Is recycling cheaper than landfilling concrete?

Often yes. Clean concrete tip fees at a crusher or C&D yard are usually lower than mixed landfill rates, and you avoid paying for dirt and trash in the same load. Call for current prices before you haul.

What happens to the rebar?

Crushers use magnets (and sometimes hand sorting) to pull steel reinforcement. The steel goes to a scrap yard. You do not need to cut every bar out yourself, but cleaner loads move faster and cost less. Rebar does not make concrete unrecyclable.

Why can't I mix drywall with concrete?

Gypsum from drywall and plaster adds sulfates that weaken recycled concrete aggregate and can cause problems in new mixes. Keep sheetrock in its own pile or it goes to landfill.

Can I put concrete in a curbside bin?

No. Concrete is a C&D material. Haul it to a concrete recycler, aggregate yard, or transfer station that accepts clean rubble.

Is US concrete recycling 95 percent?

Do not use that slogan. EPA 2018 next-use for C&D concrete was high (about 334 of 405 million tons, mostly as aggregate), but next use is not the same as a consumer recycling-rate claim. Grades for road base and fill differ from structural mix specs.

Is recycled concrete as good as virgin aggregate?

For road base and fill, properly graded RCA is widely used. Specs for structural new concrete are tighter and often limit how much RCA you can add. Ask the plant what grades they sell.

Construction recycling

How to Recycle Concrete

Cured concrete from sidewalks, foundations, driveways, and demolition. EPA estimated about 405 million tons of C&D concrete generated in 2018, the largest C&D stream. Most next use is aggregate; clean loads grade higher than mixed rubble.

RecyclableOften a tip fee that still beats mixed landfill rates (regional; commonly in a low tens-of-dollars-per-ton range). Clean RCA may sell for a few dollars per ton. Rebar scrap is separate revenue at the plant.Updated Jul 2026

Quick answer

Clean concrete is crushed into recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) for road base, fill, and some paving mixes. Keep gypsum, trash, and dirt out. Magnets pull rebar for scrap. Haul to a concrete recycler or C&D yard, not curbside.

Recyclable: Yes
Typical value: Often a tip fee that still beats mixed landfill rates (regional; commonly in a low tens-of-dollars-per-ton range). Clean RCA may sell for a few dollars per ton. Rebar scrap is separate revenue at the plant.
Donate / take-back: Available

How to Prepare

1Haul only cured concrete. Fresh pours are not recyclable scrap.
2

How to Recycle Concrete

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