How to Dispose of Dirt
The Complete Dirt Disposal Guide
Whether you’re breaking ground on new construction or redoing your flower beds, you may be wondering how to remove dirt from your yard in an efficient, cost-effective way. We’ve broken down the most common dirt disposal options so you can find the best way to get rid of soil for your specific needs.
Dirt Disposal Options
1. Rent a Roll Off Dumpster
This is a simple way to dispose of dirt from any landscaping or construction project. To rent a dirt dumpster, simply call and schedule a delivery time that’s convenient for you. Once your container arrives, you can load up the leftover dirt at your own pace and we’ll haul it away when you’re finished. This option is ideal for quickly removing dirt from your yard.
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Ready to Rent a Dumpster?
2. Post a Listing Online
Posting an online listing is a good way to get rid of dirt for free. Many contractors and DIYers browse sites like Craigslist, Freecycle and Facebook for dirt and soil to use in their projects. You could list your soil as available for free pickup or offer to deliver the soil yourself, if you really need to get it off your hands.
You can also browse dirt-specific classified sites, including FreeDirt.com, Clean-Fill-Wanted.com and DirtFill.com. These sites will match you with local wanted ads for soil and fill dirt, usually for a fee.
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Important:
Before selling or getting rid of dirt online, check your local laws on mining permits.
Some states do not allow you to sell or give away dirt for use on another property unless you have obtained a mining permit. Mining permits can cost between $200-300, but this can vary depending on your area. Check with your local government to ensure that you’re complying with city regulations.
3. Leave a ‘Free’ Sign Out
If you’re looking for a free dirt disposal option, you can always leave a ‘Free Dirt’ sign out on your lawn to attract potential takers.
Make sure the dirt is easily accessible in case an interested passerby wants to haul it away when you’re not home. If it isn’t nearby, write a contact number on the bottom of the sign so they can get in touch with you. Also, if you’re a part of a homeowner’s association, check to see if you’re allowed to leave your materials sitting out in the open before doing so.
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4. Hire a Junk Removal Company
Some junk removal companies can provide soil removal services.
The company will schedule a delivery window and send out two professionals who will determine the hauling price upon arrival. Then, they will load up your dirt and haul it away for you. Typically, junk removal services use trucks with 2-ton weight limits, meaning they can carry up to 4,000 pounds. Because of this, this option is usually better for getting rid of small amounts of soil.
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5. Dump It Yourself
Finally, you can always dispose of dirt at the landfill yourself. Most landfills will accept inert waste like soil for a set per-ton cost.
Search online to find a local landfill or transfer station that accepts dirt and is open to the public. Dumping debris on your own works for some projects, but larger amounts of dirt may call for a bigger disposal solution.
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How Much Does Dirt Removal Cost?
The cost to remove dirt is based on a few factors, including the weight of the soil. Unlike concrete and asphalt, the weight of dirt can vary greatly based on its moisture content. For instance, 2 cubic yards of dry soil weighs almost 2 tons. But if wet, the same amount of soil can weigh around 3 tons.
This variability can drastically impact the cost of dirt disposal, so keep that in mind when choosing the right disposal solution for your project.
Costs of Various Dirt Disposal Options
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Because the weight of soil can vary so greatly, budgeting can be tricky, especially when using a smaller dirt disposal option like a junk removal service.
Junk removal trucks are typically limited to a 2-ton load, which costs around $600. If your materials end up weighing more than this, they’ll have to schedule a second pickup, which can end up doubling your costs to $1,200.
In contrast, the average cost of a 10 yard roll off dumpster is $394, which can include up to a 10 ton weight limit depending on where you live. Because it can be hard to estimate the weight of dirt on large projects, it’s typically more cost-efficient to rent a dirt dumpster or haul and dump the materials yourself.
Dirt Recycling Options
If you’re interested in recycling some or all of your leftover dirt, here are a few ways to put soil to good use.
