A yard of #57 stone weighs 2,600 lbs. A Toyota Tacoma payload: 1,685 lbs. You can fit 1.2 cubic yards in the bed. You can safely carry 0.6 cubic yards by weight. One full yard does not fit.

This gap between volume capacity and weight capacity is the mistake that cracks frames, blows tires, and gets trucks pulled over at DOT scales. Your truck bed holds 2 yards of space. Your axles handle less than 1 yard of stone.

This guide covers weight per cubic yard for 22 common materials, rated payload for 10 vehicle classes, and the math that connects them. Print the tables. Run the numbers before you load.

What Does a Yard of Material Weigh?

How much does a yard of gravel weigh? That depends on which material you mean. A yard of dry sand weighs 2,700 lbs. A yard of mulch weighs 600 lbs. The range across common construction and landscape materials spans 400 lbs to 3,400 lbs per cubic yard.

Aggregates

Organic Materials

Demolition Debris

Processed Fill

The takeaway: aggregates run 2,500 to 3,400 lbs per yard. Demo debris runs 2,000 to 3,200 lbs. Organic materials run 400 to 1,400 lbs. That 3x to 8x weight difference is why the same truck bed handles very different loads.

Moisture changes everything. Topsoil jumps 50% heavier after rain. Sand gains 15%. Crusher run swings from 2,500 lbs dry to 2,900 lbs wet. Wood chips double in weight when freshly chipped versus kiln-dried. If you loaded a material dry last week and plan to load it after a rainstorm, recalculate. The truck does not care what the material weighed on the spec sheet. It cares what the material weighs right now.

For a full breakdown of crushed stone sizes and grades, including weight per cubic yard by grade number, see our reference chart.

Volume Capacity vs. Weight Capacity: The Trap That Breaks Trucks

Every truck has two capacities. Volume: how many cubic yards fit in the bed. Payload: how many pounds the chassis, axles, tires, and brakes can handle. These two numbers almost never align.

Here is a visual way to think about it. A standard pickup bed is a box that holds about 2 cubic yards. Picture that box full of stone. Now picture that same box full of mulch. Both loads fill the same space. One weighs 5,200 lbs. The other weighs 1,200 lbs. Same volume, wildly different weight. The truck does not care how full the bed looks. It cares how much the load weighs.

Heavy Material Example: F-150 + #57 Stone

An F-150 with a 6.5-foot bed holds about 2 cubic yards level (62 cubic feet of interior volume, minus wheel well intrusion). #57 stone weighs 2,600 lbs per yard.

• 2.0 cubic yards x 2,600 lbs = 5,200 lbs
• F-150 payload (XLT, 2025): 1,800 lbs
• Over by 3,400 lbs at a full bed

Fill that bed to the rails with stone and you are carrying nearly triple the rated payload. The suspension compresses. The rear bumper drops toward the tires. Braking distance doubles and steering gets loose.

The safe amount: 0.7 cubic yards. About a third of the bed.

Light Material Example: F-150 + Mulch

Same truck, different material. Mulch weighs 600 lbs per yard.

• 2.0 cubic yards x 600 lbs = 1,200 lbs
• F-150 payload: 1,800 lbs
• Under payload by 600 lbs

The bed is full but the truck barely notices. Volume limits you before weight does.

The rule: Light materials fill your bed. Heavy materials break your axles. Always check BOTH numbers.

The Quick Math

For any material and any vehicle, the safe load is whichever number is lower:

Safe cubic yards = LOWER of (bed volume) or (payload lbs / material weight per yd)

Example: F-250 with 2.0 yd bed and 4,000 lb payload hauling #57 stone at 2,600 lbs/yd.

• Volume limit: 2.0 yd
• Weight limit: 4,000 / 2,600 = 1.5 yd
• Safe load: 1.5 yd (weight is the bottleneck)

Same truck hauling mulch at 600 lbs/yd:

• Volume limit: 2.0 yd
• Weight limit: 4,000 / 600 = 6.7 yd
• Safe load: 2.0 yd (volume is the bottleneck)

Run this formula for every load. It takes 10 seconds and prevents a $5,000 repair bill.

How Much Can Your Truck Actually Carry?

Ten vehicle classes from a half-ton pickup to a tri-axle dump. Bed volume, rated payload, and max safe cubic yards of three reference materials: #57 stone (heavy), mulch (light), and dry topsoil (medium).

Every pickup is weight-limited on stone. You hit payload before you fill the bed. Even the F-350 DRW (2.5 yd bed, 2.1 yd safe stone) leaves nearly half a yard of empty bed at max weight. Dump trailers are the first vehicles where volume and weight roughly balance on heavy aggregate.

Every pickup is volume-limited on mulch. Payload is not the problem. Bed size is.

Note: Subtract 300 to 500 lbs from rated payload for driver weight, toolbox, hitch, and gear. A 1,800-lb F-150 payload becomes 1,300 to 1,500 lbs in the real world. That drops your safe stone load from 0.7 to 0.5 cubic yards.

How to find your truck’s payload. Open the driver door and look for the yellow and white tire and loading information sticker. It lists the maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo. That is your payload. Not the towing sticker. Not the GVWR plate on the door jamb (GVWR minus curb weight equals payload, but the sticker does the math for you). Every truck off the assembly line gets a unique payload number based on its specific options, cab size, and engine.

