Fill dirt is exactly what it sounds like: dirt or another earthy material that is used to fill in a hole, or raise an area of ground. Anytime you need to change the gradient or elevation of a surface, fill dirt is what you will use. Most often it is made from subsoil, which is the layer beneath the topsoil. Usually, it comes from construction sites. Anytime you see excavation happening on a construction site, the dirt they remove to make room for basements and sewer lines will probably be used as fill dirt elsewhere. Highway construction and maintenance is one of the most common public uses of fill dirt. On a smaller scale, homeowners may use fill dirt after having a pool removed or when constructing an addition to their home. It is often used to raise the foundation of buildings to prevent flooding.
If you find yourself with dirt that needs to be removed, either because you bought too much fill dirt for your project or because you have been excavating dirt for a construction project, you may be wondering how to get rid of it. There are several common ways to remove fill dirt, and we will cover the easiest and most affordable methods of fill dirt removal so that you can choose the one that is best for you.
Rent A Roll Off Dumpster
This is one of the simplest ways to remove excess dirt. You call and schedule the delivery time you want, the dumpster is delivered and positioned for you, and you fill up the dumpster at your own pace. When you have loaded all of your dirt into the dumpster, you call to have it picked up. You do not have to be present for the pick up. This is a great option if you have a large amount of dirt that needs to be removed, because the pricing is usually a flat, all-inclusive rate, and you can schedule the delivery and pick up on your own time while handling the work of loading the dirt into the dumpster yourself.
Make A Listing Online
If you would prefer not to have to pay anything for the dirt removal, you can list it online on sites like Craigslist. DIYers and contractors are always looking for dirt for their projects. There are even entire sites dedicated to this, like freedirt.com. Offer free pickup and you will not have to do any of the work yourself. If you are really desperate and you do not have too much dirt, you could also offer free delivery. The biggest advantage of this is that it is free, but the downside is you no longer have control over the schedule. You will have to wait until somebody who wants your dirt claims it, and then you will have to wait until they are ready to pick it up.
Put Up A “Free Dirt” Sign
The simplest method of them all: pile the dirt in your front lawn and stick a sign in it that says “free dirt.” If you would prefer for people to contact you before hauling the dirt away, put a contact number on the sign. Otherwise, most people will assume that they can simply stop by and haul it off whenever it suits them. This is the method that takes the least effort from you, but it also does not guarantee that anyone will take your dirt. Even if they do, it may take a lot longer than you would like. You also should check with your homeowner’s association before doing this, as there may be rules against it.
Hire a Dirt Removal Company
Find a company that can haul away the dirt- these are often general junk removal companies that offer dirt removal services, but some of them really do specialize in dirt. They’ll send a truck out to take your dirt away, but you typically will not know the price of hauling the dirt until they are able to inspect it in person. These services usually use two-ton trucks, meaning they can haul up to four thousand pounds of dirt at once. The best part about this service is that all of the work is done for you, including the work of getting the dirt into the truck. The downside is that you do not know the exact price until they arrive, and they usually cannot take more than four thousand pounds of dirt, which is a relatively small amount.
Dump It Yourself
This only works if you already have access to a flatbed truck. You should be able to dump it in most landfills, although there will be a charge for it. This is only an option if you can get the truck you need, and even then it really only works for smaller projects, since it requires a smaller amount of dirt to work.
Store It for Reuse
There are plenty of uses for excess soil: garden beds, play areas for children, fire pits, or just about any construction project you might have. Simply store the soil in waterproof bins somewhere out of the elements. This will work best with smaller amounts of soil.
Take It To A Landscape Supplier
Like contractors, landscape suppliers need dirt. They will most likely charge a small fee; they still have to do the work of processing it into their compost or bagging it to sell, after all. They can only sell it if it is very high-quality soil, too, so it is unlikely that they will make any money from it. They need it for compost and for growing the plants that they sell, so they are unlikely to be willing to pay you for it. Again, this works best if you only have a relatively small amount of dirt.
If you have any more questions, feel free to contact Dirt Connections. We are happy to provide any information that you may need on the subject.
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