Disposal Guide
How to Dispose of Dirt & Soil in Ottawa
Leftover dirt from home improvement or landscaping can be a hassle, especially with Ottawa’s soil removal regulations.
Understanding your options helps save time, avoid fines, and protect the environment.
In this disposal guide, we’ll cover the legal ways to dispose of dirt and soil in Ottawa, ON.
Rent A Dumpster to Dispose of Dirt and Soil
One of the easiest and most efficient ways to remove a lot of leftover dirt and soil is to simply rent a roll-off dumpster bin. A dumpster rental lets you handle everything at your own pace.
The rental company drops it off at your work site, you load the dirt into the container as you work, and once it’s full, the rental company comes and hauls it away to a specialized facility where they take care of everything.
The advantage of renting a dumpster is convenience—especially for medium-sized and larger projects. Dumpsters come in different sizes, so if you have a lot of soil, this option can save you multiple trips to the landfill.
If you’ve decided to rent a dumpster, determine the amount of soil and the type you have, talk with a company representative, and get a recommendation on bin size. Pick a trusted Ottawa bin rental company known for competitive dumpster pricing and reliable service.
Renting a roll-off dumpster bin can be a pretty straightforward and stress-free way to deal with soil and dirt removal, letting you get on with your project while keeping your dirt removal cost manageable.
Benefits
- Convenient for handling large volumes of dirt.
- Flexibility to work at your own pace during the rental period.
- Bin rental company handles transport and disposal, saving time.
Considerations
- Requires sufficient space on-site for the dumpster.
- Costs can increase with the weight and size of the dumpster.
- Permits might be needed if placed on a public street.
NEED A DUMPSTER BIN RENTAL?
Give Dirt or Soil Away
Clean fill dirt is in high demand for landscaping and construction projects. If your excess dirt really is free of contaminants, rocks, and construction debris, you can probably give it away to someone willing to come and get it.
Many people in the Ottawa and Gatineau area are looking for clean yard soil to reuse for their projects.
You can ask your neighbours, put up posters around your neighbourhood, and list your clean dirt on local classifieds websites or community boards.
Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji are great places to post your offer.
Describe the condition of the dirt and let potential takers know they’ll need to haul it away themselves.
Giving it away is win-win but it does take some coordination.
Benefits
- Free disposal method with potential to help others.
- Environmentally friendly by avoiding landfill waste.
- Can be arranged quickly with local pickup, avoiding transportation.
Considerations
- Requires coordination and time to find someone willing to pick it up.
- Soil must be clean and free of contaminants to be desirable.
- May take longer than other methods depending on interest.
Contact A Clean Fill Recycling Centre
Some recycling centres in Ottawa accept clean fill dirt for reuse. These centres can take your garden waste and soil and recycle it in construction, landscaping, and other projects.
These centres often have specific guidelines on the types of dirt they accept, so it’s best to call ahead and check.
Recycling excess soil is environmentally friendly and keeps good soil out of landfills.
You might need to separate debris from your dirt before bringing it to a recycling facility.
Benefits
- Environmentally sustainable by reusing soil in new projects.
- Keeps good soil out of landfills, reducing waste.
- Often free or low-cost disposal option.
Considerations
- Centres may have strict guidelines on what soil they accept.
- Requires sorting debris from the soil before drop-off.
- You’ll need to arrange transportation to the recycling facility.
Sell your Dirt or Soil Online
You can also try selling it online. Many homeowners and small contractors around Ottawa may be looking for good soil to use in their projects.
Listing it on Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace will let you reach a larger audience and possibly recoup some of the cost of your project by charging a fee.
Find other ads to see what the going rate for your type of soil is.
Be clear about the amount you have available and whether it’s clean fill or mixed with debris.
Also, let them know if you’re willing to transport it to their location.
Providing detailed information will bring in the right buyers and make the process smoother.
Benefits
- Potential to recoup costs by selling the soil.
- Reaches a wide audience via online platforms.
- Useful for those needing clean fill for their projects.
Considerations
- Must provide detailed descriptions to attract the right buyers.
- May need to arrange transport, depending on buyer preferences.
- Can take time to find interested buyers.
Reuse Remaining Dirt
If you have some flexibility with your project, you might consider reusing your soil on-site. Reusing dirt can save money and gets rid of the need for hauling and disposing of it.
