The math nobody explains up front
One cubic yard of broken concrete weighs about 4,000 pounds. One cubic yard of dirt or sod weighs about 2,000 pounds. A 20 yard container has a 2 ton allowance. That means roughly one cubic yard of concrete fills your entire weight allowance while taking up five percent of the space.
This is why heavy material is a different rental than everything else. You are not buying volume, you are buying tonnage. The right approach is a small container, a clean single-material load, and an honest count of how much you actually have.
Recommended container
We recommend the 10 yard for all heavy material. Low 3.5 foot walls mean you can lift chunks over the side instead of walking them up a ramp, which matters a lot when each piece weighs 40 pounds and there are hundreds of them.
Estimating your load
| Project | Rough volume | Rough weight |
|---|---|---|
| A 10 x 10 patio slab, 4 inches thick | 1.2 cubic yards | About 2.5 tons |
| A 3 foot wide sidewalk, 40 feet long | 1.5 cubic yards | About 3 tons |
| A two car driveway, 4 inches thick | 5.5 cubic yards | About 11 tons |
| Sod and soil from a 500 sq ft lawn | 3 cubic yards | About 3 tons |
| A small block retaining wall | 1 to 2 cubic yards | 2 to 4 tons |
Look at the driveway line. Eleven tons is not a dumpster job at residential pricing, it is a multi-container or dedicated hauling job. Call us with the dimensions and we will tell you honestly whether a roll off is the right tool or whether you want a concrete recycler with a dedicated truck instead.
Why we ask for clean loads
Clean concrete, brick, block and asphalt can go to a recycler and get crushed into aggregate. Mixed with wood, plastic, drywall or household junk, that same load has to go to the landfill at a higher rate. Keeping the load clean is cheaper for us and cheaper for you, which is why heavy material is quoted separately rather than thrown into a general container.
What we cannot take
- Contaminated soil, or any soil from a site with a known fuel or chemical release
- Concrete with rebar protruding beyond the edges of the load
- Asbestos containing material, including some older pipe and duct wrap
- Slurry, wet concrete or any liquid
- Railroad ties and treated timbers, which are handled separately
Booking a heavy load
Select concrete or dirt as your main material when you reserve, and add the dimensions of what you are removing in the placement notes. We confirm heavy material pricing with the local provider before your card is charged, so you know the number before the truck rolls.
Frequently asked questions
How much concrete can I put in a 10 yard dumpster?
About 1 ton is included, which is roughly a quarter cubic yard of solid concrete. Beyond that, overage runs $50 per ton. Most patio and sidewalk removals come in between 2 and 3 tons.
Can I mix dirt with regular trash?
No. Mixed loads have to go to the landfill instead of a recycler, which costs more. Keep heavy material in its own clean container.
Why does a big dumpster not work for concrete?
Because you hit the weight limit long before the volume limit. A 30 yard filled with concrete would be far too heavy to legally haul.
Do you take rock and decorative gravel?
Yes, as a clean heavy load. Old decorative rock from a landscape conversion is common in Reno and is handled the same way as dirt.
How do I know how much my load weighs?
Give us the dimensions of what you are removing when you book and we will estimate it for you before you commit.
Ready to book?
Ten days are included on every rental. Extensions are $10 per day. Overage is $50 per ton over the weight limit.
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