1. Store It for Reuse
You can keep leftover soil for use in future backyard projects with a few sturdy soil storage bins. Be sure to use waterproof bins and keep them out of the elements and direct sunlight. Some backyard projects you can reuse soil in include:
- Creating a raised garden bed.
- Redoing an existing flower bed.
- Building a DIY fire pit.
- Constructing a backyard play area.
2. Take It to a Landscape Supplier
If you have a truck and some time on your hands, you can recycle dirt by taking it to a landscape supplier. Some local home and garden centers will accept dirt and soil for a small fee. From there, they can mix the dirt into compost to bed their own plants or, if the soil is high-quality, sell it on their own shelves.
3. Find a C&D Recycler
Some recycling companies can accept dirt as construction and demolition, or C&D, waste. To find a C&D recycler near you, check out the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association’s facility locator.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dirt Disposal
Where can I dump dirt?
Dirt can be dumped safely at the following locations:
- A nearby landfill or transfer station.
- C&D recycling centers.
- Clean fill dump sites.
- Landscape or building suppliers that accept dirt.
Dirt should not be dumped on:
- Public property, including parks and wildlife preserves.
- Private property, other than your own.
Remember, you should not dump, sell or give away dirt without obtaining the necessary mining permits required in your area.
How much does dirt weigh?
The weight of dirt can vary greatly based on its moisture content. For instance, 2 cubic yards of dry soil weighs almost 2 tons. But if wet, the same amount of soil can weigh around 3 tons. This variability can drastically impact the cost of dirt disposal, so keep that in mind when choosing the right disposal solution for your project.
What is contaminated soil?
Contaminated soil is dirt that has come into contact with or been mixed with hazardous, flammable or toxic materials, including oil, fuel, chemicals or heavy metals like lead or arsenic. Dirt most commonly becomes contaminated by coming into contact with paint or wood preservatives from older structures that has leeched into the ground due to rainfall.
If you suspect that your soil is contaminated, you can have it evaluated by a qualified soil engineer.
How can I get rid of contaminated soil?
Dirt mixed with rocks, leaves and other inert or biodegradable waste is not Contaminated soil is tricky to get rid of because so few places can properly treat and dispose of it. Dirt that is contaminated can be remediated and reused or disposed of at an approved soil treatment center. Search online to find a soil recycling center near you that is equipped to handle your materials.
Can I dispose of soil that is mixed with other materials?
Dirt mixed with rocks, leaves and other inert or biodegradable waste is not considered contaminated. It can typically be thrown into a roll off dumpster, but call ahead if you’re uncertain about your debris or area restrictions. Note that dumpster services cannot dispose of contaminated dirt, or soil that has been mixed with any other prohibited materials. Make sure your dirt is clear of these materials before throwing it away in a dumpster.
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How To Dispose Of Dirt in Dallas-Fort Worth
After adding some fun new flower beds or digging out troughs for a new project, you’ll likely find yourself staring at a tall pile of the thing you forgot all about: dirt. Residential growth in Dallas-Fort Worth is booming and with new homes comes more landscaping and construction. Most landscaping endeavors or construction projects end up leaving you with more excess dirt than you know what to do with. Even so, it’s easy to forget about in the planning process of everything else. How to dispose of dirt, then? It’s easier than you might think. Here are five of the best ways to dispose of dirt you don’t need.
Image source: Dallas Business Journal
1. Rent a roll-off dumpster
This dirt-disposal option is at the top of the list for its cost-efficiency, ease, and practicality. You’ll get a flat-rate price for your dumpster rental, making budgeting that much easier. You’ll also have a set pick-up time that you can control based on the needs of your project.
Loading the dirt is your responsibility, but with a dumpster rental, you can load at your own pace and customize how quickly you work. Once your dumpster is loaded and your pick-up date arrives, you’re all set. We’ll load up the dumpster and dispose of your dirt as is, with no extra hassle for you.
