Where to Dump Concrete, Brick and Rubble

Updated 2026-09-25. General guidance only: local rules vary, so check with your county or the facility.

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Broken concrete is one of the heaviest things a homeowner ever hauls. An old patio, sidewalk or pad can turn into several tons of rubble in an afternoon. The good news is that clean concrete is also one of the most recyclable materials there is.

Where concrete, brick and block usually go

Concrete and aggregate recyclers. Crushing yards turn clean concrete into gravel-like material for road base, driveways and fill. They often charge less than a landfill, and some take clean loads for free, because they sell the finished product.

Construction and demolition (C&D) landfills and transfer stations. These commonly accept concrete, brick, block and rubble, usually by weight or by the load.

Municipal landfills. Many accept concrete, sometimes at a special "clean fill" rate, and sometimes they use it on site. Others charge the regular per-ton rate. Some prefer not to take large amounts.

Residential convenience centers. Many small drop-off sites don't take concrete at all, or only a few buckets at a time, because of its weight.

Free reuse. Broken concrete is sometimes wanted for retaining walls, garden paths or erosion control. Local classifieds and neighborhood groups can find a taker, especially for flat, even pieces.

Clean vs. mixed loads

"Clean" usually means concrete, brick, block or stone only. What typically spoils a clean load:

Dirt, sod or large amounts of soil stuck to the pieces
Wood, trash, plastic or metal (other than rebar, which some sites accept)
Asphalt mixed in (some recyclers take asphalt separately)
Painted or sealed surfaces (rules vary)

Rebar and wire mesh are a common question. Some crushers accept reinforced concrete and pull the steel out magnetically; others charge extra or refuse pieces with long rebar sticking out. Cut protruding rebar flush if you can.

How heavy is broken concrete?

Solid concrete weighs roughly two tons per cubic yard. Once it's broken up and loosely piled, air gaps bring that down, but loose rubble still commonly runs somewhere around 1,800 to 2,800 pounds per cubic yard. That's why:

A single cubic yard of rubble can equal or exceed the payload of a half-ton pickup.
Many trailers hit their weight rating with only a shallow layer of concrete.
Dumpster companies often require concrete to go in special small "heavy debris" containers.

Use our dump cost calculator to estimate the weight of your load before you go.

Why prices vary

Sites price rubble very differently. A recycler that sells crushed product may be cheap or free for clean loads. A landfill that has to spend space on it may charge the full rate. Distance to the nearest crusher, minimum charges and resident versus non-resident rates all play a part too.

Loading tips

Break slabs into pieces you can lift safely. Wear eye protection, gloves and steel-toe boots.
Spread the load evenly over the axle, not all at the tailgate.
Tarp and secure the load. Chunks falling onto the road are dangerous and can bring fines.
Call ahead to ask whether the site takes concrete from the public and whether rebar is OK.

Show landfills and transfer stations on the map. Clearing dirt as well? See the dirt and sod guide.

Find a place near you

Open the map with landfills / dumps + transfer stations switched on, or only show listings that mention concrete / rubble (fewer results, because most listings don't list materials). You can also estimate weight and cost with the dump cost calculator.