Soil, concrete and heavy waste

Landscaping, pool removal, bathroom demolitions and driveway replacements all produce the same kind of waste: heavy. Soil, sand, clay, rock, bricks, concrete, tiles and mortar are dense materials, and a skip that would comfortably hold a household clean-out can be dangerously overloaded with them. Planning for heavy waste is one of the most important parts of hiring a skip for a renovation or landscaping job.

Why heavy waste is different

Skips and the trucks that lift them have weight limits. With light, bulky waste such as furniture, cardboard and garden prunings, you'll run out of space long before you reach those limits. With dense materials it's the other way round. A small volume of soil, concrete or bricks can weigh as much as a skip full of household junk.

If a skip is too heavy:

• the truck may be unable to lift it safely, and the driver may refuse to collect it until some waste is removed;
• you may face extra charges under the provider's terms;
• there's a risk of damage to your driveway, the road or the skip.

Heavy-waste skips

Many providers offer skips specifically for heavy materials. They're usually smaller and stronger, and come with a maximum fill line, often well below the top. Some providers accept only one type of heavy material in each skip, such as clean soil, or clean concrete and bricks, because separated materials can be recycled rather than landfilled.

When booking, tell the provider exactly what you'll be putting in. Be honest about quantities and whether materials are mixed, and ask:

1. What size heavy-waste skip do you recommend?
2. What is the fill line or weight limit?
3. Do you accept mixed heavy waste, or does each material need a separate skip?
4. What happens if the skip is over the limit?

Estimating heavy waste

Estimate heavy waste by volume first, then check with your provider about weight. For soil from an excavation, measure the area and depth of the hole. Remember that dug soil takes up more space than it did in the ground, because it loosens. For a demolished slab, measure its area and thickness. For tiles and mortar, estimate the area being removed.

Our skip size estimator flags heavy waste and reminds you that weight limits matter more than volume. See also how to estimate your waste.

Common heavy materials

Contaminated soil and free fill

Soil from older properties, industrial areas, or where buildings have been demolished can sometimes contain contaminants, including asbestos fragments. The NSW EPA warns that if you think you've found asbestos in garden soil, you should take the same precautions as for asbestos inside the house and contact a licensed asbestos assessor. It also urges caution about accepting free fill, which may contain asbestos, noting that if you accept contaminated waste onto your property, you're responsible for clean-up costs. See our asbestos guide.

If you suspect soil is contaminated, tell your provider before filling the skip. It may need testing and a specialist disposal route.

Loading heavy waste safely

Heavy waste is hard on your body. Safe Work Australia notes that lifting, pushing and pulling heavy loads, repetitive movements and awkward postures can cause injuries. When loading heavy waste:

• use a walk-in skip with a door and wheel barrows in up a sturdy ramp;
• fill barrows only partly so they're manageable;
• break concrete and rock into pieces you can lift comfortably, wearing eye protection, gloves and sturdy boots;
• use mechanical help, such as a hired mini excavator or bobcat, for large volumes, operated by someone competent;
• spread the load evenly across the skip floor rather than piling it at one end.

See loading a skip safely.

Protecting your property

A full heavy-waste skip concentrates a lot of weight on a small area. To protect your driveway or ground:

• ask the provider to place timber boards under the skip's runners to spread the load;
• avoid placing heavy skips on decorative pavers, soft lawn, or over known pipes and septic tanks;
• choose firm, level ground;
• consider the truck's weight on your driveway as well.

If the skip will be on the road, council permit conditions apply. See skip bin permits.

Recycling and reusing heavy materials

Heavy materials are some of the most recyclable waste from a renovation, as long as they're kept clean and separate. Concrete and bricks can be crushed into recycled aggregate; clean soil can be reused for fill or landscaping; whole bricks and pavers can be reused. Before booking a skip, consider:

• offering clean fill, bricks or pavers free to neighbours or online;
• asking landscape and construction recyclers in your area whether they accept clean loads directly;
• searching Planet Ark's Recycling Near You for local options.

Excavation and landscaping jobs

Big landscaping jobs, such as levelling a yard, digging a pool or removing a slab, can produce far more heavy waste than expected. Before you start:

• work out the volume carefully, measuring the area and depth to be removed;
• remember that excavated soil bulks up once dug;
• check for underground services by contacting Before You Dig Australia, a free referral service, before excavating;
• consider whether excavated soil could be reused elsewhere on the property;
• ask your provider about swap services, where full heavy-waste skips are replaced with empty ones as you go.

For large excavations, an earthmoving contractor may handle removal directly with trucks rather than skips.

Breaking up concrete

If you're breaking up a path or slab yourself, wear eye protection, hearing protection, gloves and steel-capped boots, and keep bystanders well back. Wet the surface to reduce dust. Break the concrete into pieces small enough to lift comfortably, and load them evenly.

Key points

• Soil, concrete, bricks and tiles hit weight limits before volume limits.
• Use a heavy-waste skip, keep below the fill line and tell the provider what's going in.
• Keep heavy materials clean and separate so they can be recycled.
• Watch for possible asbestos in old tiles, linings and soil, and be wary of free fill.
• Use barrows, ramps and walk-in skips to reduce heavy lifting.