What are you going to do with your excavated material when you are digging for a paver, retaining wall, or other project on a property? This requires a plan in advance so that you do not have to double handle that material or end up spending a significant amount of money to have it disposed of. You want to know where it is going as soon as it is coming out of the ground so that you do not have to put it in a pile and then decide what you will do with it.
It is worthwhile to call around if you plan to dispose of it yourself to find a site that is willing to either take it for free or for a small fee. It is also important to consider alternatives for large amounts of material so that you do not spend your time on the road transporting the soil to be able to dump it. Calculate how much material is coming out of the ground, how much you are able to transport in one shot, how much it is going to cost you to dump it, and decide if that is worth your time and risk or if you should opt for bins to dispose of your material for you.
Where to Dispose Dirt and Rocks
There are a few different places you can take the dirt that you excavate that will save you some money. These vary in location and cost. Here is a list of different places beginning with the easiest and least expensive to the more expensive.
IMPORTANT! Make sure to check with your local laws when it comes to excavating and disposing of material. Always make sure to get confirmation that you can dump your material where you are taking it. And call before you dig to get public locates!
In Your Yard
The easiest, most convenient, and cost effective way to dispose of the excavated material is in your own yard. Just know that what you excavate is always going to be more than what it looks like. This is because the material will fluff up once it is excavated whereas it is compact when it is in the ground. A small amount of material can be moved around the yard to possible re-grade areas if you think the property needs it. But it is crucial to not completely change the grade to cause drainage issues in the future. Depending on the depth of your excavation you are likely going to excavate into your subsoil which will be a clay, silt, or sand mixture which may not be the most suitable as a top grade to your property and should not be used to add to your garden without an amendment. If you have a large property, this may be the best way to get rid of your excavated material. A smaller yard may be difficult, so you may want to opt for one of the other options below to dispose of your dirt and rocks.
Looking for Clean Fill
If you are lucky, you can find someone who is in search of clean fill. This may be a farm, construction site, gravel supplier / quarry, or homeowner that is looking to fill in areas on their property. If you know of nearby sites, it would not hurt to visit them and ask them if they are in need of clean fill or search online marketplaces for people posting looking for clean fill. This is usually free to dump or a small fee, but you have to find a way to get the material to their site. This means you will need to have access to a truck and / or trailer to load up and move the material. It is also important to calculate the amount you will be excavating and how much your truck / trailer combination is able to move to know how many trips you are going to need to make it dispose of all the material.
Landscape Yard
Some landscape yards accept clean fill, but will charge you to dump. This is usually slightly more than the previous option and still requires a truck / trailer combination as well to move the material. Additionally, if they do accept clean fill they usually only do so for contractors only.
Local Waste Management
The same as the previous two options, this will require a truck and / or trailer to be able to move the material to your local waste management transfer station. It is also the most expensive option to be able to dispose of your excavated material. It is important to call around to these places to see what they charge for disposal. In our local area they can range from $20 per load to $500 for just a couple of cubic yards of material which is a significant range and can really add up in cost. Some are also exclusive to residents of that region.
Bin Disposal
This is the most convenient, but typically the most costly method to dispose of your excavated material. However, it is also one of the most convenient option. When excavating for your project there is going to be a lot more material coming out of the ground than what you think. If you plan to move that material yourself, you are also incurring the risk of being on the road with that material in transporting it to where you need to go and the time invested into that. Not to mention it is more difficult moving material up a ramp into a trailer if you do not have the equipment to get it directly into the trailer. A bin placed on the ground is much easier to load up with a wheelbarrow. This is how we complete our excavations so that we can remain on site getting work done while the material is disposed of. We pay for that service, but it is well worth the cost to be able to remain on site and not have to be on the road moving that material or trying to find a place to dump it.