Guide
Can you remove soil and turf?
By ClearUp · Updated
In short: Yes. Soil, turf and small amounts of rubble can be removed as part of a garden clearance or green waste collection. They are quoted by weight rather than volume because they are far heavier than green waste, so it helps to say roughly how much there is and whether it is bagged or in a pile.
Why soil is quoted differently
A bag of hedge trimmings weighs a few kilograms. The same bag full of soil can weigh 20 to 25 kilograms. Vans have a legal payload limit, so soil and turf take up weight allowance quickly and are disposed of at inert waste facilities that charge by the tonne. That is why a clearance quote treats them separately from green waste.
How to describe it
- Say whether it is loose soil, lifted turf, or mixed with stones and rubble.
- Estimate the amount: bags, a pile so many metres across, or a raised bed of a given size.
- Say where it is and how far it has to be carried to the van.
- Add a photo.
What we do not take
Soil contaminated with oil, chemicals or asbestos is hazardous waste and needs a specialist. If in doubt, tell us and we will say whether we can help.