Broken concrete, a pile of soil from a garden redo, or a garage full of river rock is the one kind of junk the city trucks won't touch. It's heavy, it's charged by the ton, and every free program in the area excludes it. This guide explains what each city says, where heavy loads can go, and a few checks worth doing before anyone lifts a shovel.
Why the city trucks won't take it
Every curbside program you might try draws the same line:
- City of Los Angeles: bulky item crews won't pick up construction materials, and LA Sanitation's own examples are concrete, bricks and dirt.[1]
- Burbank: bulky pickup excludes bricks and cinder blocks, concrete, ceramic tile, sand, dirt and rocks.[2]
- Glendale: construction materials aren't accepted on bulky pickup.[3]
- Pasadena: bulky pickup won't take construction or roofing material.[4]
- Altadena: the County hauler's on-call pickup allows only 2 bags or bundles of construction debris under 70 pounds each.[5]
The green cart isn't a workaround. Burbank's organics cart prohibits dirt outright,[6] and LA's green bin is meant for yard trimmings like grass, flowers, branches and clean untreated wood.[7] Weight rules catch the rest: Burbank carts can't hold more than 200 pounds,[8] and Glendale carts have to weigh under 200 pounds with the lid closed.[9]
Check what's in the pile first
Before you break up an old slab or load old pavers, look at what else might be in there.
- Asbestos. CalRecycle notes that some older cement, roofing, flooring and siding contains asbestos, and it lists these materials as banned from the trash. It refers homeowners to the U.S. EPA for guidance.[10] If an old patio, pipe or siding panel looks suspect, get it tested before you break it.
- Treated wood. Old railroad ties, landscape timbers and fence posts preserved against rot must be managed as hazardous waste.[10] Pull them out of a dirt or rock load.
- Burnt material. Scholl Canyon Landfill can't accept burnt structural debris, and undeclared burnt loads draw a $500 fine.[11]
Clean, separated material is easier to place. Simi Valley Landfill, for example, lists clean soils and non-hazardous contaminated soils as separate accepted categories.[12]
Your options at a glance
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Reuse or give away | Clean fill dirt, whole pavers, bricks, rock | You need someone who wants it |
| Burbank City bin (residents) | A small patch of heavy material | 2-yard bin, heavy material only 12 in. deep, 1,000 lb max[13] |
| Self-haul to Sunshine Canyon (Sylmar) | Anyone with a truck or trailer | One-ton minimum charge per load[14] |
| Scholl Canyon (Glendale) | Glendale, Pasadena and nearby residents | Wasteshed limits; one-ton minimum[15],[16] |
| Certified C&D recycler (Sun Valley) | Mixed remodel debris | Call about self-haul[17] |
| Hire a hauler | Big piles, backyard carries, no truck | Weight drives the price |
Reuse it or give it away
The cheapest ton is the one you don't haul. Clean fill dirt can level a low spot, whole pavers and bricks can edge a garden bed, and flat pieces of broken concrete can be stacked into a low garden wall. Someone nearby doing their own landscaping may want clean material, so a free listing is worth trying before you pay to dump.
Burbank's small City bins
Burbank rents temporary bins to anyone on an active Burbank Water and Power account: a 2-yard bin at $145 per collection or a 3-yard bin at $175, with fees billed to that account.[13] For heavy material, only the 2-yard bin works, and dirt, rock, concrete or tile can fill it just 12 inches from the bottom. The 3-yard bin takes lumber and household trash only, and every City bin tops out at 1,000 pounds.[13] Bins arrive within one to three business days of a signed application and sit at the bottom edge of the driveway.[13]
Self-hauling to Sunshine Canyon
Sunshine Canyon Landfill at 14747 San Fernando Road in Sylmar is the Valley's main public landfill.[18] Public customers can drop off during business hours with no appointment,[18] Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to noon.[18] Bring a completed Origin Report Form.[18]
The cost adds up fast. Every load is charged a one-ton minimum,[14] plus a $19.71 environmental fee per load.[14] An untarped load costs another $175.[14] Its posted rate for household trash is $120 per ton as of July 2024,[14] so call (818) 362-2124 to ask what concrete and soil cost before you load up.[18] LA County's own advice for every landfill is to call first to confirm hours and any wasteshed restriction.[19]
Scholl Canyon for Glendale and Pasadena residents
Scholl Canyon Landfill at 3001 Scholl Canyon Road in Glendale only takes waste generated in Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre and nearby unincorporated areas.[15],[20] It's not an option for loads from Burbank or the City of LA.[21] Its published rate for municipal solid and inert waste is $85.91 per ton with a one-ton minimum.[16] It's open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,[21] and the scale takes cash, debit, or MasterCard, American Express and Discover, but no checks.[21]
Certified construction recyclers in Sun Valley
LA Sanitation publishes the City-certified construction and demolition processors along with their recycling rates. Several are in Sun Valley, including America's Recycling Company 3 on Glenoaks Blvd., Crown Recycling Services on DeGarmo Ave. and East Valley Diversion on Sheldon St.[17] Whether each one takes walk-in public loads wasn't confirmed, so call ahead.
What not to do
Tipping a trailer of dirt on an empty lot or a hillside turnout is illegal dumping. California law makes it unlawful to dump waste on roads, public property or private land without the owner's consent,[22] with mandatory fines of $250 to $1,000 on a first conviction.[22] A load big enough to count as commercial quantities is a misdemeanor.[22]
Prep checklist
Before the heavy stuff moves
- Rule out asbestos in old cement, siding or pipe before breaking anything up.
- Pull treated wood, metal and trash out of the pile so the concrete or soil stays clean.
- Break slabs into pieces one person can lift.
- Estimate the volume; small piles of soil and concrete are still heavy.
- Keep a clear path from the pile to the street or driveway.
- Self-hauling? Bring a tarp, the Origin Report Form and a card for the one-ton minimum.
When to call a hauler
A pickup truck of dirt is a reasonable weekend job. A backyard of old patio slabs, soil from a garden bed, or rock that has to come out through a side gate is harder, and every load you drive yourself starts at the landfill's one-ton minimum.
Very professional. They arrived on time and kept me updated via text on their estimated arrival. Took all the river rocks that I needed gone from my garage and did not leave a mess. I would highly recommend. A+ …
Heavy material is one of the things to ask about up front, because weight and access decide how a load gets handled. Our family crew works out of North Hollywood. Tell us roughly how much concrete, dirt or rock there is, where it sits on the property and how close we can park, and send a few photos.