Building rubble removal Johannesburg

Broken bricks, concrete, cement, plaster, old tiles, paving slabs, sand and stone are all classed as building rubble. Timber, roof sheets, old fittings and bags of cement are usually accepted too but may be sorted separately. Asbestos sheeting is not rubble and needs a registered asbestos contractor, so tell the specialist if you suspect any.

For a one-off pile from a small renovation, a bakkie or trailer removal is usually cheaper and quicker because the crew loads it for you and there is no skip sitting on the road for days. A skip makes more sense for a long build where rubble is produced over weeks. Skips also need space and sometimes a municipal permit if placed on the pavement.

Pikitup garden sites accept small amounts of rubble from residents with daily limits, and licensed landfills and private crushing yards around Johannesburg take larger loads for a fee. Dumping on open land, in parks or along roads is illegal and the City fines property owners whose rubble is traced back to them. A removal service includes the dumping fees in its price.

Legally it must go to a licensed landfill or a builders' rubble crushing site, where concrete and brick are often crushed into aggregate for reuse. Dumping rubble on open land or in a river is illegal and the fines fall on the property owner as well as the driver. Ask your specialist which site they use.

In Johannesburg, building rubble removal usually costs R650 to R1,300 for a bakkie load and R1,000 to R2,000 for a trailer, with loading, transport and dumping fees included. Rubble is priced higher than garden waste because of the weight and landfill charges. Carrying rubble from an upstairs or back-of-property site adds labour, so mention access when booking.