Introduction
Every debris type behaves differently in a truck, at the scale, and at the tipping face — concrete is a weight problem, branches are a volume problem, and paint is a legal problem. Knowing which category your debris falls into decides the density for your weight estimate, the disposal channel, the tipping fee you’ll pay, and whether the load is even legal to mix. This guide covers the six debris families you’ll actually encounter, and what each one means for your haul.
Estimate your load first in the Haul Away Calculator — select the debris type closest to your material and it applies the right planning density. The density math behind those selections is derived in the formula guide; the estimating technique is in the estimating guide.
Construction & Demolition (C&D) Waste
Drywall, lumber, flooring, roofing shingles, siding, insulation, and mixed remodel debris. The default category for renovation work — medium density, often sharp, almost always mixed.
- Density: ~0.5 tons/yd³ (~0.65 tonnes/m³) mixed and loose. Shingles run heavier (~0.6–0.7); clean lumber lighter.
- Weight vs volume: usually volume-limited in trucks, but shingle tear-offs and tile can surprise you — a 20-square shingle tear-off (one roofing square ≈ 3 bundles ≈ 225–325 lb) easily totals 2.5–3.5 tons.
- Disposal: C&D landfills or transfer stations at standard tipping rates ($40–$80/ton typical). Watch for nails — magnet-sweep the work area, and warn the dump if the load has protruding fasteners.
- Savings move: pull clean lumber for reuse/donation and metals for scrap before the mixed load. See pro tips.
Concrete, Brick, Block & Masonry
Broken slabs, pavers, brick, block, tile, and mortar. The heavyweight category — small volumes, big tons, and the material most likely to overload a vehicle that looks half-empty.
- Density: ~1.0 ton/yd³ (~1.31 tonnes/m³). A pickup bed of broken concrete (~2 yd³) weighs ~2 tons (4,000 lb) — double a typical half-ton pickup’s payload.
- Weight vs volume: always weight-limited. Plan loads by tons first, cubic yards second. A tandem dump trailer with 7,000-lb payload carries ~3.5 yd³ of concrete — not 7.
- Disposal: frequently accepted as clean fill at reduced tipping rates (often half the mixed rate) if uncontaminated — no rebar-heavy chunks (some facilities accept rebar, some don’t), no painted or treated material mixed in. Concrete recyclers crush it into aggregate and sometimes take it free.
- Savings move: never mix concrete into a general load. One sorted concrete trip at clean-fill rates beats paying full mixed rates on the same tons. Details in the cost guide.
Yard Waste
Branches, stumps, brush, leaves, grass, and sod. Bulky, airy, and seasonal — the volume problem child.
- Density: ~0.35 tons/yd³ (~0.46 tonnes/m³) loose; chips compact much denser. Stumps and root balls run heavier.
- Weight vs volume: almost always volume-limited — you’ll run out of trailer before you run out of payload. Utilization is the key variable: loose branches pack at 60–70%.
- Disposal: municipal compost/yard-waste facilities often charge less than mixed disposal, and many cities offer free curbside collection days or seasonal drop-offs. Stumps may carry a surcharge (they jam grinders).
- Savings move: chip branches on-site if you have access to a chipper — chips pack at 85–90% utilization vs 60–70% loose, roughly halving trip count. Grass and leaves compost free in many municipalities.
Household Junk
Furniture, mattresses, boxes, clothing, toys, general clutter — the estate-cleanout and garage category. Light, bulky, and mostly air.
- Density: ~0.3 tons/yd³ (~0.39 tonnes/m³) loose. Mattresses and upholstered furniture are nearly all volume.
- Weight vs volume: volume-limited in almost every vehicle. Weight checks matter only for appliances and dense items mixed in.
- Disposal: standard transfer-station or landfill rates; mattresses often carry a per-unit surcharge ($10–$30 each typical) because they’re hard to compact. Donate or sell usable furniture first — every usable piece is volume you don’t pay to tip.
- Savings move: disassemble and flatten aggressively. An intact bookshelf is 8 ft³ of air around 1 ft³ of wood; broken down it stacks flat. See the loading tips.
