Frequently Asked Questions
Soil dumping means unloading excavated soil somewhere other than where it was dug, such as a landfill, fill site or another project. The term often points to illegal dumping, where fill lands on property without permission or permits. New Jersey's 2022 "Dirty Dirt" law requires soil and fill recycling businesses to register with the state.
Dirt can go in a roll-off dumpster, but weight sets the limit. Dry fill weighs about 1.1 to 1.5 tons a cubic yard, and Republic Services rates its 10-yard box for dirt at 2 to 3 tons, roughly 2 yards' worth. HomeGuide puts overweight fees at $40 to $100 per ton.
Soil disposal typically costs $140 to $180 per ton for a haul-away job, dumping fees included, according to HomeGuide's residential estimates. Self-hauled dirt at a landfill runs about $30 to $50 per ton, while contaminated soil bound for a hazardous waste landfill can reach $140 to $450. Prices vary by region and soil condition.
The cheapest way to get rid of dirt is reusing it on site or giving clean soil to a nearby project that needs fill. Landfill fees run about $30 to $50 per ton by HomeGuide's estimate, varying by region. Soil Connect matches sites that have excess dirt with sites that need it, favoring shorter hauls.
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