Payload varies by configuration. The F-250 XLT ranges from 3,546 to 4,240 lbs depending on engine and drivetrain. The 4,000 lbs shown above represents the gas V8 crew cab. Your specific truck may differ by 500 lbs or more. Check the door sticker.

Dump truck capacities match standard industry ranges: single-axle 6 to 8 tons, tandem 15 to 18 tons, tri-axle 20 to 24 tons. See the delivery logistics section in our crushed stone calculator for delivery fee math.

How Many Yards Can You Haul?

The tables above show three materials. Below are all 22 materials in four hauling groups with the safe maximum cubic yards per vehicle. Every value accounts for both volume and payload limits. Rounded to nearest 0.1 yd.

Aggregates (Highest Overload Risk)

Every pickup in this table is weight-limited. You hit payload before you fill the bed on any aggregate material.

Organic Materials (Volume-Limited)

Mulch, chips, and compost are volume-limited on every vehicle. The bed fills before payload matters. Three exceptions: stumps, wet topsoil, and compost in a Tacoma. Stumps with root balls weigh as much as dry topsoil (2,000 lbs/yd) and weight-limit pickups the same way stone does. Wet topsoil after rain behaves like aggregate. Check your material and the forecast before you load.

Demolition Debris

Brick is the heaviest common demo material at 3,000 lbs per yard. An F-150 carries 0.6 cubic yards of brick, barely enough to cover the bed floor. Concrete rubble is lighter than most people expect because the broken pieces leave air voids (solid concrete weighs 4,050 lbs/yd; rubble runs 2,000 to 2,500). Every demo material except mixed C&D weight-limits pickups.

Processed Fill

How Many Trips Does Your Job Take?

Three common scenarios with trip counts and costs.

Scenario A: 10 Cubic Yards of #57 Stone for a Driveway

F-350 DRW: 10 / 2.1 = 5 trips. At 30 minutes per round trip to the quarry, that is 2.5 hours of driving plus loading time.

Medium dump trailer: 10 / 3.8 = 3 trips. You need a 3/4-ton or 1-ton truck to tow a loaded medium dump trailer carrying 9,880 lbs of stone.

Tandem dump truck delivery: 10 yards at 1.30 tons per yard = 13 tons. One tandem load at $150 to $250 delivery fee. Done in one trip.

The delivery math usually wins. Five round trips in a pickup at 15 miles each way = 150 miles. At $0.70/mile (IRS rate), that is $105 in mileage alone. Add 4 hours of labor at $35/hr and you spent $245 in time and fuel. One $200 dump truck delivery saves money and frees you to work the job. For full tonnage calculations, see our crushed stone calculator.

Scenario B: 15 Cubic Yards of Mulch for a Landscape Project

Medium dump trailer: 15 / 5.0 = 3 trips. Mulch is volume-limited, so 5 cubic yards fills the trailer at only 3,000 lbs. Light towing. Any half-ton truck handles this load. The bottleneck is trailer size, not truck capability.

F-150: 15 / 2.0 = 8 trips. Possible but painful. At 20 minutes per round trip, that is nearly 3 hours of driving. Rent a dump trailer for $150/day and cut it to 3 trips.

Bulk delivery: Many mulch suppliers deliver 10 to 15 cubic yards in a single dump truck load for $75 to $150. Cheaper than a trailer rental if you do not already own one.

Scenario C: 50 Tons of Concrete Debris from a Demo Job

Tandem dump truck: 50 tons at 15 tons per load (conservative) = 4 loads. At $150 to $250 per haul, trucking runs $600 to $1,000.

Add tipping fees at the receiving facility: $35 to $55 per ton in most Southeast markets. That is 50 tons x $45 average = $2,250 in disposal alone. Total haul-and-dump cost: $2,850 to $3,250.

That $2,850 to $3,250 disappears if you crush the concrete on-site and reuse it as base aggregate. More on that in Section 8 below.

Our tonnage estimation guide has formulas for sizing demo jobs before the first hammer swing. Ordering stone? The crushed stone calculator covers waste factors, and our crusher run guide covers settlement: order 15 to 25% more than the math says.

When to Self-Haul vs. Hire Delivery

Self-hauling makes sense in three situations. First: you already own a dump trailer and the supply yard is under 10 miles away. Second: you only need 1 to 2 cubic yards of light material like mulch or topsoil that fits in your pickup. Third: you need material at odd hours when delivery is not available.

Hire delivery for everything else. On any job over 5 cubic yards of aggregate, the delivery fee is cheaper than your fuel, time, and vehicle wear. On any job over 10 yards, it is not even close. A tandem dump truck delivers 12 yards of stone in one trip for $150 to $250. That same 12 yards would take 6 trips in an F-350 DRW at 2.1 yards per trip.

The break-even point for most contractors: about 3 cubic yards of heavy material. Below that, self-haul. Above that, call the truck.

What Happens When You Overload

Overloading is not a “maybe it will be fine” situation. Every supply yard in the country sees trucks leave overloaded every day. The guy at the loader asks how much you want. You say “fill it up.” He fills it up. Nobody runs the payload math. Here are the four categories of consequences.

