How to Dispose of Bricks
From patios to home exteriors, bricks are a construction foundation. Discover what to do with them when they're no longer needed.
Brick Disposal Options for Any Project
Whether you tackled a DIY demolition or hired a professional, completing the project left you with a stack of bricks. How do you get rid of bricks fast and efficiently? There are many options available, from donation and recycling centers to upcycling or renting a dumpster. Just be sure not to pile them at the end of your driveway — curbside collection won’t handle unwanted bricks. Read on to see which of our six helpful brick disposal options works best for you.
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1. Give Them Away
If you have a small to moderate amount of bricks, stack them at the edge of your property with a “free” sign. Someone is likely to pick them up since bricks are used in many DIY projects. You can also offer your old bricks online through popular forums, such as Nextdoor, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Attach photos to your listing to help speed up the process. You will likely find someone willing to pick them up when you offer the bricks for free.
Brick Donation Tips
Be Transparent When Listing
List a general idea of the number of bricks you have and their condition. It’s helpful to include photos if you’re advertising online so customers can clearly see what they’re picking up.
Transportation Preparation
Determine whether you’re willing to transport old bricks yourself, for free or a fee, or if you’ll only accept pickups. Consider piling your bricks on an old tarp for easier transportation to a vehicle.
Safety Tip
Silica is detectable in many types of stone, including brick and concrete. Inhaling fine silica dust over time can lead to serious health issues, so be careful when handling bricks and wear a mask.
2. Reuse Them
Bricks are handy for many projects, like walkways, raised garden beds and landscape edging. If you have an upcoming project, why not reuse your old bricks? Especially considering they are expensive to purchase, it’s a good idea to upcycle your bricks. The ideas are infinite, so you should consider your needs, what may be useful and what will make your place more comfortable. A landscaper can build a gazebo with a lot of leftover bricks or you can build a fire pit yourself with a small amount.
Upcycled Bricks Ideas
DIY Projects
Consider upcycling your bricks into an outdoor oven, fire pit, garden bed, walkway pavers, landscape edging or hot tub surface. All of these projects can be done yourself or with a family member if you're up to the task.
Other Projects
If you have too many bricks for a small DIY project, you can hire a contractor to create a patio, walls and fences, garden bench or waterfall feature. And don't limit yourself to outdoor projects — a fireplace, kitchen backsplash and accent walls are great ways to reuse bricks inside your home.
3. Donate Them to a Recycling Center
You can donate bricks in good condition to organizations that accept used building materials. Reuse stores, like the Habitat for Humanity Restore, are a fantastic way to prolong the life of your bricks while also getting them off your hands. You can find a local recycling center on Earth911 or in a general Google search.
Since brick material is so durable, they're easy to recycle in a variety of projects. Giving to a non-profit that provides shelter to people in need might just give you the solution you’re looking for with the bonus feeling of knowing you’ve helped someone you don’t even know.
Pro Tip
To save yourself extra time and energy, learn how to dispose of yard waste so you can get back to what matters most.
4. Call a Junk Removal Company
If you don’t have the ability to load the bricks in a truck or the time to wait for free pickup from an interested party, a junk hauling service can do the work for you. The cost will depend on your location and the number of bricks you have. Many junk removal companies accept small amounts of construction debris, typically two tons per truck. However, you will need to make sure they will take your bricks before scheduling the service. If you don’t have enough to fill up the truck, they may charge you a fee. You may also need to stack your bricks beforehand.
5. Rent a Dumpster
Take advantage of quick, convenient brick disposal with a temporary dumpster rental. Simply toss the bricks into the dumpster as you work. This is a great way to get rid of other heavy waste, such as concrete and rock and gravel at the same time. You can choose from a couple of dumpster sizes to contain the mess. Renting a dumpster is a hassle-free approach to unloading unwanted bricks all at once instead of worrying about assembling them for pickup or transporting them to a business or landfill.
Order a Dumpster Online
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6. Take Them to a Landfill
When you need to dispose of broken bricks and there are no recycling centers nearby, a landfill may be your only option. Most landfills accept old bricks but check ahead to confirm. They may charge you roughly $40 per ton of bricks you dump. If you have a small amount of bricks, you can haul them to the landfill yourself, which works best if you can fit them all in one trip. Although this can be a budget-friendly option, keep in mind the time and manpower required to haul multiple loads of bricks to your closest landfill. If you aren't located near one, you may end up spending a full day or multiple days getting rid of bricks this way.
Tossing More Than Bricks?
Choose a construction material for detailed disposal options.
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Brick Disposal FAQs
How much does brick disposal cost?
Brick disposal costs vary depending on a few factors, including number of bricks, cost of services in your area and the disposal option you choose.
Nationally, the average cost to rent a 10 yard dumpster for brick disposal is $470, but can be as low as $250 in some areas, whereas junk removal companies can charge upwards of $800 to dispose of a large load of bricks.
Can I throw away bricks with my regular trash?
To avoid fees, you shouldn't dispose of bricks with regular trash. Bricks may contain hazardous material, such as silica, and will overload the city trucks. Consider renting a dumpster to properly get rid of your bricks.
Who will take bricks for free?
You have a lot of options when it comes to disposing of old bricks for free. Start by asking family and friends — they can upcycle the bricks for a DIY project, like a garden border or fire pit. See if any neighbors are interested by stacking bricks in a pile on your property and advertising with a sign. Lastly, if you don’t mind transporting them, consider dropping off bricks at a nearby recycling center.
How do I recycle broken bricks?
From recycling whole bricks to make a pathway or crushing them for an art project, the possibilities are endless in what you can do. Check out these popular brick upcycling ideas:
- Build a small dry-stone wall.
- Form raised flower beds or planters.
- Construct a birdbath or brick waterfall.
- Add an edge to your yard, garden or pathway.
- Create artwork, such as murals or brick mosaics.
- Make a brick path through your home or organization’s garden.
More Brick Removal Resources
Getting rid of more than just bricks? We’ll walk you through the waste removal process for all your outdoor debris and indoor junk. Check out our helpful articles and blog posts to learn more.
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