Dumpster rentals are also an excellent option for construction projects with plentiful dirt leftover, and any other project that leaves you with loads of dirt. Since dumpsters have a high holding capacity, they can fit most large dirt loads. Weight limitations are good to keep in mind, as going over the pre-set weight of your dumpster rental for dirt can result in extra charges.
Click here for more information on dumpster rentals in Dallas and Fort Worth
2. Hire a junk removal company
Junk removal companies take on both the loading and hauling aspects of dirt removal. They often have large trucks capable of holding moderate amounts of dirt, which may be perfect for smaller landscaping or construction projects. And since they load the dirt for you, you can continue with your project unhindered or take a break inside.
Junk removal companies also offer the benefit of scheduled removal, as you can schedule a precise time for loading and removing your dirt. Pricing does vary by job, unlike the flat-rate pricing of dumpster rentals. The company you use will assess the load and give you a price based on weight and the number of loads needed. This may become pricey if you have a lot of dirt or heavier wet soil.
3. Take dirt to a landfill
You’re always able to bring excess dirt to the landfill yourself. Most landfills charge a very reasonable per-ton rate.
But for this dirt disposal option, you’ll need more than just a shovel. To get your extra dirt to the landfill, you’ll need a pickup truck, plenty of gas, and some spare time to make trips to the landfill.
Depending on the amount of dirt you’re looking to remove, this option could quickly become impractical. But for small projects, running the dirt to the landfill yourself is a cheap way to dispose of excess dirt. Doing it yourself also allows you to work at your own pace without worrying about sticking to any schedule but your own. (Click here to see how to reduce household waste in Fort Worth)
For Dallas residents, you can drop off your dirt at McCommas Bluff Landfill
Fort Worth residents can go to one of three drop-off locations.
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Advertise dirt online
There are plenty of DIYers, landscapers, and contractors looking for good dirt. Sites like eBay or Craigslist are great for posting about free or cheap dirt and other dirt-specific sites that may exist in your area. Here’s a Dallas group on Reddit that posted a bunch of good tips for free dirt in Garland and the city of Mesquite.
Before posting your listing, be sure to check with local regulations and your homeowner’s association, if applicable. Some cities will require a mining permit for you to sell or give dirt to be used elsewhere.
Figuring out how to dispose of dirt in this manner can be a bit tricky, as buyers may want you to deliver the dirt to them. If you’re willing to haul it, you might get a decent price for quality dirt. Otherwise, buyers can come to you and load the dirt themselves. Check out https://www.filldirt.org/fort-worth-tx/
This option is best for small amounts of soil and for homeowners, as leaving dirt on public property isn’t allowed.
Construction projects should avoid this method to keep from breaking any city laws or regulations.
5. Bring dirt to a construction or landscape company
If your dirt isn’t contaminated, local construction or landscaping companies may be interested in taking it off your hands. This is a great way to recycle dirt and let someone else use it to its best ability. For this option, you will have to load and haul the dirt yourself.
Smaller amounts of dirt are then best, as you could otherwise spend a day or two bringing truckloads. These companies also require any dirt they take in to be clean and free of any contaminants, which could be an issue if you’re digging by underground fuel or septic tanks. Anything poured onto your soil could also contaminate it. But for small loads with a clean bill of health, this is a great way to dispose of unneeded dirt.
How to remove old lawn or sod before planting a new lawn.
One of the most common means of relaxation is arranging a lawn in front of a country house, dacha, and just in front of a private house.
The green color of the lawn, the children having fun on it, the fluttering of butterflies have a beneficial effect on the state of mind of a person. But now the time has come, the grass has grown, the lawn has grown bald, weeds are coming from all sides, it is necessary to renew the lawn.
For large areas, you can, of course, start up a bulldozer or a cultivator and be done with it, but this method is completely unsuitable for a home lawn. You can clean up an old lawn with a digging tool such as a shovel, or with herbicides. Rolled lawn in which grass roots have not penetrated too deeply is much easier to clean mechanically, although seeded lawn requires less care during growth. With the help of a shovel, and even if you call a few assistants, things will go faster. Putting on old clothes and gloves, sharpening a shovel well, getting ready for the appearance of abundant dust, a lot of debris and dirt, you can start this difficult, but very cheap operation. Of course, you need to prepare garbage bags so as not to contaminate the area being cleaned.