Safety

• Blown tires. Tire load ratings are absolute. An OEM truck tire on a Tacoma is rated for roughly 2,500 to 2,700 lbs per tire depending on size and load index. Exceed the rating and the tire overheats and fails at highway speed.
• Brake fade. Braking distance increases in direct proportion to load. Double the payload, double the stopping distance. Downhill with stone and faded brakes is how wrecks happen.
• Suspension failure. Leaf springs crack. Shocks bottom out. The rear axle contacts the bump stops and stays there. Steering goes vague because the front tires are unloaded.

Legal

• DOT fines. Overweight citations range from $100 to $500+ per 1,000 lbs over in most states.
• CDL threshold. A combined GVWR over 26,001 lbs means you need a CDL. A 3/4-ton truck (10,000 lb GVWR) plus a loaded medium dump trailer (14,000 lb GVWR) = 24,000 lbs. Add 2,001 lbs of overload and you crossed a legal line.
• Insurance void. Exceeding rated GVWR can void your vehicle insurance. Wreck while overloaded and your insurer denies the claim. Liability coverage may also be affected. If you injure someone while operating an overloaded vehicle, your personal assets are exposed.

Vehicle Damage

Warped frames, cracked leaf springs, premature drivetrain wear, bent axle housings, and transmission overheating. A leaf spring replacement on an F-250 runs $800 to $1,500 in parts and labor. A warped frame is a total loss on most trucks. One overloaded trip often costs more in repairs than two proper trips would have cost in time and fuel.

The visual test: If the rear bumper sits level with the tires, you are over. Step out and look before you leave the yard.

For federal weight limits on public roads, see the FHWA bridge formula and weight limits.

The Real Answer: Process Material On-Site

Every trip calculation in this guide assumes you are hauling material from point A to point B. The alternative: bring the processing equipment to the material and skip hauling entirely.

Concrete debris: A portable jaw crusher turns 50 tons of broken concrete into reusable base aggregate on the same site. Zero haul trips. Zero tipping fees. Zero payload math. The crusher does the work where the material sits. On-site crushing costs $5 to $12 per ton. Hauling to a landfill costs $35 to $55 per ton in tipping fees plus $150 to $250 per truckload in trucking. On a 50-ton job, that is $250 to $600 for crushing versus $2,850 to $3,250 for hauling. See our guide to on-site concrete crushing for the full process and cost breakdown.

Raw topsoil and fill: A trommel screen separates clean topsoil from rocks, roots, and debris on-site. No trucking raw material to a processing yard and back. A CZ Screen M412 MIDI processes 30 to 50 cubic yards per hour. Feed in rough fill, get back clean topsoil off one belt and rock off the other. Screen it on your lot and stockpile the finished product. Screened topsoil sells for $25 to $45 per yard at landscape supply yards. Unscreened fill is worth $5 to $10. The screen turns a low-value pile into a sellable product.

Mixed aggregates: A vibratory screener sorts stockpiled material into graded products. Clean stone off one belt, fines off another, oversize off the third. Three products from one feed. No trips to three different suppliers. No loading, hauling, or unloading at each stop.

GrinderCrusherScreen has connected contractors with portable crushing and screening equipment since 1973. We do not own or operate machinery. We match you with the right equipment for your job. Call 770-433-2670 or visit the concrete crusher rental, trommel screen rental, or screener rental pages for pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a yard of gravel weigh?

A cubic yard of natural washed gravel weighs about 2,800 lbs (1.40 tons). Crushed stone (#57) weighs about 2,600 lbs per yard (1.30 tons). Crusher run weighs 2,500 to 2,900 lbs per yard depending on moisture content.

The term “gravel” covers different products at different supply yards. Natural gravel (rounded river stone) is slightly heavier than crushed stone because the smooth particles pack tighter with fewer air voids. Always confirm the exact weight with your supplier, since source rock and gradation affect density.

Can I haul a yard of gravel in a pickup truck?

It depends on the material and the truck. A Ford F-150 has a payload of about 1,800 lbs and a 6.5-foot bed that holds roughly 2 cubic yards. One cubic yard of #57 stone weighs 2,600 lbs. That is 800 lbs over the rated payload. You cannot safely carry a full yard of stone in an F-150.

You can carry 0.7 cubic yards of stone, or a full bed of mulch (1,200 lbs), within the payload rating. An F-250 with a 4,000-lb payload handles about 1.5 cubic yards of stone. An F-350 DRW with a 5,500-lb payload handles 2.1 cubic yards. Check the payload sticker on your driver door jamb and do the weight math before you load.

How much does a yard of mulch weigh?

Natural bark mulch weighs 400 to 600 lbs per cubic yard. Colored mulch runs slightly heavier at 500 to 700 lbs because the dye and added moisture increase density. Fresh wood chips weigh 600 to 1,000 lbs per yard depending on species and moisture content.

Mulch is always volume-limited in pickup trucks. The bed fills long before you approach the payload limit. A standard F-150 bed holds about 2 cubic yards of mulch at roughly 1,200 lbs total, well under the 1,800-lb payload. If you need more than 2 cubic yards of mulch, a dump trailer or bulk delivery is the practical move.

What is the difference between payload and towing capacity?

Payload is the total weight you put IN and ON the truck. That includes bed cargo, passengers, toolboxes, and hitch weight from a trailer. Towing capacity is the total weight the truck can pull BEHIND it. They are separate ratings and both have limits.

