because inert material will not decompose, it is easier to handle in a landfill.
Concrete does not need as many environmental controls and it has a much lower risk of fire. In many cases, inert waste has a lower cost of disposal than biodegradable or hazardous waste.
One issue with inert waste is that it takes up a lot of space in a landfill. For this reason, many communities encourage recycling or reuse of inert heavy materials. During construction, costs for fill dirt or gravel can be reduced if crushed concrete is used as fill.
If this can be done on-site, it is convenient to move the concrete that has been demoed and crushed to the area of the job site that needs fill or a base layer. This is typically only done at larger construction sites, although concrete crushers can be rented for smaller jobs.
Crushed concrete can be used as permeable walkway paving, as a base for asphalt paving, and as trench bed foundation. It can also be used as aggregate for new concrete mixtures. It can also be used as clean fill for new concrete projects.
Large pieces of concrete can be placed to serve as solid foundation bonding agents. This helps reduce cracking in any new concrete poured over it.
Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials around. It is strong, easy to work with, can be formed easily, looks good, and is durable.
The properties that make it so good for construction also make it harder to dispose of than other materials. It has to be broken up and hauled to a waste container for disposal. Hauling concrete to a dump yourself is a big hassle, but using a dumpster container makes the work much easier and more convenient.
Typically, concrete can be thrown out in a dumpster. The heavy weight of broken up concrete requires some special handling. Inert material is usually managed differently than common mixed waste disposal. Other materials that may need this special handling include wood, asphalt, roofing shingles, dirt, stone, landscaping rock, sod, bricks, floor tile, gravel, and stucco.
There are two general types of concrete: clean concrete and mixed heavy debris. Clean concrete has no other materials mixed in and the concrete is not contaminated with any paint or chemicals. All other debris has been cleared from the concrete, including metal rebar.
In other words, it is just concrete and nothing else. On the other hand, mixed heavy debris is a load that is a combination of clean concrete and other waste, including construction debris, metal, asphalt, bricks, or soil. If your load of discarded concrete has other household waste in it, it is considered a mixed waste load.
When you order a rental dumpster to use for concrete disposal, discuss the type of concrete you’ll be tossing. If you are only disposing of concrete, you may be offered an inert dumpster container. This is a container that is intended only for heavy inert material.
No other type of material should be placed in the inert dumpster. If you have mixed waste, do not add it to the concrete in your inert container.
This is an important consideration. Since the load of concrete will likely be taken either to an inert materials landfill or a concrete recycling facility, it cannot contain any other waste at all. If you anticipate using your rental dumpster for other types of waste, let the service representative know that when you call to place your order.
At an inert materials landfill or concrete recycling facility, there may be restrictions on certain types of concrete. In general, any clean concrete is acceptable. This means that the concrete is the only material in the load and it is free from contaminants.
Common contaminants include metal or rebar, wire mesh, tree roots, landscaping material, trash, household items, bricks, roadbase material, or construction debris. If your load contains any of these materials, it cannot be accepted as clean concrete.
Painted concrete can be accepted as clean concrete in some cases, as long as the paint is lead-free. Lead-based paint is considered a contaminant. Concrete that is excessively dirty or contaminated with oil, chemicals, or any toxic substance cannot be disposed of as clean concrete. It also must be free from any combustible material and cannot have been exposed to radioactive substances.
Concrete slurry, which results from grinding or polishing concrete surfaces or cutting concrete slabs. Slurry should only be placed in a dumpster after it has either been separated or treated with a slurry solidifier. Once treated, this concrete mixture is not considered clean concrete and may not be placed in your inert dumpster container. It can be safely disposed in a mixed solid waste landfill, so it can by tossed into a typical residential or construction dumpster.
If you find that during the course of your job, other types of waste have been deposited into your dumpster, call us before pickup. If your dumpster was scheduled to be taken to a recycling facility or inert landfill, it may have to be diverted to a typical landfill instead. In this case, there could be an extra charge assessed, as clean concrete disposal is often discounted. Mixing in other waste can cancel out that discount.
