Construction debris removal: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What construction debris removal is

Construction debris removal clears drywall scraps, lumber, concrete, tile and other material left from a remodel or demolition. Crews load the debris and sort heavy or restricted items so they go to the proper disposal site, instead of mixing everything in one load.

Signs you need it

  • A remodel or a demolition has left drywall scraps, lumber and tile piled in the driveway or the house
  • Concrete from a patio, a slab or a foundation needs to leave the site in one or more trips
  • The contractor has finished and the site is still full of material that is not yours to haul
  • The debris includes roofing material, insulation or old flooring that needs separate handling
  • The site is near a road or a neighbor and the pile is blocking access or drawing complaints

What the pro does

  • Walk the site and identify each material type, noting heavy items, roofing, insulation and hazards
  • Separate loads by type, such as drywall, wood, metal, concrete and roofing, where the site allows
  • Load the material by hand and by machine, keeping heavy pieces balanced and secure in the truck
  • Take each load to a site that accepts that material, such as a construction and demolition facility or a recycler
  • Check each load for prohibited materials, such as paint, asbestos-containing material or chemicals, and stop if found
  • Sweep the site and leave a record of what was hauled and where each load went

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Total volume and weight of the debris, and how many trips it takes
  • Type of material, since concrete, roofing and tile are heavier than drywall and wood
  • Access to the pile, including a long driveway, a second story or a narrow side yard
  • Whether the crew must separate materials for recycling
  • Whether suspected hazardous material must be tested or removed by a specialist first
  • Whether the job includes sweeping, cleanup or moving debris from inside the home

What a written quote should spell out

  • The materials covered and any materials that are excluded or need a specialist
  • The disposal and recycling sites used, and whether the crew provides receipts for each load
  • How the volume or weight is measured and how the final amount is calculated
  • Whether separation of materials and cleanup of the site are included
  • The plan for any suspected hazardous material, including who tests or removes it

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Do you take concrete, roofing and tile, or only wood and drywall
  • Where do the loads go, and do you recycle the metal and the wood
  • What do you do if you find paint, chemicals or suspected asbestos in the pile
  • How do you measure the debris, and what changes the final amount
  • Will you sweep the site after the last load and remove loose scraps
  • Can you give me a receipt that shows each load and its disposal site

Red flags

  • A crew that takes all debris to one unknown dump with no receipts or site names
  • No plan for suspected hazardous material, and a crew that loads it anyway
  • A quote with no volume or weight basis, leaving the final amount open
  • A company that offers to dump the material in a place it should not go

What you can do yourself

You can sort lumber, metal and clean drywall into separate piles and break down large pieces to fit a truck. Call a professional for concrete, roofing, tile, insulation and any demolition debris, and for any pile where you suspect asbestos, lead paint or other hazardous material.

Licenses and permits

Construction debris hauling is commonly regulated, and hazardous material such as asbestos is commonly subject to specialist handling and disposal rules. Check with your state or local licensing agency for hauling registration and the disposal rules that apply before you hire or haul.

Construction debris removal questions

Can the crew take concrete with the rest of the debris?

Often concrete goes to a separate site, and some sites charge more for it because it is heavy. Ask the crew whether they take it and where it goes.

What if the pile might contain asbestos?

Stop and do not disturb it. Have the material tested by a qualified person first, and ask the hauling company whether it handles that material before you agree to the job.

Do I need to sort the debris before the crew arrives?

It saves time and can lower the cost of disposal. Keep metal, wood and clean drywall in separate piles, and keep paint and chemicals out of the pile entirely.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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