Concrete, soil, asphalt: why a separate dumpster

August 23, 2026 · 5 min read

Because each material heads to a different disposal centre — and because soil, concrete, brick and asphalt weigh about one ton per cubic yard: the truck's legal load is reached well before the rim. A single size goes out, the 20 yard dumpster, sold by weight (7 tons included, 12 maximum) and filled to three quarters at most. Any mix triggers sorting fees.

The classic mistake: “while we're at it, the soil”

The scene repeats every week: a dry-material dumpster sits in the driveway for the reno — wood, drywall, old countertops. Then the mini-excavator shows up for the patio, and the question lands: “while we're at it, can the soil go in?” The answer is no — and it is not a whim.

A dumpster is not rented by size alone: it is rented by material type. Each type heads to a different disposal centre. Wood, drywall and shingles follow the dry-material stream; soil, concrete, brick and asphalt each have their own. A load that arrives at the wrong place is refused at the expected rate, and the sorting is billed back.

Behind the rule, a physical reality: these four materials are simply not in the same weight class as the rest of the jobsite.

One cubic yard ≈ one ton: weight runs out first

The trade's rule of thumb fits on one line: for soil, concrete, brick and asphalt, one cubic yard weighs about one ton. The rest of the jobsite — wood, drywall, furniture — fills its box well before reaching that kind of weight; these four materials do the opposite.

The rule holds for the material as it actually leaves: concrete broken into pieces, not poured concrete. The voids between the pieces — 35 to 45% of the volume — bring the loose density down to about 2,100 lb per cubic yard, the same order of magnitude as soil. What counts is the density of the real load, never that of the intact slab.

The consequence shows up at the truck: with these materials, the legal load is reached well before the box is full. Weight runs out first, never volume — and that is what explains everything else: the single size, the fill line and the price by weight.

One size goes out: the 20 yard, sold by weight

For these four materials, a single size leaves the yard: the 20 yard dumpster, whatever the volume you have to toss. And what is sold is not the box — it is the weight: the price covers 7 tons included, up to a maximum of 12 tons, additional ton pro rata.

Filling stops at three quarters of the box — a line 45 inches from the floor. The math shows why: at three quarters, the box holds about 15 cubic yards, so around 15 tons at the one-ton-per-yard rule — already past the 12-ton maximum. The truck's legal load is reached well before the rim; filling to the top would only guarantee a box impossible to lift.

And if the box is freed up quickly, Libération Express credits you $50 when the dumpster is freed within 48 hours of delivery, during the high season from March to October.

The four single-material dumpsters

Four dumpsters take one material only. Everything else — wood, drywall, metal, shingles, furniture — goes to the dry-material dumpster, where mixing is no problem at all.

Dumpster	What goes in	What does not
Soil, rocks and sod	Soil, rocks, sod.	Everything else — sorting fees.
Concrete	Slabs, sidewalks, foundations, broken demolition concrete.	No soil, metal, wood or trash — sorting fees.
Brick and mortar	Bricks, mortar, masonry veneer.	Everything else — sorting fees.
Asphalt	Chunks of paving, millings, a torn-out driveway.	Everything else — sorting fees (shingles go with dry materials).

One size goes out for these four types: the 20 yard dumpster. Tires and chemicals are refused in every dumpster, no exceptions.

Mixing costs sorting fees — how to avoid them

A dumpster rented for concrete that shows up at the disposal centre with wood inside is refused at the concrete rate: the sorting is billed back. It is entirely avoidable, before delivery.

What keeps the bill simple

Name everything leaving the site on the form or at 514 708-2424: we point you to the right type — or to two dumpsters when that costs less than sorting fees.
One material, one box. Soil with its rocks and sod on one side; wood, drywall and shingles in the dry-material box on the other.
Respect the 3/4 line — 45 inches from the floor: the truck's load sets it, not the size of the box.

The traps that trigger the fees

The “while we're at it”: a few boards tossed on the concrete are enough for the load to be refused at the concrete rate.
Asphalt shingles in the asphalt dumpster: despite the name, they go with dry materials — the asphalt box is for paving only.
The half-empty box that “invites” the rest of the jobsite: free space does not change the single-material rule.

Find the right type before delivery

The guide walks through the five types — what goes in each, the sizes, the fill rules. The pricing page explains what is always included, weight first.

The dumpster guide Pricing, explained

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What happens next: we email you the right dumpster type, the exact price and the possible date. Tell us everything leaving the site — soil, concrete, wood: that is what decides the type and avoids sorting fees.

The questions that come with soil and concrete

Can I put a little soil in my renovation dumpster?

No. The dry-material dumpster follows one stream, soil another: at the disposal centre, a mixed load is refused at the expected rate and the sorting is billed back. Say it before delivery: we point you to the right type, or to two dumpsters when that costs less.

Why only one size for soil, concrete, brick and asphalt?

Because what is sold is not volume — it is weight. At about one ton per cubic yard, the truck's legal load is reached well before the box is full: the 20 yard leaves with 7 tons included, 12 at most — a bigger box would not carry one more ton.

Why does filling stop at three quarters?

The line sits 45 inches from the floor. At the one-ton-per-cubic-yard rule, three quarters of a 20 yard already represents about 15 tons — more than the 12-ton maximum. The truck's legal load sets the limit, not the size of the box.

I have concrete and soil. One dumpster or two?

Two materials means two streams. Describe both on the form or by phone: we point you to two single-material dumpsters when that costs less than the sorting fees of a mixed load.