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Carefully cut strips of old turf about 10-15 centimeters deep and pry it off with a sharp shovel. It is good if this work is carried out together — one holds and directs the shovel, the other, with the help of a rope tied at the very bottom of its handle, pulls strongly towards itself. The old turf in this case is rolled up and can be put into a bag, so that later it can be disposed of in a landfill. If the turf is not contaminated with industrial waste, it can be taken to the nearest forest. Of course, this sod can also be composted if you have room for a compost heap. The composting process is accelerated if special biological preparations are used, such as EM-1, Baikal, Emochka. To improve the work of preparations, the surface of the compost heap should be covered with a black film or mulching material. The film is placed to protect soil microbes that do not like bright sunlight. In the same way, you can process the turf on the site without removing it, but only turning it upside down.
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This is the most environmentally friendly way to prepare the site for a new lawn, as it does not harm the soil with all sorts of herbicides. Biological preparations include soil microorganisms that are already in the soil, but the use of such preparations accelerates the natural process of decomposition of organic residues. When using biological products, in many cases, treatment of the site with herbicides is not required. The use of a cultivator facilitates the work, it is only necessary to level the lumps that form during the operation of the cultivator, and then treat the soil with biological preparations, as described above. nine0003
After treatment with biological preparations, wait at least a week so that the newly sown seeds do not decompose. After cleaning the old turf, it is required to add new black soil, trying to level the surface of the new lawn to the level of the old one. If a new lawn grass is laid in this place, then care must be taken that the weed seeds that have previously dormant in the soil layer do not start growing. Some seeds are able to lie for several decades before germinating. Herbicides are used to control weeds. Herbicides of continuous action destroy all vegetation on the site. Nothing will grow after them, so new plantings are done only after these substances in the soil do not decompose into harmless components. To combat certain types of weeds, selective herbicides are used, which, for example, destroy only monocot plants (cereals) without harming other cultural plantings. nine0003
Herbicides of systemic or continuous action affect not only the stems and leaves, but also the root system of the plant, which leads to their death. Such herbicides are mainly used against perennials. Contact herbicides are good against annuals. Getting on their stem and leaves, such a herbicide destroys the plant. The entire area should be treated with herbicides. Uncultivated areas will serve as depots for new seeds, pests and weeds. After treatment of the lawn, it is covered with a transparent polyethylene film or, better, non-woven covering material, under which, in hot weather, the processes of destruction of seeds and plant spores will develop faster. Of course, work with herbicides should be carried out in the absence of children, pets and use all personal safety measures, protecting the eyes, respiratory organs and skin from getting drugs. nine0003
Treasure hunters | New university life
We were unlucky with the weather. As soon as we left the university in the direction of the Udachny microdistrict, where archaeological excavations are being carried out on the territory of the Holy Dormition Monastery, it began to rain. What kind of open-air work is there… But, perhaps, the clouds have bypassed the object of our interest? When we arrived at the gates of the male monastery, the students (future historians) had already left the temporary shelter and stubbornly continued to dig. The guys deftly wielded shovels, as archaeologists say, dismantled the cleaned cultural layer in thin sections in search of artifacts. nine0003
Archaeological work on the territory of the left bank of the Yenisei from Sobakinaya Rechka to Akademgorodok (an area where more than 30 archaeological sites are known — ancient sites, settlements, burials, caves, united by scientists into the Monastic complex of archaeological monuments) began in the second half of the 19th century.
