All materials

Where to dispose of construction debris

Mixed remodeling and demolition debris. 15 places accept it in Southern California.

Good to know

Mixed construction and demolition debris is accepted at most landfills and transfer stations, usually charged by weight or by the load.

Sorting inert material (concrete, brick, dirt) from wood, drywall and trash before you go can lower the fee at many sites.

Hazardous items such as paint, solvents, fluorescent tubes and asbestos are not accepted with regular debris.

Drywall is accepted at most landfills and transfer stations as construction debris. Some sites keep clean, unpainted drywall separate for recycling.

Plaster and lath from older homes may be treated differently than modern drywall; ask before you arrive.

Untreated, unpainted wood is often accepted for recycling or composting at a lower rate than mixed trash.

Treated wood (green-tinted pressure-treated lumber, railroad ties) is handled separately at many California facilities and may not be accepted with regular wood waste. Ask before you go.

Roofing tear-off is heavy; most facilities charge by weight and treat it as construction debris.

Older roofing may contain asbestos. Suspect material must be tested and handled separately, and many facilities refuse it outright.

Other ways

• Dumpster rental. For anything beyond a couple of pickup loads, a roll-off dumpster is usually the practical option.
• Junk removal. Junk-removal services load and haul for you, at a higher price than self-haul.
• Green waste programs. Some jurisdictions accept clean, untreated wood with yard waste.
• Roofing contractors. Contractors normally include disposal in the price of a re-roof.

Don't bother

These do not take construction debris: Palm Springs Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, Anaheim Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center, Irvine Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center.