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Where to Dump Concrete, Brick, Asphalt and Dirt

Updated October 5, 2026 · sources listed below

Broken concrete, brick, block, asphalt and dirt are heavy and inert, and they recycle well when they are kept clean and separate. EPA reports that the U.S. generated 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris in 2018 and that aggregate, the crushed stone made from materials like concrete and asphalt, was the main material recovered from it.

Find one near you

Set to “Concrete”. Change it under “What are you getting rid of?”.

Within

Use your location or enter a ZIP code or town to see the closest of 12,548 public disposal sites on file.

Your location stays on your device. ZIP code locations from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

The finder above shows construction debris recyclers and C&D landfills, which are built for these materials, plus general landfills that usually take them for a fee (call to confirm). Weight is the thing that catches people out with concrete and dirt, so read the section on load weights before you fill a truck.

Construction debris sites by state

Each state page lists the sites that take construction debris, with fees and hours where operators publish them. The number is how many we list. How the list works.

Recycling yards: the usual first stop

Concrete and asphalt recyclers crush clean material into aggregate, which EPA lists among the main ways construction materials are recycled, and EPA notes that masonry can be reused as fill. Clean, separated rubble is exactly what these yards are set up to take.

Yards set their own acceptance rules, so ask before you load: whether rebar and wire mesh are allowed in concrete, how large pieces can be, whether brick, block or asphalt has to be kept apart from concrete, and whether loads with dirt, wood or trash mixed in are refused or charged at a different rate.

C&D landfills and general landfills

Where there is no recycler nearby, a construction and demolition landfill is the next stop. EPA describes C&D landfills as landfills designed for construction and demolition debris, which often contains bulky, heavy materials such as concrete, wood, metals and glass. Many general municipal landfills also take concrete and dirt, usually priced by weight, which is why the finder marks them as general sites that usually take it, with a reminder to call.

Massachusetts bans asphalt pavement, brick and concrete, along with wood and clean gypsum wallboard, from disposal, so in that state these materials have to go to recycling.

Dirt and clean fill

Clean soil and rubble can be a resource, but states decide where they may go. In Pennsylvania, for example, the Department of Environmental Protection treats brick, block and concrete from construction and demolition as municipal waste that can be used as clean fill without a permit only when it meets the state's clean fill criteria, and fill from a site that may have been affected by a spill or release has to be evaluated first. Clean fill used as cover at a disposal facility is not subject to landfill fees there.

Ask any landfill or site advertising for clean fill what it needs from you: where the material came from, whether it must be tested, and what counts as clean. Keep dirt free of trash, wood, roots, concrete chunks and debris unless the site says otherwise.

How much a load of concrete or dirt weighs

Concrete rubble and soil are among the heaviest things you can haul, and a truck can be overloaded long before the bed looks full. Los Angeles County's volume-to-weight table, using California Integrated Waste Management Board factors, lists loose scrap concrete at 1,855 pounds per cubic yard and dry soil at 2,025. A 6.5-foot pickup bed filled level with the rails holds 62.3 cubic feet, about 2.3 cubic yards, on a 2026 Ford F-150.

That level bed would carry about 4,300 pounds of broken concrete or about 4,700 pounds of dry dirt, while the maximum payload Ford lists for the best-equipped 2026 F-150 is 2,440 pounds. Even for that truck, a little over half a bed of concrete is a full load, and other F-150 configurations are rated for less. Check the payload on the label in your door jamb, split big jobs into several trips, and use our dump fee calculator to estimate weight and cost.

Loose weight per cubic yard and a level 6.5-ft pickup bed (about 2.31 cubic yards)
MaterialLb per cubic yardLevel 6.5-ft bed
Broken concrete, loose1,855about 4,280 lb
Dry soil2,025about 4,670 lb

Getting it there

A few habits keep a concrete or dirt run cheap and legal.

