The Complete Guide
Concrete & Rebar Recycling in Austin, TX
Concrete is one of the most recycled materials in construction — but only when it’s clean. Here’s what actually counts as recyclable concrete, why the “clean” rule matters so much, and how the process works.
What Is Concrete Recycling?
Concrete recycling is the process of collecting demolished or removed concrete — slabs, footings, driveways, sidewalks — and crushing it down to be reused as aggregate base material in new construction, road base, or fill. Because concrete is essentially rock, it’s one of the most straightforward materials to recycle at scale, and recyclers actively want it — as long as it’s clean. Dumpster Dogs hauls clean concrete and rebar from Austin-area job sites directly to a dedicated concrete recycling facility.
Why Recycle Concrete Instead of Landfilling It?
It’s Nearly 100% Reusable
Crushed clean concrete becomes aggregate base material for new construction, driveways, and road projects — almost nothing is wasted.
Supports LEED Credit
Concrete is one of the material streams named in Austin’s own C&D ordinance. See our LEED & ordinance guide.
It’s Heavy — Recycling Controls Cost
Concrete is dense. Hauling it to a dedicated concrete recycling facility instead of a general landfill is usually the more cost-effective path for heavy loads.
The One Rule That Matters Most: It Has to Be Clean
We accept clean concrete, with or without rebar, at a set price with no overages. That word — clean — is doing a lot of work, so let’s be direct about what it means: no trash, no wood, no drywall, no packaging, no dirt clumped in, nothing mixed in beyond the concrete and its rebar.
If a load shows up with trash mixed in, it can’t be recycled. The whole load has to go to the landfill instead, and the customer incurs standard overage charges — the flat concrete rate only applies to genuinely clean loads. Keeping a dedicated container for concrete only, separate from your general debris, is what keeps your load recyclable and keeps you on the flat rate.
What’s Accepted vs. What’s Not
Accepted (Clean Loads Only)
- Plain concrete (slabs, footings, driveways, sidewalks)
- Concrete with embedded rebar
- Broken concrete from demolition
Not Accepted / Breaks the “Clean” Rule
- Wood, drywall, or general C&D debris mixed in
- Trash, packaging, or household waste
- Paint, liquids, or hazardous materials
- Large amounts of dirt or non-rock material mixed in
Not sure if your load qualifies? Call and describe what you’ve got — we’ll tell you straight whether it’s a fit for the clean concrete rate or needs a standard C&D dumpster instead.
How the Process Works
Tell us it’s a clean concrete load. We’ll set you up with a dedicated container just for concrete and rebar — keeping it separate from general debris is what keeps it recyclable.
We deliver the container to your site — 24-hour delivery in most cases.
You load clean concrete only — rebar is fine, trash and other debris are not.
We haul it to a dedicated concrete recycling facility in the Austin area, where it’s crushed and reused as aggregate instead of landfilled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can rebar be in the concrete, or does it need to be removed first?
Rebar embedded in the concrete is fine — it’s separated out during processing. You don’t need to remove it beforehand.
What happens if trash ends up in my concrete container?
A contaminated load can’t be recycled as concrete — the whole load has to go to the landfill instead, and standard overage charges apply. The flat concrete rate only covers genuinely clean loads, so it’s worth keeping a close eye on what goes in.
Can I mix concrete with other demolition debris in the same container?
You can, but it defeats the purpose — a mixed load has to be handled as general C&D debris rather than recycled concrete. Keeping concrete in its own dedicated container is what qualifies it for the clean rate.
What can concrete be recycled into?
Clean, crushed concrete is typically reused as aggregate base material — the compacted layer under new roads, driveways, and building foundations.
How much does clean concrete recycling cost?
We offer a set price for clean concrete and rebar loads with no overages — call us for current pricing on your project size and location.
Have clean concrete and rebar to haul off in Austin? We’ll get you a dedicated container at a set price — no overages, as long as it stays clean.
Call (512) 962-2586 for Pricing