E-Waste & Appliances
TVs, computers, printers, small electronics, and major appliances. Regulated in many states — not ordinary trash.
- Density: variable; estimate by item weight rather than volume. A refrigerator runs 150–250 lb (68–113 kg); a CRT TV 50–100 lb.
- Disposal: e-waste is banned from landfills in many US states — use dedicated e-waste recyclers, municipal collection events, or retailer take-back programs (often free). Appliances with refrigerants (fridges, freezers, AC units, dehumidifiers) require certified refrigerant recovery before disposal; dumps typically charge a handling fee ($10–$40) or require proof of recovery.
- Savings move: scrap yards pay for appliance steel and copper — a dead washer/dryer set can net $10–$30 in scrap instead of costing a tipping fee. Pull them from the mixed load.
Hazardous Materials
Paints, solvents, pesticides, automotive fluids, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, propane tanks, and anything labeled flammable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic. Never in the mixed load.
- Disposal: household hazardous waste (HHW) programs — county drop-off days or permanent facilities, usually free for residents. Latex paint can often be dried out and landfilled as solid waste in some jurisdictions (check locally); oil-based paint cannot.
- Why it matters: a single paint can in a mixed load can trigger a refused load or contamination surcharge at the scale house; hazardous material in a landfill cell is an environmental violation. The regulatory picture is in the code-compliance guide.
- Savings move: sorting HHW out is free at the drop-off and prevents the most expensive surprise in haul-away — a rejected trailer.
Quick-Reference Density & Disposal Table
| Debris type | tons/yd³ | tonnes/m³ | Limiting factor | Cheapest channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household junk | ~0.30 | ~0.39 | Volume | Donate/sell usable; transfer station |
| Yard waste | ~0.35 | ~0.46 | Volume | Municipal compost / free days |
| C&D mixed | ~0.50 | ~0.65 | Usually volume | C&D landfill / transfer station |
| Concrete / brick | ~1.00 | ~1.31 | Weight | Clean-fill rate / concrete recycler |
| Soil / dirt | ~1.35 | ~1.77 | Weight | Clean-fill rate |
| E-waste | by item | by item | Regulation | E-waste recycler / take-back |
| Hazardous | by item | by item | Regulation | HHW drop-off (often free) |
Related Guides
- Complete Haul-Away Guide — the full estimating workflow.
- Estimating Guide — measuring and the density cheat sheet in the field.
- Formula Explained — the weight math step by step.
- Cost Guide — tipping fees and surcharges by material.
- Code Compliance — regulated materials and where each goes.
- Common Mistakes — the sorting and mixing errors to avoid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What debris type is heaviest per cubic yard?
Soil at ~1.35 tons/yd³, then concrete/brick at ~1.0. Household junk is lightest at ~0.3 — the same trailer volume can weigh 4× more or less depending on material.
Can I mix concrete with regular junk in one load?
You can, but you’ll pay for it: the whole load tips at the mixed rate instead of concrete’s cheaper clean-fill rate, and the weight may force an extra trip. Sort heavy inert debris separately.
Where do I take old paint and chemicals?
Household hazardous waste programs — county drop-off days or permanent facilities, usually free for residents. Never in the mixed dump load.
Are mattresses charged extra at the dump?
Often yes — $10–$30 per unit surcharges are common because mattresses resist compaction. Some recyclers dismantle them; donation is free if they’re usable.
Can I sell any of my debris?
Scrap metal (steel, copper, aluminum, appliances) — yes, scrap yards pay by weight. Clean lumber and fixtures can sell or donate. Everything else is a disposal cost, minimized by sorting.
Get Your Number
Identify your debris family, apply its density, and choose its cheapest legal channel — that’s the material guide in one sentence. Run the Haul Away Calculator with your debris type selected, sort the load into streams before you pack it, and price each stream against its own disposal rate. The mixed load is always the expensive load.
Disclaimer: Calculator results are planning estimates based on the dimensions and debris type you enter. Densities are typical planning values; disposal rules and fees vary by facility and jurisdiction. Verify with your local hauler/dump and consult your local authority for regulated materials.
