How to Dispose of Concrete and Brick
Concrete and masonry are among the heaviest materials you will ever put in a dumpster. This guide covers weight limits, recommended container sizes, loading techniques, and recycling options that can save you significant money on heavy debris disposal.
The short answer
Concrete and brick are very heavy (about 2,000 pounds per cubic yard), so they need a dedicated heavy-debris dumpster, usually a 10-yard, and cannot be mixed with regular junk without triggering overage fees. Clean concrete and brick are highly recyclable: many facilities crush them into aggregate and accept clean loads for free or cheaper than a landfill, so keep the load free of trash, rebar, and dirt. For a driveway or patio teardown, a concrete-specific dumpster keeps you inside the weight limit at the lowest cost.
Overview
Concrete, brick, cinder block, asphalt, and stone are accepted in roll-off dumpsters but require special weight planning. These materials weigh 2,000 to 2,400+ lbs per cubic yard, meaning even a small dumpster can reach its weight limit quickly. Proper size selection and loading techniques are critical to avoiding weight overages.
What Can and Cannot Go in a Dumpster
Accepted in a Dumpster
- Broken or whole concrete
- Brick and clay block
- Cinder blocks and CMU
- Asphalt and blacktop
- Natural stone and flagstone
- Concrete pavers and stepping stones
- Rebar (cut to fit inside the container)
- Stucco and mortar
- Ceramic and porcelain tile
- Granite and marble slabs
- Concrete pipes and culverts
Not Accepted / Special Handling Required
- Concrete with hazardous coatings or contaminants
May require environmental testing and specialized disposal.
- Industrial slag or foundry waste
May contain heavy metals. Requires industrial waste disposal.
- Radioactive materials
Requires specialized handling and disposal at licensed facilities.
- Concrete from contaminated sites (brownfields)
May require environmental remediation before disposal.
Best Dumpster Size for Concrete & Brick
Recommended container sizes based on typical concrete & brick project scope.
10 Yard
12' x 8' x 3.5' | 1 ton
The go-to size for concrete and heavy debris. Fill only halfway to two-thirds to stay within weight limits.
View Size Details15 Yard
16' x 7.5' x 4.5' | 1.5 tons
For larger volumes of mixed masonry. Still requires careful weight monitoring.
View Size Details20 Yard
22' x 7.5' x 4.5' | 2 tons
Only if mixing light materials with some heavy debris. Pure concrete should use a 10-yard.
View Size DetailsWeight Considerations
Average weight: 2,000 - 2,400 lbs per cubic yard
Concrete is one of the heaviest common waste materials. A single cubic yard of concrete weighs approximately 2,000 to 2,400 lbs (1 to 1.2 tons). This means a 10-yard dumpster filled completely with concrete would weigh 10 to 12 tons, far exceeding a 10-yard's included 1-ton allowance. The golden rule: use a 10-yard dumpster and fill it only halfway.
Weight Tips
- Never fill a dumpster to the top with concrete, brick, or stone. Fill it halfway to two-thirds at most.
- A 10-yard dumpster filled halfway with concrete weighs approximately 5 to 6 tons. Ask about our heavy-load allowance.
- Request a dedicated concrete/heavy debris dumpster with an increased weight limit.
- If you have both heavy and light materials, use separate containers to avoid weight overages on the mixed load.
- Breaking concrete into smaller pieces makes loading easier and helps distribute weight evenly.
Free tool
Concrete Weight Calculator
Enter your slab dimensions and get pounds and tons instantly - then call with the number and we match the right heavy-debris container.
Open the calculatorDisposal Tips for Concrete & Brick
Use the smallest dumpster possible
For pure concrete and masonry, a 10-yard dumpster is almost always the right choice. The weight limit will be reached long before the container is full.
Spread weight across the entire floor
Distribute heavy materials evenly across the dumpster floor rather than stacking in one area. Uneven loading creates a tipping hazard during transport.
Break large pieces into manageable chunks
Use a sledgehammer to break large concrete slabs into smaller pieces. This makes loading easier and helps the debris settle more compactly.