In our time, scientific research intensified here in the second half of the 80s. Two years ago, under the guidance of the head of the laboratory of archeology, ethnography and the history of Siberia, associate professor of the department of general history of SibFU, candidate of historical sciences Pavel MANDRYKA, students for reconnaissance purposes laid pits on the territory of the entire monastery complex, including end of the 19th century. Reconnaissance was carried out and the boundaries of the Zapadnaya, 5 parking lot (V-II millennium BC) were marked. nine0003
Currently, construction work is in full swing on the territory of the monastery, and against this background, researchers of antiquities successfully fit into the context. Taking advantage of the moment, the staff of the Laboratory of Archeology, Ethnography and History of Siberia of the Siberian Federal University received an «open leaf» and organized a research archaeological expedition. It is necessary to have time to finish the work before the end of September, because according to the decision of the regional authorities, it is planned to build a cultural and historical center on this site already in 2015. nine0003
The heavenly office is a little let down today. The rain turned into gusty winds. On the way to the excavation, dirt sticks to the soles, but at the bottom of the pit the guys are already at the level of the sandy layer, and the sand is still not clay …
— Is it hard to dig?
— It’s hard! — admits Anton UVAROV, a sophomore of the history department of the GI SFU. — A lot of garbage, roots come across. Sometimes we run into old foundations. Urban archeology is generally very complex.
— Are the locals interested in your work? nine0022
— Of course! And sometimes they ask stupid questions.
— For example?
— Are you looking for Kolchak’s treasure here? We explain that we are conducting archaeological excavations, and for them this is a novelty. I remember I was digging a hole right on the road, and nearby there was a construction site. The head from there came up with a claim, but when he realized that we would then mothball everything, level it, he calmed down.
— The heaviest is the top layer, where both rubble and bricks come across. We have to work with crowbars, — confirms another sophomore Pavel VLADIMIROV. — After we remove the upper layer of debris, digging and turf, the cultural layer begins. It is important to dig carefully here. And then, as a rule, there is nothing in the sand, but we still make a “control bayonet”, as it should be according to the methodology. We clean the walls of the excavation, take pictures. nine0003
“Until recently, where we are now, there was a residential building built in the 1950s, and even earlier — a monastery stable, a smithy,” Yulia TITOVA, an employee of the laboratory of archeology, history and ethnography of Siberia, introduces us. — The cultural layer was greatly disturbed. I had to sort out a huge mountain of «modern» garbage … Therefore, materials from different eras were found in the soil horizons.
Yulia puts a box on the table in the open air and begins to extract artifacts from there. Each find is signed, numbered, sealed in a separate bag. nine0003
— Most often we find fragments of ceramic vessels from the Neolithic period — ceramics of the Ust-Belsk archaeological type.
— How did you determine?
— According to a specific ornament. See the indented comb patterns? How are they made with a stamp — wood or bone? It’s hard to say… But there is no doubt that this is hand molding.
— If I accidentally found such shards somewhere, it would never occur to me that I am holding a huge value in my hands… And what are those holes? nine0055
— These are not holes, but an ornament in the form of a belt of pits. Non-through impressions could serve both for decoration and for repairing the vessel. If the pot, for example, broke or cracked, then through holes were made in these depressions and pulled together so as not to be thrown away, but used for food storage, for example. By the presence of soot, one can understand that food was cooked in a pot.
— Yes, you can’t deny our ancestors artistic taste and ingenuity…
— From the very beginning, as soon as pottery appeared, pots were not just molded, but decorated with intricate ornaments. In the excavated areas of the monument, we also found stone arrowheads, stone scrapers, knife-like plates and retouched knife inserts, and dug up a bronze block. There should be a bronze foundry here, and this is a valuable find for Krasnoyarsk. And here is a stone puncture with a point. It is covered with retouching, thin chips. With the help of this device (the prototype of our needle), clothes were sewn at that time. nine0003
Julia continues to spread the treasures of antiquity.
— This is a polished stone hatchet, so it can be characterized by the cross section and the nature of the working edge …
— Something does not look like a hatchet — it’s very small, — I doubt it.