Many customers manage this by renting two dumpsters for a project: a small clean concrete inert dumpster and another typical dumpster rental for mixed waste like household or remodeling debris. Just be sure to strictly keep all other waste out of the inert dumpster.
Concrete is very heavy. If you aren’t careful, you could get injured carrying the broken pieces of concrete to your rental dumpster. To make the process easier, start by breaking up the concrete into smaller pieces.
Before beginning work, put on eye and ear protection. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants. Make sure that the path from your demo area to the dumpster is clear and free from any obstacles.
Moving large pieces of concrete to your inert dumpster can be strenuous work. The smaller you can break the concrete down into manageable pieces, the better. A jackhammer makes quick work of large concrete slabs and pieces.
A jackhammer can be rented, but this can get pricey if you have a job that will last more than a day or two. It is hard work wielding a jackhammer to break up concrete, so only use one if you have the physical strength and stamina to manage it.
If you don’t have one, you can break concrete up by hand. A sledgehammer can do the job of breaking the concrete down. It is easier to break up concrete on soft ground than a solid surface. If you can move the slab pieces over a hole or indentation in the ground, a sledgehammer hit will crack it into pieces.
If you can’t move the larger pieces, dig out a small section of dirt or gravel from under the concrete. Break that down and then repeat the process by digging again under the next section.
Alternatively, you can have a helper lift a section of concrete using a sturdy demolition bar. Lift the slab with a pry bar to create a pocket of space underneath. Have your helper lift the piece of concrete up slightly while you strike it with a sledgehammer. If you are working alone, you can lift one side of the concrete and shove a piece of wood or rock under the edge to keep it elevated off the ground surface.
A sledgehammer is designed to be heavy. This allows you to let the hammer do the heavy work of breaking the concrete surface. Lift the sledgehammer up and allow it to fall down onto the concrete. Pacing yourself and letting the hammer do the work will keep you from getting fatigued or injured.
For large quantities of concrete, you can rent a skid-steer loader for a day or two. Ask the rental facility if a hydraulic breaker or hammer is available for the loader. This will help you break the concrete into smaller pieces for easier removal.
There are other attachments that can make clean up quick and easy too. These include grapples, buckets, concrete claws, and hopper brooms.
If you are doing the demo and collection work by hand, collect the concrete pieces into a wheelbarrow to take to your rental dumpster. Do not overload the wheelbarrow or it will be too heavy to lift and push. You can also use a hand truck for heavier pieces.
A dolly is easy to slide under a heavy piece of concrete without having to lift it much. A 5-gallon bucket is a good concrete waste hauling container if you’ve broken the concrete up into small pieces that will fit inside.
Finally, the work will be easier if you have some help. Having others help you not only lightens the load, but you will also have help lifting heavy pieces of concrete into your wheelbarrow and into your dumpster. Everyone working on your cleanup job should use proper lifting techniques, including lifting using a straight back and bending at the knees and not the waist. Take lots of breaks to prevent injury from muscle strains and don’t work in the hottest part of the day.
If your dumpster has a swinging back door, open it up so you can roll your wheelbarrow into the dumpster container. Use a ramp made of plywood to allow you to get in the dumpster. Walk all the way into the dumpster and deposit the load at the front of the container. Continue until you’ve disposed of all the concrete debris.
If your dumpster does not have swinging door access, use the bucket system to dispose of your concrete. Break it into small pieces and carry them using sturdy 5-gallon buckets. Lift and dump each load into your dumpster, taking care not to overextend yourself when lifting.
An inert dumpster bin typically holds 10 tons of concrete or other heavy debris. You may receive either a 10 or 20 yard dumpster container, but the weight should be kept under the 10 ton upper limit. This means that a 20 yard dumpster cannot be filled to the top rail, as this will put it over the weight limit. This weight restriction is in place to protect community roadways and highways, as well as landfill operators and equipment.
