Concrete Disposal Guide: How to Get Rid of Concrete the Right Way

Concrete is one of the most challenging materials to dispose of. It's extremely heavy, it can't go in a standard trash bin, and it fills up weight capacity in a dumpster faster than almost anything else. But with the right approach, concrete removal is straightforward.

Here's what you need to know.

A cubic foot of concrete weighs approximately 150 lbs. Compare that to a cubic foot of drywall (about 13 lbs) or wood (about 30 lbs). Concrete is roughly 5–10 times heavier than most construction debris by volume.

This matters because dumpster pricing is based on weight, not just volume. Our trailers include 2 tons (4,000 lbs) in the rental price. A relatively small amount of concrete can hit that limit quickly:

• A 10' × 10' concrete patio (4" thick) weighs approximately 5,000 lbs — already over the 2-ton limit
• A standard concrete driveway section weighs 300–400 lbs per linear foot
• Concrete block and brick are similarly dense

Plan for overage charges on concrete jobs, or break the project into multiple hauls.

We accept all standard concrete debris:

• Broken concrete slabs and patios
• Concrete block and CMU (concrete masonry units)
• Brick and masonry
• Concrete curbing and pavers
• Concrete from demolition projects
• Rebar-reinforced concrete (rebar is fine)
• Concrete mixed with dirt or gravel

• Concrete containing hazardous materials (rare, but possible in industrial settings)
• Concrete mixed with asbestos-containing materials

Smaller pieces are easier to load and distribute weight more evenly in the trailer. Use a sledgehammer, jackhammer, or concrete saw to break large slabs into manageable pieces before loading.

If you're also hauling light debris (wood, drywall, household junk), keep the concrete separate if possible. Mixing heavy and light debris can push you over the weight limit before the trailer is visually full.

The 20-yard trailer gives you more weight buffer before overage charges kick in. For any significant concrete removal project, the 20-yard is the right call.

Distribute concrete pieces evenly across the trailer floor rather than piling them in one spot. This keeps the load balanced and within axle weight limits.

Use the Concrete & Asphalt Weight Calculator to estimate the solid volume, loose debris volume, and approximate weight of your project before requesting a trailer.

For very large concrete removal projects (full foundations, large commercial slabs), there are alternatives worth considering:

Concrete recycling facilities: Some Michigan facilities accept clean concrete for recycling into aggregate. This can be cheaper than disposal for very large loads.

Contractor haul-away: If you're hiring a demolition contractor, they often include haul-away in their quote.

For most residential concrete projects — patios, driveways, sidewalks, steps — a dumpster trailer is the most practical solution.

Concrete jobs require a more detailed quote because weight is the primary cost driver. When you call, tell us:

• What type of concrete you're removing
• Approximate square footage and thickness
• Whether it's reinforced with rebar
• Whether you're mixing it with other debris

We'll give you an accurate flat-rate quote and advise on the right trailer size.

Call (734) 250-9331 or submit a quote request online.