— After all, they are miniature, but our find was used not as a chopping tool, but as a wedge — for example, they split wood with it, hitting the end of the polished product from above. And a lot of coins were found here, for example, the Nikolaev silver ruble 1897 years…
— Looks like a Soviet commemorative one, with a bas-relief of Lenin…
— You won’t find coins of this diameter in circulation anymore. We also have a copy dated 1916, and with a hole in the middle, it was used as a decoration. We found in the excavation both coins of 1931, and even modern Kazakh 10 tenge … Do you want me to show you the most interesting section on the monument?
We are heading towards where a small patch of forest has been preserved. Julia warns me not to stumble over the wires that indicate the boundaries of the excavation, and continues:
— Udachny is a unique neighborhood! The entire left-bank section of the Yenisei valley is one continuous archeological monument of different times. Now there is a terrace of 10-12 meters, and in the past there was a series of small islands, and we are digging just the period when people lived for some time on these islands, blown by all the winds (but there were less midges), fished, hunted.
In mid-May, when we were working to determine the boundaries of this monument, archaeological pits were made throughout the area of the monastery. We made small autopsies — two by two meters. Where there is a cultural layer, the excavation boundary passes there. nine0003
— I wonder how you worked in a village full of townhouses?
— That’s the whole difficulty. My colleague said: “We are moving along the map, determining the boundaries of the distribution of the monument, and on the way there is a huge cottage — a gardener, a governess and everything else. We ask: can you lay a pit here? — this is on a lawn that costs several tens of thousands! And to lay a pit is to remove the sod, to throw the earth out. Who allowed and who refused. On the one hand, the house is located on the territory of an archeological monument, and we have every right to work here, and on the other hand, it is private property, and what can you say against the security guard? . .». nine0003
While talking, we came to a mothballed archaeological pit.
— Its depth is two meters 30 centimeters, — Yulia explains. — The finds belong to the layer of brown sandy loam and lie under the turf. In order to make sure that there are no other cultural layers here, we went two meters deep and came out on a pebble. We realized that this is the ancient channel of the Yenisei.
It was impossible to pass by another excavation, at the bottom of which, ignoring the holey sky, two female students were carefully sorting out an ancient heap of rubbish. What a gift for an archaeologist! They worked with brushes, carefully. nine0003
— Unfortunately, there is a water pipe in this place, so a significant part of the cultural layer was simply destroyed by modern man, and we will never know what was here. Not far away, a hearth was found, lined with stones in a circle; a bunch of small bones … After we clean the finds, photograph them, describe them, send them to the laboratory. There the material is washed, encrypted, described, sketched and photographed, each find is recorded in the inventory.
VERSIONS AND FACTS
According to archival data, in 1921 the monastery church was closed, and the monks were evicted to the street. Their fate is unknown, although there is a version that the monks were shot and buried in a common grave on the territory that falls into the excavation.
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On the territory of the monastery, one can still find some species of trees rare for Siberia — oak, ash, linden… These are the remains of a park planted by monks in the last century. When the students, clearing the area for the future excavation, stumbled upon a small oak tree, they carefully dug it out, took it with them and planted a tree next to the main building of the university. nine0003
— Do excavations interfere with the educational process?
— The teachers are understanding, but the guys, of course, have to catch up. We allow them to come to the excavations at a convenient time, not on a full-time basis, but, say, after class.
In August cadets of the Military Engineering Institute helped us. Now, on average, about 20 people go to work every day. The university provides lunches, hot tea. Moreover, the locals feed us, treat us with tomatoes, ranetki, pears…
While we were talking, a walkie-talkie started working a few steps away from us. It was Liliya PUPAEVA, a laboratory employee, who received a message about another find (a fragment of ceramics) and, using a tacheometer, recorded information about the artifact — its location, depth, etc. They say that the tacheometer has only recently replaced graph paper for archaeologists to record finds…
— The field stage is only the beginning. The most difficult thing is to reduce all this into a scientific report, to analyze the material, says Yulia Titova in parting. — It will take two or three months. Lots of work, you see. For example, these small fragments of ceramics will need to be assembled, glued into whole pots, like a three-dimensional puzzle, if possible.