Loading stone in the bed uses payload. Pulling a loaded dump trailer uses towing capacity AND payload, since tongue weight counts against your payload number. You must stay under both ratings at the same time.

A common mistake: a contractor with a 10,000-lb towing capacity thinks he can tow a 10,000-lb loaded trailer. But the 800-lb tongue weight of that trailer counts against his 1,800-lb payload. Add a driver and toolbox and he is already close to payload limit before the bed is loaded. The payload rating is on the yellow sticker on the driver door jamb. Towing capacity is in the owner’s manual.

How many yards of dirt can a dump truck carry?

A single-axle dump truck carries about 5 cubic yards (5 to 7 tons of dirt). A tandem carries about 12 cubic yards (12 to 16 tons). A tri-axle carries about 16 cubic yards (16 to 22 tons).

Dirt weight varies by type: clean fill dirt runs about 2,200 to 2,600 lbs per yard, while wet clay runs 2,800 to 3,200 lbs per yard. Always ask if the dirt has been sitting in rain. A stockpile that started at 2,400 lbs per yard can hit 3,000 lbs after a week of storms.

Dump trucks are sized so that volume and payload roughly balance for most materials. Unlike pickups, dump trucks rarely face the volume vs. weight trap because both capacities are built for heavy loads.

Site prep has four phases: clear, demolish, process, and grade. Each phase needs different equipment. Getting the sequence wrong costs time and money. Skipping Phase 3 costs even more.

Most contractors nail Phases 1 and 2. They clear the trees, knock down the structure, and pile everything up. Then they call 15 trucks to haul it all to a landfill at $45 a ton. The material they just paid to throw away is the same material they need to buy back in Phase 4.

This guide walks through each phase, the equipment it requires, and where on-site processing keeps dollars on your job site instead of at the dump.

Phase 1: Clearing (Trees, Brush, Vegetation)

The first machine on a raw site is usually an excavator with a grapple or a forestry mulcher. Chainsaw crews handle select trees. A mulcher handles everything else: saplings, brush, underbrush, small-diameter timber.

The output is wood waste. Lots of it. A 5-acre wooded lot produces hundreds of cubic yards of vegetative debris. For a full cost breakdown by terrain type, see our land clearing cost per acre guide. You have three choices for dealing with it:

1. Haul it out. Expensive. A 500-cubic-yard brush pile fills 25 trucks. 2. Chip it. Slow. A chipper handles limbs, not stumps or root balls. 3. Burn it on-site. Fast. An air curtain burner reduces 500 cubic yards to a few yards of ash.

For wood waste disposal, air curtain burners are the fastest option. The Merris WX-5 handles small residential and commercial sites. The WX-8 handles large commercial and land-clearing projects with heavy timber volume.

Air curtain burners hold temperatures above 1,800 degrees F. The air curtain traps particulates. Most states approve them in counties where open pile burning is banned. One unit replaces 20+ haul trips.

Skip this phase if the site is already cleared or previously developed. Go straight to Phase 2.

Phase 2: Demolition (Existing Structures)

Demolition equipment depends on the structure. Common setups:

• Concrete slab or foundation: Excavator with a hydraulic breaker
• Steel-frame building: Excavator with a hydraulic shear
• Block or masonry: Excavator with a breaker or a standard bucket
• Residential teardown: Skid steer, loader, and a demo crew

The output is piles of concrete, block, brick, and rebar-reinforced rubble. On a commercial demo, expect 100 to 500 tons of material. On a bridge deck or parking garage, expect more.

Here is the critical decision point: do not haul this material off-site yet. Every ton you send to a C&D landfill costs $35 to $55 in tipping fees plus trucking. Every ton you process on-site becomes free base material for Phase 4.

Move everything to a central staging area. Stack it where the crusher can reach it. Process it in Phase 3.

Phase 3: On-Site Processing (Crushing and Screening)

This is where most contractors leave money on the table. The rubble from Phase 2 and the soil from excavation are not waste. They are raw material. For a full rundown of what you can and cannot recycle on-site, see our C&D waste recycling guide.

Concrete and Masonry: Jaw Crusher

A portable jaw crusher converts demolition rubble into spec base aggregate. The excavator feeds broken concrete into the hopper. The crusher outputs 3/4-inch minus material, clean and ready for compaction.

Two models fit most site prep work:

• Evortle CT-535: Compact unit at 14,330 lbs. Tows behind a pickup on a tag-along trailer. Sized for residential demo, driveways, foundations, and small commercial pads.
• Evortle CT-850: Production unit at 52,910 lbs. Requires a lowboy for transport. Sized for large commercial demo, parking structures, and municipal infrastructure.

The CT-535 processes 120 to 240 tons per day depending on the target product size. The CT-850 handles 500 to 1,000 tons per day at production pace.

One note: jaw crushers process concrete, block, brick, and rock. They do not process asphalt. Asphalt requires an impact crusher.

Browse available concrete crushers in the Southeast.

Soil and Mixed Material: Trommel Screen

A trommel screen separates mixed excavation material into clean fractions. Soil, aggregate, roots, and debris feed into a rotating drum. Clean topsoil falls through the screen. Oversized material (rocks, roots, debris) exits the end.

Two models cover the range:

• CZ Screen MDS MIDI: Compact trommel for residential lots, utility projects, and tight sites with limited space.
• Screen USA TROM 512: Production trommel for large commercial sites, subdivision grading, and high-volume screening.

