Where to Dump Dirt, Sod and Fill

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

Show landfills / dumps + transfer stations on the map

Digging a pond, leveling a yard, putting in a patio or pulling up an old lawn can leave you with far more dirt and sod than you expected. Soil is extremely heavy, and a lot of landfills would rather not use expensive space on it. Here's how to get rid of it without overloading your truck or your wallet.

Try giving it away first

Clean fill dirt is often useful to someone. Landscapers, builders and neighbors filling low spots sometimes take it for free, and some will even pick it up. "Free clean fill" listings on local marketplaces and neighborhood groups are common. To make it attractive:

Keep it clean, with no trash, concrete, roots or large rocks mixed in (unless the taker wants rock).
Keep topsoil separate from clay or subsoil; topsoil is easier to give away.

Disposal options

Landscape supply yards and soil recyclers. Some accept clean soil, sod or rock for screening and resale, sometimes for a small fee.

Clean fill sites. Some areas have permitted fill sites that accept clean soil and sometimes concrete. Rules on what counts as "clean" can be strict.

Construction and demolition (C&D) landfills and transfer stations. Many take soil and sod, often by weight.

Municipal landfills. Some accept soil for use as cover material, sometimes at a reduced rate. Others charge the full rate or limit how much you can bring.

Compost sites. A few accept sod along with yard waste. Many don't, because soil is heavy and doesn't compost.

When soil isn't "clean"

Soil that may be contaminated — near old fuel tanks, industrial sites, or soaked with oil, chemicals or treated wood — shouldn't be given away or brought to a clean-fill site. It may need testing and a special disposal route. When in doubt, ask your local environmental agency.

Watch the weight

Dirt is one of the heaviest things you can haul. Loose soil commonly weighs about 1,900 to 2,900 pounds per cubic yard, more when wet. Sod runs roughly 1,500 to 2,500 pounds per cubic yard. That means:

A half-ton pickup can reach its payload limit with less than a cubic yard of wet dirt.
Small utility trailers often reach their weight rating long before they look full.
Wet soil sticks in truck beds and trailers; spray the bed or use a tarp liner for easier unloading.

Always check your vehicle's payload rating and the trailer's GVWR plate. Use our dump cost calculator to estimate the weight of a load.

Tips

Haul dirt when it's dry if you can. It's lighter and cleaner.
Tarp loads to keep dust and clods off the road.
Call ahead to ask whether the site accepts soil and sod from the public, the rate, and whether it has to be free of rocks and roots.

Show landfills and transfer stations on the map. Breaking up concrete as well? See the concrete guide.

Find a place near you

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