Remove rebar before loading
Protruding rebar is a safety hazard and can damage the dumpster. Cut rebar flush with the concrete or remove it entirely.
Consider concrete recycling
Many concrete recyclers accept clean concrete for FREE. They crush it into aggregate for road base and construction fill. This can save you the entire cost of a dumpster rental.
Disposal Regulations
Most states allow concrete disposal at C&D landfills. Some states require concrete recycling when a recycler is available within a certain distance.
Clean concrete (no rebar, no coatings) is often accepted for free at concrete recycling facilities. Call ahead to confirm acceptance and hours.
Asphalt is widely recycled. Hot-mix asphalt plants often accept clean asphalt millings at no charge.
Some municipalities offer periodic heavy debris drop-off events for residents at reduced or no cost.
Environmental Considerations
Concrete is 100% recyclable. Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is used as road base, fill material, and drainage stone, reducing the need for virgin quarried materials and diverting heavy waste from landfills.
Eco-Friendly Disposal Tips
- Look for concrete recyclers in your area; many accept clean concrete at no charge.
- Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) can be used as road base, backfill, or drainage stone on your own property.
- Asphalt millings are widely recycled into new hot-mix asphalt.
- Brick can be cleaned and reused in new construction or landscaping projects.
- By recycling concrete, you avoid landfill tipping fees and reduce quarrying of virgin aggregate.
Ready to Rent a Dumpster for Concrete & Brick?
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Which tools and prices help with concrete & brick?
- Concrete calculator: slab and footing volume
- Concrete dumpsters: the heavy-material box
- Weight estimator: add up debris weight by material
- Cubic yard calculator: measure your debris pile
- Dumpster prices: live all-in prices by size
- Order online: get your exact price by ZIP
- Dumpster sizes: 10 to 40 yards compared
Sources
- U.S. EPA: Volume-to-weight conversion factors: Reference weights per cubic yard for common waste materials.
- U.S. EPA: Construction and demolition debris: National C&D generation and recycling figures.
- U.S. EPA: Household hazardous waste: What must stay out of the dumpster and where it goes.
How these numbers are set: weights per cubic yard are planning ranges for loose debris, consistent with the EPA conversion factors above; included tons are Ultimate Dumpsters' standard allowances by size. Real loads vary with moisture and packing.
Straight Talk From Our Team
“The weight estimator is the one I wish every customer used first. People size by how big the pile looks, but a load of concrete or dirt or wet drywall hits the tonnage limit while the box still looks half empty. Run the weight before you pick the size and the overage surprise just goes away. That is the whole reason we built it.”
Michael V.
Head of Operations, Ultimate Dumpsters. Weigh it before you pick the size
Concrete & Brick Disposal FAQs
Common questions about disposing of concrete & brick in a dumpster.
We recommend filling a 10-yard dumpster only halfway with concrete. That equals approximately 5 cubic yards of concrete weighing 5 to 6 tons. With our heavy-load allowance, this keeps you within safe weight limits. Filling a 10-yard to the top with concrete would weigh 10 to 12 tons, which exceeds the standard allowance.
Recycling is often cheaper or even free. Many concrete recycling facilities accept clean, uncontaminated concrete at no charge. If you have access to a trailer or truck, hauling it yourself to a recycler can save you the entire cost of a dumpster rental. If self-hauling is not practical, renting a dumpster with a heavy-load allowance is the next best option.
You can, but it is not recommended. Mixing concrete with lighter materials makes it harder to predict total weight, increasing the risk of weight overages. Additionally, clean concrete loads qualify for lower disposal rates or free recycling, while mixed loads go to a landfill at full price.
A heavy-load dumpster is a standard roll-off container (usually 10 or 15-yard) with an increased weight allowance specifically for heavy materials like concrete, brick, asphalt, and dirt. The rental price is higher than a standard container, but the additional weight allowance prevents costly overage fees.
Yes. Asphalt from driveway, parking lot, or road removal is accepted. Like concrete, asphalt is heavy and should be loaded in a small dumpster (10-yard recommended) to manage weight. Asphalt is also widely recyclable; check for asphalt recyclers in your area before renting a dumpster.
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