Screening turns mixed fill into two products: clean topsoil for finish grading and clean aggregate for base prep. Both go straight into Phase 4.

Browse available trommel screens in the Southeast.

The Result

Phase 3 output replaces two purchases you would otherwise make:

1. Crushed aggregate for subgrade and base prep (normally $8 to $15 per ton, delivered) 2. Screened topsoil for finish grading (normally $15 to $25 per cubic yard, delivered)

You already own the material. You just need the equipment to process it.

Phase 4: Grading and Base Prep

Phase 4 is standard earthwork: dozer, grader, compactor, water truck. The difference is where your material comes from.

Without Phase 3: You haul out all demolition debris (paying tipping fees and trucking), then haul in imported aggregate and topsoil (paying material costs and trucking again). Two-way trucking. Two invoices.

With Phase 3: You spread the crushed aggregate from your own rubble as subgrade and base material. You spread the screened topsoil from your own excavation spoils for finish grading. Zero import costs. Zero export costs.

The dozer pushes your processed material into place. The grader brings it to spec. The compactor locks it down. Same Phase 4 workflow, but the material bill drops to zero.

Equipment Sizing by Project Type

Not every site needs every machine. Here is a quick sizing reference.

On previously developed sites with no trees, skip the air burner. On sites with no existing structures, skip the crusher. Match the equipment to the material on your site.

What This Saves You

On-site processing eliminates four cost categories that bleed demo and site prep budgets:

• Tipping fees: $35 to $55 per ton at Southeast C&D landfills
• Trucking (outbound): $4 to $6 per mile round-trip per 20-ton load
• Imported aggregate: $8 to $15 per ton, delivered
• Imported topsoil: $15 to $25 per cubic yard, delivered

Real Example: 5-Acre Commercial Site Prep

A 5-acre commercial demo produces roughly 300 tons of concrete rubble and 200 cubic yards of mixed excavation soil. Here is the math without on-site processing:

With a crusher and trommel on-site, the tipping fees, trucking, and material purchases drop to near zero. Equipment rental for a week runs $10,000 to $15,000 depending on the models. That leaves $16,000 to $21,000 in net savings on a single job.

The math gets better on larger projects. It also gets better when the nearest C&D facility is 30+ miles from the job site.

Get the Right Equipment on Your Site

GrinderCrusherScreen has connected contractors with portable crushers, trommel screens, and air burners since 1973. Need a CT-535 for a residential demo in Atlanta? A CT-850 and TROM 512 for commercial site prep in Jacksonville? A trommel for screening soil in Charlotte? We match you with a provider who delivers to your job site.

Call 770-433-2670 to get sized for your next site prep project. Or browse equipment and pricing on the main site.

Tipping fees are the single biggest line item most contractors forget to bid. A 200-ton concrete demo job in Florida costs $10,500 in disposal fees alone. That number hits before you load the first truck.

This guide breaks down what tipping fees are, what they cost state by state, and three ways to cut them to zero.

What Is a Tipping Fee?

A tipping fee is the per-ton charge a landfill, transfer station, or recycling facility charges to accept your waste. The name comes from the action: you back up to the working face, “tip” your load, and pay at the scale house on the way out.

Most construction and demolition (C&D) facilities charge per ton. The truck rolls across an inbound scale, dumps, then rolls across the outbound scale. The weight difference is your billable tonnage. Some smaller operations charge per cubic yard or flat per-load fees instead, but ton-based pricing is the industry standard at permitted C&D landfills.

The fee varies by material type too. Clean concrete typically gets a lower gate rate than mixed C&D loads. Loads with contaminants (lead paint, asbestos-containing drywall) cost more because they require special handling cells.

Three things drive tipping fee rates:

1. Operating costs. Dozers, compactors, labor, and diesel to spread and compact waste daily. 2. Environmental compliance. Liner systems, leachate collection, groundwater monitoring wells, stormwater ponds, and air quality permits all add cost per ton. 3. Closure and post-closure funds. Federal law requires every landfill to set aside money for final capping, grading, revegetation, and 30 years of post-closure groundwater monitoring.

These costs get passed directly to you at the scale house. And they rise every year. Tipping fees have increased faster than inflation in recent years. The national average rose 10% in a single year between 2023 and 2024, reaching $62.28 per ton for municipal solid waste. The EPA estimates over 600 million tons of C&D debris are generated in the US each year, and disposal costs climb as landfill capacity tightens.

How Much Are Tipping Fees? State-by-State Rates

Tipping fees vary by state, county, facility, and material type. C&D waste (concrete, asphalt, wood, drywall) usually costs less than municipal solid waste (MSW) because it takes up more space but poses fewer contamination risks.

Here are average C&D tipping fee rates for six Southeast states:

Key variables that shift your actual rate:

• Material type. Clean concrete often gets a lower rate than mixed C&D. Vegetative waste sometimes has a separate, cheaper fee. Contaminated material (painted wood, drywall with lead paint) costs significantly more.
• Volume commitments. Some facilities offer discounted rates for contractors who bring consistent volume.
• Distance from metro areas. Rural landfills with open capacity tend to charge less than urban transfer stations.

MSW tipping fees run 20-40% higher than C&D rates at most facilities. Vegetative waste (stumps, brush, logs) often gets a separate, lower rate at facilities that grind and mulch it.