Clean dirt can be repurposed for:
- Leveling or Grading: You can use your soil to level uneven areas in your yard or for landscaping projects.
- Filling Low Spots: If your yard has holes or low spots, using extra soil to fill these areas can solve those problems.
- Building Garden Beds: Clean soil can serve as a great base for raised garden beds or flower beds.
Reusing soil to enhance your property makes a lot of sense if you have the time.
Benefits
- Saves money by avoiding external disposal costs.
- Reduces environmental impact by keeping the soil on-site.
- Enhances your property with grading or landscaping improvements.
Considerations
- Limited to the scope of your project—may not be possible for all soil.
- Requires extra planning and time to implement effectively.
- Soil may not be suitable for reuse, depending on its quality.
NEED A DUMPSTER BIN RENTAL?
Hire A Junk Removal Company
If you only have a small amount of dirt and don’t want to manage disposal yourself, hiring a junk removal company is an option.
Junk removal services will come to your location, load up the dirt, take it away, and charge you a hefty fee.
While junk removal companies are convenient, they’re expensive compared to renting a dumpster if you have a lot of dirt.
For smaller projects or when you need your soil gone yesterday, it’s a quick and easy option.
Benefits
- Extremely convenient—professionals handle everything.
- Fast option for removing small amounts of soil.
- No need for personal labor or equipment.
Considerations
- Can be expensive compared to renting a dumpster.
- Limited to smaller volumes of dirt due to cost.
- Availability may delay project completion if scheduling is tight.
Bring Soil to a Landfill
If you prefer to handle your soil disposal yourself, taking it directly to a local landfill is an option.
Most landfills accept clean fill dirt, but you’ll want to call ahead to confirm what they accept and check their guidelines.
Dumping contaminated soil into landfills can also harm the environment.
When transporting dirt to the landfill, make sure you have the right vehicle and equipment to transport and unload it safely.
This option works if you have the trucks and equipment to handle the weight and legally haul and dump dirt, but it can also be a pain.
Time and effort may be a factor here as well— many don’t have the space in their truck beds or trailers to take a single delivery trip.
Benefits
- Can dispose of large quantities in one trip.
- Reliable option for most types of soil, even mixed with debris.
- Direct disposal option if you have the equipment.
Considerations
- Requires proper vehicles and equipment for safe transport.
- May involve landfill fees depending on the amount and type of dirt.
- Time-consuming, especially for multiple trips or long distances.
FAQs
Common Dirt Disposal Questions
Here are a few questions we often get about dirt removal.
What Are The Different Types Of Dirt?
Not all dirt is the same, and disposal rules and regulations in Ottawa vary depending on what you have (and its condition).
Your dirt is contaminant-free and doesn’t contain any other debris like rocks, roots, or construction materials (like bits of concrete). This will be in demand. It’s perfect for grading and leveling projects. (need to get rid of more – read out concrete disposal guide).
Soil that has been contaminated by chemicals, oil, or hazardous waste materials requires special handling. Contaminated soil can harm the environment and can’t be disposed of at regular landfills or recycling centres and will need to go to a specialized facility.
This is dirt mixed with rocks, debris, sand, bits of wood, scrap metal, or other materials. It might need to go through a separation process before you dispose of it, or you can find a facility that accepts mixed dirt.
What Tools Do I Need To Dispose Of Dirt?
Getting rid of dirt doesn’t require fancy tools, but you’ll need a few basic ones to make the process easier:
- Shovel or Spade: For digging and shoveling dirt into wheelbarrows, dumpsters, or truck beds.
- Wheelbarrow: This will help you transport dirt around your project area.
- Tarp or Bags: If you’re transporting dirt yourself, use tarps or heavy-duty bags to cover your soil during the journey.
- Work Gloves: Protect your hands during all this manual labour.
- Truck or Trailer: If you’re hauling dirt yourself, you’ll need a truck or trailer (or both).
Rent a dumpster from CFT Bins
At CFT Bins, we have dumpster bin sizes that are perfect for hauling away organic material like dirt and excess soil from backyard or commercial landscaping or construction projects.
One of our friendly team members can advise you on the right size and have it dropped off at your work site at the time you need it.
Once full, let us know, and we’ll schedule a dirt pickup and replace it with another one if needed. It’s as simple as that.
Let us haul your soil, dispose of it properly, and let you get on with your project.
If you’re looking to rent a disposal bin in the Ottawa area, reach out to us for a personalized quote today.