An inert dumpster container can only hold heavy inert material. There should be no other types of waste put in the dumpster. However, if you are disposing of mixed waste composed of both inert material and other household or construction weight, you may receive a standard dumpster container.
Other contaminants include brick, asphalt, soil, rocks, or metal. You will also need to stay within the weight limit of 10 tons in these cases. To ensure you receive the correct type and size dumpster, discuss your particular waste situation with your dumpster rental company.
How much is 10 tons of waste? For a load of heavy debris, 10 tons (20,000 pounds) is approximately 10 cubic yards of concrete. This is dependent on the type of waste. A 10 yard dumpster container will hold about 70-100 square feet of concrete.
Don’t overfill your dumpster. We will explain the maximum fill line for your dumpster. This is a strict rule.
Trying to squeeze a few move chunks of concrete in so that they peek out the top will likely put you over the weight limit. The load is weighed at the landfill and could be rejected for any amount over the weight limit.
In many cases, this means the load will be rejected at the landfill. If your load needs to be reduced before disposal, there will be an overweight charge.
Landfills often have restrictions on the type of concrete they will accept for disposal. If they will only accept clean concrete, then your load may not include any concrete that is painted or includes metal such as rebar.
Any material that could decompose, is contaminated, or is flammable cannot be placed in an inert landfill. This type of mixed waste must be disposed of in a mixed waste landfill. It is violation of environmental protections to place biowaste or contaminated material in an inert landfill area.
Inert material is not subject to the same environmental regulations and standards as mixed waste dumps. In a typical landfill, there are procedures and equipment used to protect surrounding land, air, and water from waste contamination. These include liners, fire suppression procedures, odor control equipment, gas control, and dust mitigation.
Solid waste landfills require more labor, equipment, and attention than an inert landfill. There can be no mixing of other household solid waste into an inert landfill area.
Not all concrete needs to be taken to a landfill. In many cases, clean concrete can be recycled. Concrete can be crushed down into much smaller fragments. Leftover rebar or other material in concrete that is being recycled is removed using large magnets during the recycling process.
However, substances such as oils, pigments, chlorides, and calcium sulfate are not able to be removed. Processed concrete contaminated by these types of chemicals is unsuitable for reuse as recycled concrete. Typically, only clean concrete will be accepted for recycling.
What is recycled concrete used for? Crushed clean concrete can be used in a variety of applications. About 60% of crushed concrete is used as road base material.
When new concrete is made, crushed recycled concrete will replace some of the stone or gravel typically used in the mixture of cement, sand, stone, and water. However, there are limits on the amount of crushed concrete that can be mixed in when making new concrete.
Slabs of concrete can be used as stream or creek erosion control or in bodies of water to provide safe habitats or artificial reefs for marine life. Pieces of concrete are used in landscaping projects and retaining walls.
The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration uses recycled concrete in the reconstruction, repair, and maintenance of the National Highway System, along with other smaller roads. Recycled concrete is used as foundation in new construction of office buildings and warehouses. All of these uses reduce the amount of concrete that ends up in our landfills.
There are financial benefits to recycling concrete as well. Since concrete is expensive to transport to and dispose of in a landfill, recycling can reduce construction costs. A best-case scenario would involve the process of crushing concrete at a job site and then using that concrete aggregate as gravel for applications in the site construction process to eliminate the need for any disposal of concrete waste in a landfill.
Since transporting and disposing of concrete at a landfill can cost up to $0.25/ton/mile, this can add up on site that has large concrete demo and clean fill needs.
Finally, disposal of heavy waste in an inert container can save you money. In many cases, landfills accept inert material at a lower cost than mixed waste. Some recycling facilities will accept clean concrete at no cost. Of course, transporting the concrete is not free, but locating a facility that will accept clean concrete at little or no cost can save you on disposal fees.
When you are ready to start work on your concrete removal project, give Discount Dumpster a call. We have years of expertise in all types of heavy debris and concrete disposal, from driveway demolition to removing a wall, to patio replacement to sidewalk demo.
Call us today to get your dumpster rental started!
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