How to Dispose of Concrete, Brick & Masonry
Broken concrete, old brick, and masonry rubble are some of the heaviest material a homeowner or contractor deals with — and weight, not volume, is usually what drives cost here.
1. Sell It
Clean, unbroken brick and paver stone occasionally has resale value to landscapers or other homeowners doing a matching project — clean broken concrete rarely does, though some aggregate operations will take it at little or no cost specifically because they can crush and resell it as base material.
2. Donate It
Intact brick, block, and paver stone are sometimes accepted at Habitat ReStores or by landscaping-focused donation groups, though acceptance varies a lot by location and condition. Check your nearest ReStore →
3. Recycle It
Concrete recycling is genuinely common — crushed concrete becomes aggregate base for roads, driveways, and new construction. The Construction & Demolition Recycling Association maintains a locator for concrete and masonry recyclers. Find a recycler on CDRA →
4. Dispose of It
Given how heavy concrete and masonry debris get, a dedicated container sized for the weight — not just the volume — matters here more than almost any other material. Mixing concrete into a container already loaded with lighter debris is the fastest way to blow through a weight allowance.
NorthPoint's Concrete & Dirt page covers sizing and pricing specifics for this exact material.
5. What This Actually Costs
Concrete is the material most likely to push a container over its weight allowance before it looks full — a 20-yard container can hold far more concrete by volume than its weight limit allows. If your project is concrete- or brick-heavy, ask about our dedicated concrete and dirt pricing rather than assuming a standard container rate applies.
Common Questions
Can concrete be mixed in with other construction debris?
Only in limited quantities — concrete, brick, and stone are dense enough that they're accepted alongside other debris only up to a point before a dedicated heavy-material container makes more sense. See our concrete and dirt page for the specific weight thresholds.
Does this apply to tile as well as concrete and brick?
Tile is generally treated the same way — it's a dense masonry-type material that counts toward the same weight-based limits as concrete, brick, and stone.
What if I only have a small amount of broken concrete mixed into a larger renovation?
A small amount alongside general renovation debris is usually fine in a standard container — it's large volumes of concrete specifically that call for a dedicated container priced for the weight.
Is rebar or wire mesh in the concrete a problem?
No — concrete with embedded rebar or wire mesh is accepted without needing to be removed first.
How much does a typical concrete disposal project weigh?
A driveway or patio tear-out commonly generates several tons of debris depending on thickness and square footage — enough that most concrete jobs are priced by weight rather than a flat container rate. See our concrete and dirt page for specifics.
Can I break concrete into smaller pieces myself to reduce cost?
Breaking concrete down makes it easier to load, but it doesn't reduce the weight — which is what actually drives pricing for this material, not volume.
Does stucco count as masonry for disposal purposes?
Yes, stucco debris is handled the same way as other masonry material — dense enough that weight, not volume, is the main pricing factor.
Is there a maximum piece size for concrete going into a container?
Very large slabs or boulders may need to be broken down first for safe loading — ask your location if you're dealing with unusually large pieces before your delivery date.
Related Disposal Guides
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