Rubbish removal
Builders waste removal
Builders waste removal costs £100 to £200 for a small van load of 3 to 4 cubic metres and £250 to £400 for a large load outside London (Fantastic Services cost guide, October 2026). RubbishBids quotes £150 to £350 for a load of construction waste. For heavy rubble and soil, a grab lorry at £170 to £420 a load can work out cheaper than several van trips.
What this covers
Typical price. Builders waste removal by van costs £100 to £200 for a small load of 3 to 4 cubic metres and £250 to £400 for a large load outside London (Fantastic Services, October 2026).
Typical jobs
- Collecting bagged rubble and old tiles after a bathroom is stripped out
- Removing plasterboard offcuts kept separate from the rest of a loft conversion's waste
- Clearing timber, packaging and broken bricks from a front garden after an extension
- Taking away an old kitchen's units, worktops and wall tiles on the day it is removed
- Loading a grab lorry with soil and hardcore dug out for a new driveway
What is involved
Builders waste covers rubble, bricks, concrete, tiles, plaster, plasterboard, timber, old units and packaging from building and DIY work. A man and van suits bagged waste and mixed loads from inside the house. A skip suits a job that produces waste over several days, and a grab lorry suits loose heavy material such as soil and hardcore that can be scooped from a pile.
Weight is the limit, not space. Rubble and soil fill a van's payload long before they fill its body, which is why heavy loads cost more per cubic metre than household rubbish. Grab lorry loads cost £170 to £420 in our skip hire research (October 2026).
Plasterboard is gypsum-based and is collected and disposed of separately from other building waste. Skip firms charge £80 to £150 when plasterboard contaminates a mixed skip, so bag it separately.
Asbestos is hazardous waste and is refused by general rubbish and builders waste crews. Artex ceilings, old floor tiles and cement sheets in older homes can contain it: have it tested and removed by a specialist.
Householders doing their own DIY can also use the council recycling centre: the government said in June 2023 that councils in England should treat household DIY waste like other household waste.
Choosing a firm
If your builder is removing the waste, it is their waste to deal with, but they still need to be registered as a waste carrier. GOV.UK says registration is usually free for a business that only carries waste it produces itself. Ask for the number.
The rubbish removal page covers the rules.
Read next
Common questions
How much does it cost to get rid of builders rubble?
Fantastic Services prices a small van load of 3 to 4 cubic metres at £100 to £200 and a large load at £250 to £400 outside London (October 2026). RubbishBids quotes £150 to £350 for construction waste, and a grab lorry costs £170 to £420 a load.
Is a skip or a man and van cheaper for builders waste?
For one or two loads of bagged waste, a man and van is often cheaper and needs no permit. For a job that produces waste over a week or more, a skip suits better. For loose soil and rubble, a grab lorry avoids hand loading.
Can plasterboard go with other builders waste?
Keep it separate. Plasterboard is gypsum-based and is not accepted mixed with general waste, and skip firms charge £80 to £150 when it contaminates a mixed skip. Bag it apart and tell the firm.