  • Keep concrete, asphalt, brick and dirt in separate piles if the yard prices them differently.
  • Pull out trash, wood, plastic and loose metal you can remove by hand.
  • Load to your payload, not to the top of the bed.
  • Tarp or contain dust and small pieces; some transfer stations and landfills add a fee for loads that arrive unsecured.
  • Ask about minimum charges before you plan several small trips.
  • Bring a shovel and gloves in case you have to unload by hand.

State rules and programs

Only states we have researched are listed, each with the page it comes from. A state missing from a table has not been checked yet, which is not the same as having no rule.

Secured load law

51 states

Every state and D.C. has a law against loads that fall, leak or blow off a vehicle. According to AAA, most states' fines range from $10 to $5,000, and at least 16 states list jail as a possible punishment. Each summary below comes from that state's statute; covered loads, exemptions and fines vary.

StateStatusWhat it means
AlaskaYes

Any load must be contained so it cannot drop, leak or escape, and loads of sand, gravel, dirt or rock need 6 inches of freeboard or a fastened cover. Fines run up to $300 for a first offense and up to $2,500 after three prior convictions.

Source: Alaska Stat. § 28.35.251 (Alaska Legislature), read October 5, 2026
AlabamaYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built or loaded to keep its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or escaping. Willfully letting rock, gravel, bricks or litter spill onto a road is a Class B misdemeanor under the criminal littering law.

Source: Ala. Code § 32-5-76 (Alabama Legislature), read October 5, 2026
ArkansasYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is loaded so nothing drops, sifts, leaks or escapes. Open beds hauling sand, gravel or rock on paved roads must be covered with a fastened cover; beds built on or before Sept. 30, 2001 may keep 6 inches of freeboard instead.

Source: Ark. Code § 27-35-110 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
ArizonaYes

Loads and any covering must be fastened so nothing drops, sifts, leaks or comes loose. Civil penalties run up to $250 for a first violation, $350 for a repeat within 60 months, $500 if it causes serious injury and $1,000 if it causes a death.

Source: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-1098 (Arizona Legislature), read October 5, 2026
CaliforniaYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built, covered or loaded so none of its load drops, sifts, leaks, blows, spills or otherwise escapes. Only clear water and feathers from live birds are excepted.

Source: Cal. Vehicle Code § 23114 (California Legislative Information), read October 5, 2026
ColoradoYes

Every load must be built, loaded or securely covered so nothing blows, drops, sifts, leaks or escapes. In a car or pickup it is a class A traffic infraction, or a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense if it causes bodily injury.

Source: C.R.S. § 42-4-1407 (via Colorado.Public.Law), read October 5, 2026
ConnecticutYes

Vehicles must be loaded so nothing drops, sifts or leaks in a way that is a hazard or nuisance, and every load and covering must be securely fastened. Each violation is an infraction.

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-271 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
District of ColumbiaYes

Loose debris or cargo that could be dislodged must be covered and restrained so it cannot move, unless it sits at least 6 inches below the top of the container. The civil fine is up to $500.

Source: D.C. Code § 50-2101 (D.C. Law Library), read October 5, 2026
DelawareYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built or loaded to keep its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking or escaping. Fines are $10 to $28.75 for a first offense and $28.75 to $100 for each later offense.

Source: Del. Code tit. 21, § 4371 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
FloridaYes

Loads may not drop, shift, leak or blow off. Dirt, gravel, trash or any object that could fall must be covered with a close-fitting tarp or held by a proper securing device. A violation is a noncriminal traffic infraction.

Source: Fla. Stat. § 316.520 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
GeorgiaYes

Loads must be built, loaded or covered so nothing drops, escapes or shifts into a hazard or leaves litter, and any cover must be fastened. Driving with a load that is not adequately secured is a misdemeanor under § 40-6-254.

Source: Ga. Code § 40-6-248.1 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
HawaiiYes

Loads must be covered or loaded so nothing drops, blows or spills. Loads of loose paper, rubbish, empty cartons, dirt, sand or gravel must be fully covered by a net or tarp. A first violation is fined $250 to $500.

