Concrete Removal and Recycling in Seattle: Disposal Rules, Process, and Haul-Off

When an old driveway, patio, or slab comes out in Seattle, the broken concrete can't simply go to the dump. City code keeps concrete, brick, and asphalt paving out of construction garbage and sends them to recycling facilities instead. This post explains that rule, what happens to concrete after it leaves your property, the removal steps, and what to ask about haul-off. If you need the work done, start with our concrete demolition and removal service. For pricing, see the concrete demolition cost guide.

Seattle's rule: concrete stays out of C&D garbage

Seattle Municipal Code 21.36.089, adopted through Ordinance 123553 in 2011, prohibits disposing of concrete, bricks, and asphalt paving as construction and demolition (C&D) garbage. The ban has applied since 2012. Solid Waste Plan According to Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), it covers garbage containers at construction sites, intermodal containers, and private or public transfer stations. Removed material must go to a recycler or to one of SPU's qualified C&D recycling facilities. SPU

• Separated on site: clean concrete kept apart from other debris can go to any recycler that accepts it. SPU points to King County's "What do I do with...?" directory to find one.
• Mixed loads: if banned materials are mixed together or with garbage, they must go to a qualified facility. SPU's Director's Rule SW-620 sets the requirements for that classification. SPU SW-620
• Exclusions: the bans don't cover material that is painted, contains hazardous substances, is hard to separate, or is present in very small amounts. SPU
• Other banned C&D materials: metal, cardboard, new construction gypsum scrap, and unpainted, untreated wood are also banned from C&D disposal.

SPU periodically inspects job-site containers. Garbage containers must not hold targeted recyclables such as concrete.

From slab to recycled aggregate: the removal process

Here is the usual order of work for a residential slab, and what happens to the material at each stage.

1. Locate utilities. Washington law requires excavators to notify the 811 locate service at least two full business days before digging. RCW 19.122.030
2. Protect the site. Cover nearby siding, plants, and walkways, and control dust and slurry from sawcutting.
3. Sawcut the edges. A clean cut where the old slab meets concrete that stays, such as a garage slab or public sidewalk, keeps the break from spreading.
4. Break and sort. The slab is broken with a jackhammer or a breaker on a mini-excavator. Rebar and wire mesh are pulled out for metal recycling, and soil and roots are kept out of the concrete pile.
5. Load and haul. Clean concrete goes by dump truck or roll-off container to a concrete recycler.
6. Crush and reuse. At the recycler, concrete is crushed and screened into recycled concrete aggregate. That aggregate is used as base and fill on new projects, so it doesn't go to a landfill.
7. Clean up the subgrade. The exposed ground is cleared of debris and left ready for the next phase.

Seattle's wet season affects step 7. Once the slab comes off, clay and till subgrades soak up rain fast, so many crews remove the old slab close to the new pour date or cover the exposed base.

Questions to ask about haul-off

Haul-off is where bids differ most and where disposal rules apply, so get the answers in writing.

Ask	Why it matters
Is haul-off included in the price?	Some bids leave disposal "by owner" or price it separately.
Where will the concrete go?	It should be a recycler or qualified facility, not a garbage container.
Will concrete be kept separate from other debris?	Clean, separated loads can go to more recyclers.
How is rebar or mesh handled?	Metal is also on Seattle's C&D disposal ban list.
Who hauls it?	SPU exempts demolition companies hauling their own debris and residents self-hauling from their own property from its third-party hauling rules. A hired hauler must follow container rules. SPU
What about painted or contaminated concrete?	Painted or contaminated material is excluded from the ban and may need different handling.

Non-concrete debris like sod, roots, old fencing, and forms is a separate cleanup task. Our post on site cleanup before and after a concrete project covers it.

Permits and paperwork

Removing concrete flatwork doesn't usually need its own building permit. SDCI lists "patio and concrete slabs on the ground" among work that usually doesn't need a permit, unless the property is in an environmentally critical area. SDCI Other rules can still apply:

• Right-of-way work: removing or rebuilding a driveway apron, curb cut, or public sidewalk falls under City right-of-way permits, with SDOT inspections. See the driveway approach permit guide.
• Replacement: if the slab is being replaced, adding or replacing 750 square feet or more of paving requires an SDCI grading permit and also triggers drainage review. Stormwater Code Our stormwater rules guide explains it.
• Waste diversion reports: under SPU Director's Rule SW-405.2, building-permit projects that fall under the rule must report the quantities and destinations of C&D materials within 60 days of final inspection. That includes demolition permits and new construction or alteration valued at $75,000 or more. SPU SW-405.2

For the broader permit picture, read permits and inspections for concrete work in Seattle. To schedule removal with recycling, call Seattle Concrete at (206) 552-9998.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put old concrete in a dumpster in Seattle?

Not in a construction garbage container. Seattle Municipal Code 21.36.089 bans concrete, bricks, and asphalt paving from C&D garbage containers and from transfer stations. Use a container labeled for recycling, or haul the concrete to a recycler or one of SPU's qualified C&D recycling facilities. Painted or contaminated material is excluded from the ban.

What happens to concrete after it is removed?

Clean concrete is hauled to a recycler, where it is crushed and screened into recycled concrete aggregate. That aggregate is reused as base and fill on new projects. Rebar and wire mesh are separated and recycled as scrap metal.

Do I need a permit to remove a concrete patio or driveway in Seattle?

SDCI lists patios and concrete slabs on grade among work that usually doesn't need a building permit, unless the property is in an environmentally critical area. Work on a driveway apron, curb cut, or public sidewalk needs City right-of-way permits. Adding or replacing 750 square feet or more of paving requires an SDCI grading permit and also triggers drainage review.

Is rebar recycled along with the concrete?

Rebar and wire mesh are usually pulled out during breakup and recycled as scrap metal. Metal is one of the materials Seattle bans from C&D garbage disposal, along with concrete, bricks, asphalt paving, cardboard, new construction gypsum scrap, and unpainted, untreated wood.

Do homeowners have to file a waste diversion report?

Only for projects with an SDCI permit covered by SPU's Director's Rule SW-405.2: demolition permits, and new construction or alteration valued at $75,000 or more. The report lists the quantities and destinations of C&D materials and is due within 60 days of final inspection. Patio or driveway removals that don't need a building permit generally fall outside it.

Sources

• Seattle Public Utilities, Construction and Demolition Waste Management (disposal bans, exclusions, waste diversion reports)
• Seattle Public Utilities, Qualified C&D Recycling Facilities (Director's Rule SW-620)
• Seattle Public Utilities, Third-Party Hauling Requirements for Construction Materials
• SPU Director's Rule SW-405.2, Waste Diversion Report Submittal Process (summarizes SMC 21.36.089)
• Seattle 2022 Solid Waste Plan Update, Chapter 8: Construction and Demolition Debris (Ordinance 123553)
• Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, Do You Need a Permit? and Stormwater Code
• Washington State Legislature, RCW 19.122.030 (excavation notice)