One more thing to watch: surcharges. Many landfills add fuel surcharges, environmental fees, or gate fees on top of the published per-ton rate. Always ask for the “all-in” gate rate before you bid a job. A $45/ton posted rate can turn into $52/ton after surcharges.

The Real Cost of Tipping Fees on a Demo Job

Tipping fees are only part of the disposal bill. Every ton you haul off-site also costs you trucking, driver time, and lost production on the demo site. Here is a real example.

Job: 200-ton concrete slab demo in Central Florida.

That $12,550 is pure disposal cost. No demo labor. No excavator rental. No site prep. No profit margin. For a deeper look at concrete disposal economics specifically, see our concrete disposal cost breakdown.

On most demo jobs, haul-out and disposal eat 15-25% of the total project budget. On smaller slabs and foundations, the percentage climbs even higher because the fixed costs (mobilization, permits, traffic control) stay the same regardless of tonnage.

Now multiply that across a year of jobs. A mid-size demo contractor running 15-20 jobs per year can easily spend $150,000-$250,000 annually on tipping fees and trucking.

Every haul trip also burns production time. Your excavator sits idle while the truck runs to the landfill and back. A two-hour round trip is standard. On a 10-load job, that is 20 hours of gate-to-gate trucking. Your operator waits. Your timeline stretches. Your overhead keeps ticking.

There is also a hidden cost most contractors miss: fuel. A loaded tri-axle burns roughly 4-5 gallons per hour. Ten round trips at two hours each uses 80-100 gallons of diesel. At $4/gallon, that adds $320-$400 to the disposal bill that never shows up on the tipping receipt.

Three Ways to Reduce or Eliminate Tipping Fees

The math changes when you process material on-site instead of hauling it to a landfill. Here are three methods that work.

1. On-Site Crushing

A portable jaw crusher turns reinforced concrete into reusable aggregate right on the demo site. Your excavator feeds broken slab into the hopper. The crusher processes rebar-reinforced concrete and outputs 3/4-inch minus base material. That crushed product works as road base, pipe bedding, backfill, or parking lot sub-base.

The numbers on that 200-ton Florida job:

• Tipping fees eliminated: $10,500
• Trucking eliminated: $1,350
• Driver time eliminated: $700
• Value of crushed base material (200 tons x ~$12/ton): $2,400
• Total swing: $14,950

A compact crusher like the Evortle CT-535 handles jobs in the 50-150 ton range. For larger demo work (parking structures, bridge decks, commercial foundations), the CT-850 processes 65 to 130 tons per hour. For a step-by-step walkthrough of the crushing process, see how on-site concrete crushing works.

See available concrete crushers in the Southeast.

2. On-Site Screening

A trommel screen separates mixed material into clean, reusable fractions. Feed goes into the rotating drum. Clean soil drops through the screen openings. Oversize rock and aggregate discharge off the end. Debris and trash get sorted out separately.

The result: 60-70% of your material stays on-site as usable fill or topsoil. Only the contaminated fraction goes to the landfill. That cuts your tipping fees, trucking, and haul time by roughly the same percentage.

Screening works well on excavation spoils, land-clearing sites with mixed fill, utility trenching backfill, and any job where dirt and debris are mixed together. Instead of paying $45/ton to dump clean soil at a landfill, you screen it and reuse it on the same project.

See available trommel screens in the Southeast.

3. On-Site Burning

An air curtain burner processes vegetative waste on the job site: trees, stumps, brush, root balls, and land-clearing debris. A high-velocity curtain of air feeds the fire pit, holding combustion temperatures above 1,800 degrees F. That high heat reduces wood waste volume by roughly 95%.

Here is what that means in practice. A 500-cubic-yard brush pile from a 10-acre clearing job burns down to a few cubic yards of ash. That is 25 truckloads reduced to one. At $35/ton tipping and $135/load trucking, burning saves $4,000-$6,000 on a single clearing job.

Most Southeast states allow air curtain burners in counties where open pile burning is banned. The controlled combustion produces far less smoke and particulate than open burning, which makes permitting easier.

See available air burners in the Southeast.

When On-Site Processing Beats Hauling

Not every job justifies renting a crusher or a screen. Here is a quick sizing guide.

At a $45/ton tipping fee, the break-even point for a crusher rental is roughly 50 tons. Below that, the rental mobilization cost exceeds what you save on tipping and trucking.

Other factors that tip the math toward on-site processing:

• Long haul distances. If the nearest C&D facility is 30+ miles away, trucking costs climb fast. A 60-mile round trip at $4.50/mile loaded adds $270 per trip before you even pay the tipping fee.
• Reuse potential. If the project needs fill, base, or grading material, crushed concrete or screened soil eliminates a separate purchase. You avoid paying for disposal and avoid paying for new aggregate.
• Tight schedules. Hauling 200 tons takes 10 truck loads over two or more days. A crusher processes 200 tons in a single shift. That schedule compression matters on jobs with liquidated damages or tight turnover deadlines.
• Multiple material types. Jobs with both concrete and vegetative waste can pair a crusher with an air burner. The crusher handles the hard material. The burner handles the wood waste. Nothing goes to the landfill.