Source: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-131 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
IowaYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built or loaded, or its load securely covered, so nothing drops, sifts, leaks or escapes and the cover stays on. The scheduled fine is $260.

Source: Iowa Code § 321.460 (Iowa Legislature), read October 5, 2026
IdahoYes

Every load must be secured so it cannot come loose or become a hazard, and any cover must be fastened. Loads of dirt, sand or gravel on paved highways must be covered unless 6 inches of freeboard is kept.

Source: Idaho Code § 49-613 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
IllinoisYes

No vehicle may be driven with a load that can drop, shift, leak or escape, and loads and covers must be securely fastened. Trucks and other second-division vehicles that let dirt, aggregate, garbage or refuse escape commit a petty offense with a fine of up to $150.

Source: 625 ILCS 5/15-109 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
IndianaYes

No vehicle may be driven if its contents are dripping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping. A violation is a Class C infraction, or a Class A infraction if it causes bodily injury.

Source: Ind. Code § 9-21-8-48 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
KansasYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built or loaded so its load cannot drop, sift, leak or escape, and every load and covering must be securely fastened so it cannot come loose or become a hazard.

Source: K.S.A. 8-1906 (Kansas Revisor of Statutes), read October 5, 2026
KentuckyYes

Vehicles must keep their contents from escaping, and a load that can shift or spill must be covered for any trip of more than one mile on a public highway. Fines run $20 to $100 per offense.

Source: Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.150 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
LouisianaYes

A load may not drop, sift, leak or escape, and every load and covering must be securely fastened. Commercial haulers of garbage, refuse or other discarded material must also cover their loads.

Source: La. R.S. 32:383 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
MassachusettsYes

Vehicles must be built or loaded so nothing drops, sifts, leaks or escapes, and loads of sand, gravel, loam, dirt, stone, rubbish or debris must be fully and adequately covered. Fines run $50 to $200.

Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 85, § 36 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
MarylandYes

A loaded vehicle may not be driven unless it is built or loaded so nothing drops, sifts, leaks or escapes, and the load and any cover are fastened securely. The owner must remove dirt or debris that falls on a highway within a reasonable time.

Source: Md. Transp. Code § 24-106 (Maryland General Assembly), read October 5, 2026
MaineYes

Loads must be fastened, secured, confined or loaded so no part can fall off, and loads of gravel, sand, crushed stone, rubbish, building debris or trash must be covered or confined. It is a traffic infraction with a $150 to $500 fine.

Source: 29-A M.R.S. § 2396 (Maine Legislature), read October 5, 2026
MichiganYes

Contents may not drop, sift, leak, blow off or escape, and an open load must be covered with a secured tarp or fastened with binders. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both.

Source: Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.720 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
MinnesotaYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built, loaded or its load securely covered so nothing drops, sifts, leaks, blows or otherwise escapes.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 169.81, subd. 5 (Minnesota Revisor of Statutes), read October 5, 2026
MissouriYes

Vehicles carrying goods or material that could be blown loose or fall off must have a protective cover or secure the load so nothing can fall. A violation is a class C misdemeanor.

Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 307.010 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
MississippiYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built or loaded so none of its load can drop, sift, leak or otherwise escape.

Source: Miss. Code § 63-5-55 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
MontanaYes

A loaded vehicle must be loaded or secured well enough to prevent littering or a dangerous obstruction. If an object such as furniture or an appliance escapes, the driver must remove it when safe and may owe the removal cost. A violation is a misdemeanor.

Source: Mont. Code § 61-8-370 (Montana Legislature), read October 5, 2026
North CarolinaYes

Vehicles must be built and loaded so nothing falls, blows, drops, sifts or leaks, with no holes or cracks it could escape through. Rock, gravel, stone or sand loads must stay 6 inches below the walls, be covered, or both, depending on vehicle weight.

Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-116(g) (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
North DakotaYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built or loaded so its contents cannot drop, sift, leak or escape, and every load and covering must be securely fastened.

Source: N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-44.1 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
NebraskaYes

Cargo must be distributed and secured so it cannot fall, with tailgates, doors and tarps fastened. Sand, gravel, small rock or refuse piled above the sides must be covered on hard-surfaced state highways. A violation is a Class IV misdemeanor.

Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,304 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
New HampshireYes

New Hampshire's unsecured-load statute is RSA 266:72. In its 2012 survey of state laws, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that New Hampshire fines are set by individual courts.

Source: U.S. GAO, GAO-13-24 (2012), Appendix IV, read October 5, 2026
New JerseyYes

A vehicle may not be loaded or driven so its contents can scatter on a street. A load of anything other than farm products that rises above the sides or tailgate must be covered with a secured tarp or other cover.

Source: N.J. Stat. § 39:4-77 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
New MexicoYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built, loaded, secured or covered so nothing drops, sifts, leaks or escapes, and the load and any cover must be securely fastened.

Source: N.M. Stat. § 66-7-407 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
NevadaYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built or loaded so its load cannot drop, sift, leak or escape, and every load and covering must be securely fastened.

Source: Nev. Rev. Stat. § 484D.850 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
New YorkYes

Open trucks and trailers hauling loose material must be covered unless nothing can fall or blow out. Loads that can shift or roll must be chained or strapped; violating that is a misdemeanor with fines up to $750 and up to 30 days in jail.

Source: N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 380-a (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
OhioYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built, loaded or covered so nothing drops, sifts, leaks or escapes. Loads of trash, refuse, rubbish, boxes or other material that can blow or bounce out must be covered. A violation is a minor misdemeanor.

Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 4513.31 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
OklahomaYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built or loaded so nothing drops, sifts, leaks, blows or escapes, and loads and covers must be securely fastened. Loads of sand, cinders or other loose material that can blow must be covered.

Source: 47 O.S. § 14-105, as quoted in 2024 HB 3946 (Oklahoma Legislature), read October 5, 2026
OregonYes

It is an offense to drive, or as owner to allow driving, a vehicle loaded so its contents can drop, sift, leak or escape. It is a Class B traffic violation, and violators can also face civil liability for damages.

Source: Or. Rev. Stat. § 818.300 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
PennsylvaniaYes

Loads must be fastened so nothing drops, sifts, leaks or comes loose, and loose garbage going to a disposal site needs a vehicle with four solid sides and a tight cover. Fines are $100 to $300, or $300 to $1,000 if it causes injury or damage.

Source: 75 Pa.C.S. § 4903 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
Rhode IslandYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built or loaded so nothing drops, sifts, leaks or escapes. The violations schedule sets a $100 fine for a leaking load.

Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-25-9 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
South CarolinaYes

Loads may not drop, sift, leak or escape. Loads of rock, gravel or stone, and garbage or waste headed to a disposal site, must stay 6 inches below the walls or be covered. Breaking those load rules is a misdemeanor with a $100 fine.

Source: S.C. Code § 56-5-4100 (South Carolina Legislature), read October 5, 2026
South DakotaYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built or loaded so its contents cannot drop, sift, leak or escape. A violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Source: S.D. Codified Laws § 32-15-18 (South Dakota Legislature), read October 5, 2026
TennesseeYes

Open-bed trucks hauling loose material must keep it at least 4 inches below the bed walls at the front, back and sides, though it may be piled higher in the center. A violation is a Class C misdemeanor charged to the hauler.

Source: Tenn. Code § 55-7-109 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
TexasYes

Vehicles hauling loose material such as dirt, sand, gravel, refuse or wood chips need a bed with no holes, side panels and a closed tailgate, and must cover the load unless it cannot blow or spill over the top. Fines run $25 to $500.

