Rubble Removal
in London
Post free · get bids from up to 3 local carriers · pay less than a skip
Rubble is priced by weight — one cubic metre of broken brick weighs more than most vans can carry. Mixed waste with timber or plasterboard? Construction waste →
What counts as rubble
“Rubble” in a disposal sense means inert waste — material that does not decompose, does not react, and goes to an inert tip at the lowest disposal rate available. Getting this right is the difference between a cheap job and an expensive one.
| Inert — lowest rate | Not inert — priced separately | Never collected |
|---|---|---|
| Brick and block | Plasterboard and plaster | Asbestos in any form |
| Concrete, including reinforced | Timber and floorboards | Hazardous chemicals, solvents |
| Hardcore and MOT Type 1 | Insulation | Gas canisters, flammables |
| Stone and paving slabs | Plastic sheeting and packaging | Clinical waste |
| Ceramic tiles | Carpet and underlay | |
| As-dug soil and clay | Mixed strip-out waste | |
| Sand and ballast |
Keeping the streams separate is the single biggest lever you have on price. Carriers pay tip fees by the tonne and inert material goes to a cheaper facility. Sort at source and the bids you receive come down.
Why rubble is priced by weight
Carriers pay tip fees per tonne. A van full of packaging and a van full of concrete look identical from the street and cost the carrier entirely different amounts to dispose of.
Material weights
| Material | Approx. tonnes per m³ |
|---|---|
| Broken brick / concrete | 1.4–1.6 |
| As-dug soil / London clay (wet) | 1.5–2.0 |
| Dry topsoil | 1.2–1.4 |
| Sand / ballast | 1.5–1.7 |
| Tiles / paving slabs | 1.3–1.5 |
| Mixed light construction waste | 0.3–0.5 |
What actually fits
| Vehicle / container | Rubble payload |
|---|---|
| Bulk (tonne) bag ≈ 0.75 m³ | 1.0–1.2 t |
| Luton van / 3.5t tipper | 1.0–1.2 t payload |
| 7.5t tipper | 3.0–3.5 t payload |
| 8-wheel grab lorry | 14–16 t |
| 4yd builder's skip | Weight limit before volume |
One cubic metre of rubble outweighs the payload of most vans. A bathroom strip-out is typically 1–2 tonnes. A patio lift is 3–6. A rear extension dig runs 8–12 before a brick is laid.
Skip, grab lorry, or man and van?
| Man and van / tipper | Skip | Grab lorry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical load | Up to ~3.5 t per load | 3–8 t depending on size | 14–16 t |
| Permit needed | No | Yes, if on the highway | No |
| Bay suspension | No | Yes, in a CPZ | No |
| Lead time | Same or next day | 5+ working days for a licence | 1–3 days |
| Who loads | Carrier | You | Carrier, mechanical |
| Best for | Strip-outs, patios, staged clearing | Long projects, private driveway | Excavations, large digs |
A skip on private land needs no licence and no suspension — if you have a driveway, that changes the maths completely. On a public highway in a controlled parking zone, the licence fee is usually the smallest line on the bill.
Skip permits and street access in London
A skip on the public highway needs a licence from the borough, and in a controlled parking zone it also needs a bay suspension charged per day. Most inner London boroughs require five clear working days' notice, and some require a site meeting before the licence is granted.
Borough rules also differ in ways that matter for large loads. Some do not licence roll-on/roll-off containers at all. Some prohibit grab lorries emptying skips. Maximum permitted skip sizes vary. Check your borough page before assuming a skip is the cheapest route.
A licensed carrier needs none of this. No licence, no suspension, no notice period.
Your rubble stays your responsibility
As the waste producer you are liable if your waste is fly-tipped, even if someone else dumped it and even if you did not know. Fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping reach £1,000, and prosecution carries an unlimited fine.
Two things protect you: an EA-licensed carrier, and a waste transfer note for every collection. Every carrier on RubbishBids is Environment Agency verified before they can bid, and every job comes with a tip receipt.
Check any carrier's licenceHow it works
Post your job
Describe the waste — rubble, hardcore, soil. Add your postcode and tonnage estimate. Takes under 2 minutes.
Receive competing bids
EA-licensed carriers across London send you competing quotes. Most jobs receive their first bid within hours.
Choose your carrier
Pick the best price and availability. Same-day and next-day collection are often available.
Job done
Your carrier loads, transports and legally disposes of the material. You receive a waste transfer note.
Rubble removal by borough
Borough pages include local skip permit costs, HWRC restrictions and recent job prices.
Frequently asked questions
Get competing quotes for your rubble
EA-licensed carriers across London. Tip receipt with every job. Post free — no phone calls.