Stop Paying to Throw Away Reusable Material

Tipping fees drain project budgets on every demo and site-clearing job in the Southeast. Rates average $35-$52 per ton today and keep climbing as landfill capacity tightens. The contractors who keep more profit per job are the ones who process material on-site instead of hauling it to the dump.

GrinderCrusherScreen has connected contractors with portable crushers, trommel screens, and air burners since 1973. Call 770-433-2670 to get matched with a provider in your area, or browse equipment at grindercrusherscreen.com.

The EPA estimates 600 million tons of C&D debris are generated in the United States every year. The EPA reports that about 76% of C&D debris was directed to next use in 2018. With proper sorting, recovery rates above 90% are achievable on individual job sites. Yet much of it still goes to landfills.

The reason is simple. Hauling demo debris to a recycling facility costs as much as dumping it. By the time you pay for trucking, gate fees, and lost production time on the job site, there is no financial incentive to divert.

On-site processing changes the math. A crusher, a screener, or an air burner on the demo pad lets you recycle material where it sits. No haul trips. No tipping fees. No gate lines. This guide breaks down exactly what you can recycle on-site, what still needs a facility, and how the dollars work.

What Counts as C&D Waste

Construction and demolition waste covers everything that comes off a job site during a build, renovation, or teardown. Eight material categories make up the bulk of it.

Concrete (including rebar-reinforced). The single largest material by weight on most demo jobs. Slabs, footings, walls, foundations, curb, and gutter.

Asphalt. Parking lots, roadways, driveways, and sidewalks. Asphalt millings and chunks from surface removal.

Wood. Framing lumber, pallets, concrete forms, cleared timber, and brush from land clearing.

Metal. Rebar, structural steel, copper pipe, aluminum flashing, ductwork, and miscellaneous ferrous and non-ferrous scrap.

Brick and block. Masonry walls, CMU foundations, veneer brick, and decorative stone.

Drywall. Gypsum board from interior demo. Interior walls, ceiling panels, and partition systems.

Mixed soil and aggregate. Excavation spoils, grading material, and fill dirt with rocks, roots, or debris mixed in.

Roofing. Asphalt shingles, membrane, and built-up roofing. Limited recyclability depending on local markets.

Concrete and asphalt together account for roughly 70% of total C&D waste by weight. That means the two heaviest materials on your demo site are also the most recyclable.

What You Can Recycle On-Site vs. What Needs a Facility

Not every material can be processed where it sits. Some require specialized plants with environmental controls. Here is the breakdown.

Important: jaw crushers do NOT process asphalt. Asphalt is too soft and sticky for a jaw chamber. It requires an impact crusher, which uses a completely different crushing action. This is one of the most common misconceptions in C&D recycling. If your job involves asphalt removal, that material goes to a recycling facility or gets processed with an impact crusher.

The good news: the four materials you CAN process on-site (concrete, masonry, mixed soil, and wood) typically make up 60-80% of the total tonnage on a demo job. That means most of your waste stream never needs to leave the site.

On-Site Concrete Recycling with a Portable Crusher

A portable jaw crusher is the workhorse of on-site C&D recycling. The excavator feeds broken concrete directly into the crusher hopper. The jaw chamber reduces it to sized aggregate. A cross magnet pulls rebar and steel out of the discharge stream (standard on the CT-850, optional on the CT-535).

The output: 3/4-inch minus aggregate that meets DOT specifications for base course and structural fill. This is the same material you would otherwise buy from a quarry at $8 to $15 per ton and have trucked to your site.

What a jaw crusher handles:

• Reinforced concrete slabs, walls, and footings
• CMU block and brick
• Natural rock and stone
• Mixed concrete and masonry rubble

What it does NOT handle:

• Asphalt (requires impact crusher)
• Wood or vegetative material
• Drywall or gypsum products

On a typical demo job, on-site crushing eliminates two cost lines at once. You avoid tipping fees of $35 to $55 per ton. And you avoid buying replacement aggregate at $8 to $15 per ton. That double savings is what makes the math work so well. For a detailed process walkthrough, see how on-site crushing works.

The Evortle CT-535 handles jobs under 200 tons. The Evortle CT-850 is a production machine for large commercial and municipal demo projects over 200 tons.

On-Site Soil and Aggregate Screening

Mixed material is the hidden budget killer on excavation and grading jobs. You dig up a trench or grade a pad, and the spoils are a mess of topsoil, rocks, roots, clay, and debris. Most contractors load it into trucks and haul the entire pile to a processing facility.

A trommel screen separates that pile into clean fractions on-site. Material feeds into the rotating drum. Clean topsoil drops through the screen openings. Oversized rocks, roots, and debris discharge off the end.

What you get:

• Clean topsoil for finish grading, landscaping, and final cover. No need to buy imported topsoil at $15 to $25 per cubic yard.
• Clean aggregate for base work, backfill, and drainage layers. Reuse it on the same project.
• A reject pile of roots, debris, and oversized material. This small fraction is all that needs to leave the site.

Screening works on any job with large volumes of mixed fill. Land clearing, utility trenching, mass grading, and foundation excavation all generate material that screens well.

The CZ Screen MDS MIDI is a mid-size trommel for residential and light commercial work. The Screen USA TROM 512 is a production-scale machine for high-volume screening.

On-Site Wood Waste Processing

Land clearing and demolition projects generate massive volumes of wood waste. Trees, stumps, brush, pallets, framing lumber, and concrete forms pile up fast. Hauling it out means 20 to 30 truck loads per acre of heavy clearing.