Sources: Tex. Transp. Code § 725.021 (via FindLaw); Tex. Transp. Code § 725.003 (offense; penalty), via FindLaw, read October 5, 2026
UtahYes

Driving with an unsecured load is illegal, and trash or garbage must be fully covered. Dirt, sand, gravel or scrap loads must be covered unless kept 6 inches below the sides. Minimum fines are $200, or $500 for a repeat within six years.

Source: Utah Code § 72-7-409 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
VirginiaYes

Vehicles must be built, maintained and loaded so contents cannot drop, sift, leak or escape. Trucks and trailers hauling gravel, sand, coal and similar loads must secure or cover them (pickups are exempt from that cover rule). Letting a load escape is a Class 1 misdemeanor under § 10.1-1424.

Source: Va. Code § 46.2-1156 (Virginia Law), read October 5, 2026
VermontYes

No one may drive a motor vehicle or tow a trailer unless it is built and loaded so it creates no hazard to other highway users.

Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1454 (Vermont Legislature), read October 5, 2026
WashingtonYes

Loads must be built or fastened so nothing drops, sifts or leaks, and dirt, sand or gravel loads on paved roads must be covered unless 6 inches of freeboard is kept. An unsecured load is an infraction.

Source: Rev. Code Wash. § 46.61.655 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
WisconsinYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built and loaded so its contents cannot drop, sift, leak or escape. Items carried on a trailer must be secured so the load cannot shift.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 348.10 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
West VirginiaYes

No vehicle or combination may be driven unless it is built or loaded so nothing drops, sifts, leaks or escapes, and driving with a load or cover that is not securely fastened is unlawful.

Source: W. Va. Code § 17C-17-6 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026
WyomingYes

No vehicle may be driven unless it is built or loaded so its load cannot drop, sift, leak or otherwise escape.

Source: Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-228 (via FindLaw), read October 5, 2026

Questions

Where can I dump concrete for free?

Free options are uncommon and local. Call concrete recyclers and C&D landfills near you and compare prices; clean, separated loads are the easiest for a recycler to accept. Facility pages show published fees where the operator lists them.

Can I put concrete in my trash can or bulk pickup?

Generally no. Curbside programs commonly exclude it: Chandler, Arizona’s bulk collection does not accept concrete, pavers, rock, gravel, dirt or sod, and Saint Paul, Minnesota’s bulky pickup excludes concrete and bricks. Take it to a recycler or C&D landfill.

Do landfills take dirt?

Some do, but expect questions about where it came from. In Pennsylvania, clean fill used as cover at a disposal facility is not subject to landfill fees, while fill that may have been affected by a release must be evaluated first.

Can I dump concrete with rebar in it?

Ask first. Recycling yards set their own rules on rebar and wire mesh, and some want it cut flush or removed. Ask C&D landfills too, since rules differ from site to site.

How much does a pickup load of concrete weigh?

Far more than it looks. At Los Angeles County’s 1,855 pounds per cubic yard for loose scrap concrete, a level 6.5-foot pickup bed holds about 4,300 pounds, well over the 2,440-pound maximum payload Ford lists for the 2026 F-150. Plan on partial loads.

Sources

  1. EPA: Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Materials (epa.gov)
  2. EPA: Basic Information about Landfills (epa.gov)
  3. City of Lowell, MA: MassDEP waste ban items (lowellma.gov)
  4. Pennsylvania DEP: Management of Fill Policy FAQs (rev. 12/10/2019) (files.dep.state.pa.us)
  5. Los Angeles County Public Works: Converting from Volume to Weight (CIWMB factors) (ladpw.org)
  6. Ford: 2026 F-150 technical specifications (cargo box volume, maximum payload) (fromtheroad.ford.com)
  7. King County, WA: Secure your load (kingcounty.gov)
  8. City of Chandler, AZ: Curbside Bulk Collection (chandleraz.gov)
  9. City of Saint Paul, MN: Bulky Item Collection (stpaul.gov)