After adding some fun new flower beds or digging out troughs for a new project, you’ll likely find yourself staring at a tall pile of the thing you forgot all about: dirt. Residential growth in Dallas-Fort Worth is booming and with new homes comes more landscaping and construction. Most landscaping endeavors or construction projects end up leaving you with more excess dirt than you know what to do with. Even so, it’s easy to forget about in the planning process of everything else. How to dispose of dirt, then? It’s easier than you might think. Here are five of the best ways to dispose of dirt you don’t need.
1. Rent a roll-off dumpster
This dirt-disposal option is at the top of the list for its cost-efficiency, ease, and practicality. You’ll get a flat-rate price for your dumpster rental, making budgeting that much easier. You’ll also have a set pick-up time that you can control based on the needs of your project.
Loading the dirt is your responsibility, but with a dumpster rental, you can load at your own pace and customize how quickly you work. Once your dumpster is loaded and your pick-up date arrives, you’re all set. We’ll load up the dumpster and dispose of your dirt as is, with no extra hassle for you.
Dumpster rentals are also an excellent option for construction projects with plentiful dirt leftover, and any other project that leaves you with loads of dirt. Since dumpsters have a high holding capacity, they can fit most large dirt loads. Weight limitations are good to keep in mind, as going over the pre-set weight of your dumpster rental for dirt can result in extra charges.
2. Hire a junk removal company
Junk removal companies take on both the loading and hauling aspects of dirt removal. They often have large trucks capable of holding moderate amounts of dirt, which may be perfect for smaller landscaping or construction projects. And since they load the dirt for you, you can continue with your project unhindered or take a break inside.
Junk removal companies also offer the benefit of scheduled removal, as you can schedule a precise time for loading and removing your dirt. Pricing does vary by job, unlike the flat-rate pricing of dumpster rentals. The company you use will assess the load and give you a price based on weight and the number of loads needed. This may become pricey if you have a lot of dirt or heavier wet soil.
3. Take dirt to a landfill
You’re always able to bring excess dirt to the landfill yourself. Most landfills charge a very reasonable per-ton rate. But for this dirt disposal option, you’ll need more than just a shovel. To get your extra dirt to the landfill, you’ll need a pickup truck, plenty of gas, and some spare time to make trips to the landfill.
Depending on the amount of dirt you’re looking to remove, this option could quickly become impractical. But for small projects, running the dirt to the landfill yourself is a cheap way to dispose of excess dirt. Doing it yourself also allows you to work at your own pace without worrying about sticking to any schedule but your own. (Click here to see how to reduce household waste in Fort Worth)
For Dallas residents, you can drop off your dirt at McCommas Bluff Landfill
Fort Worth residents can go to one of three drop-off locations.
4. Advertise dirt online
There are plenty of DIYers, landscapers, and contractors looking for good dirt. Sites like eBay or Craigslist are great for posting about free or cheap dirt and other dirt-specific sites that may exist in your area. Here’s a Dallas group on Reddit that posted a bunch of good tips for free dirt in Garland and the city of Mesquite.
Before posting your listing, be sure to check with local regulations and your homeowner’s association, if applicable. Some cities will require a mining permit for you to sell or give dirt to be used elsewhere.
Figuring out how to dispose of dirt in this manner can be a bit tricky, as buyers may want you to deliver the dirt to them. If you’re willing to haul it, you might get a decent price for quality dirt. Otherwise, buyers can come to you and load the dirt themselves. Check out https://www.filldirt.org/fort-worth-tx/
This option is best for small amounts of soil and for homeowners, as leaving dirt on public property isn’t allowed. Construction projects should avoid this method to keep from breaking any city laws or regulations.
5. Bring dirt to a construction or landscape company
If your dirt isn’t contaminated, local construction or landscaping companies may be interested in taking it off your hands. This is a great way to recycle dirt and let someone else use it to its best ability. For this option, you will have to load and haul the dirt yourself.
Smaller amounts of dirt are then best, as you could otherwise spend a day or two bringing truckloads. These companies also require any dirt they take in to be clean and free of any contaminants, which could be an issue if you’re digging by underground fuel or septic tanks. Anything poured onto your soil could also contaminate it. But for small loads with a clean bill of health, this is a great way to dispose of unneeded dirt.