An air curtain burner processes all of that material on-site. The unit uses a high-velocity air curtain to hold combustion temperatures above 1,800 degrees F. At those temperatures, wood waste burns clean and fast.

The volume reduction is dramatic. 100 tons of wood waste becomes roughly 5 tons of clean ash. That is a 95%+ reduction. Instead of 25 truck loads to a landfill, you end up with one small pile of ash that can be spread on-site as a soil amendment.

What air curtain burners process:

• Cleared timber and stumps
• Brush and vegetative debris
• Clean construction lumber
• Pallets and concrete forms

What you must NOT burn:

• Treated lumber (CCA, ACQ, or any pressure-treated wood)
• Painted wood (lead paint risk)
• Laminated or composite materials
• Any material with adhesives, coatings, or preservatives

Air curtain burners are approved in most states where open pile burning is banned. The controlled combustion meets clean air standards that open burning cannot. Check your county and state regulations before mobilizing.

The Merris WX-5 handles smaller clearing jobs. The Merris WX-8 is sized for large-scale land clearing and disaster debris cleanup.

State C&D Diversion Requirements

Some states and municipalities set mandatory diversion rates for commercial construction and demolition projects. If you work in these jurisdictions, on-site recycling is not just a cost play. It is a compliance requirement.

Florida: Several counties require 50% or higher diversion rates on commercial projects. South Florida jurisdictions are the strictest. Landfill capacity is shrinking, and tipping fees reflect it.

Georgia: Metro Atlanta counties are pushing higher diversion targets. Cobb, Fulton, and DeKalb counties all have evolving C&D waste policies.

LEED projects: LEED certification often requires 75% diversion from landfill by weight. On a large commercial project, hitting 75% without on-site processing is nearly impossible. The trucking logistics alone make it impractical.

The practical reality: Diversion targets on paper only work if you can hit them without blowing the project budget. On-site processing with a crusher, screen, or air burner is the difference between theoretical compliance and actual compliance. You process material where it sits, track tonnage accurately, and document the diversion rate with real numbers. For the right equipment sequence on a demo job, see our site prep equipment checklist.

The Economics of On-Site C&D Recycling

Cost savings on C&D recycling come from three sources.

1. Avoided tipping fees. Every ton you process on-site is a ton that does not cross a scale house at $35 to $55 per ton. 2. Avoided trucking. No haul trips means no truck costs, no fuel, no driver time, and no wait at the landfill. 3. Recovered material value. Crushed concrete is worth $8 to $15 per ton as base material. Clean screened topsoil is worth $15 to $25 per cubic yard. These are materials you would otherwise have to purchase and import.

Here is a real-world example.

500-Ton Commercial Demo Project

Option A: Haul everything out.

Option B: Process on-site with a crusher, screen, and air burner.

Net savings: $16,031. That is a 44% reduction in disposal cost.

But you also kept roughly 300 tons of crushed aggregate on-site worth $4,500 to $5,400 in material value. And you kept clean topsoil on-site worth another $1,000. If you reuse those materials on the same project, your total economic advantage climbs to $21,000 or more.

The savings scale with tonnage. At 200 tons, expect $8,000 to $10,000 in net savings. At 1,000 tons, the numbers get dramatic. On-site processing consistently cuts total disposal cost by 40-60% on jobs over 100 tons.

Start Recycling C&D Waste On-Site

Every ton you recycle on-site is a ton you do not pay to haul or dump. It is also a ton of material you do not have to buy from somewhere else.

GrinderCrusherScreen has connected contractors with portable crushers, trommel screens, and air burners since 1973. Tell us about your project: tonnage, material mix, location, and timeline. We will match you with the right equipment and get you a quote.

Call 770-433-2670 to get matched with a provider, or browse equipment by type:

• Concrete crushers | Available in Tampa, Nashville, Charlotte
• Trommel screens
• Air burners

Looking to buy equipment instead of rent? Browse the full inventory at GrinderCrusherScreen.com.

Aggregate is the backbone of construction. Roads, foundations, drainage systems, concrete mix, parking lots, and building pads all sit on or contain aggregate. By volume, it is the single most consumed construction material on earth. The United States alone uses roughly 2.5 billion tons of construction aggregate per year, according to USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries.

Most contractors buy aggregate from a quarry or supply yard. But every demolition project also produces raw material for aggregate. A jaw crusher turns concrete rubble into sized aggregate on-site. A vibratory screener separates it into spec products you can reuse or sell.

This guide covers all three aggregate types: natural, manufactured, and recycled. What each one is, how it is produced, standard sizes, and where each type gets used in the field.

What Is Construction Aggregate?

Construction aggregate is any granular material used as a component in construction. Sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete, and manufactured stone all qualify. The common thread: sized, inert particles that provide bulk, strength, drainage, or structure when placed and compacted.

Aggregate serves two basic functions:

Structural: It distributes load and provides a stable base. Road base, sub-base, foundation pads, and backfill all rely on aggregate to transfer weight to the subgrade without settling or shifting.

Volumetric: In concrete and asphalt mix, aggregate makes up 60-80% of the total volume. It provides bulk and hardness while cement or asphalt binder holds the particles together.

The quality of the aggregate determines the quality of the finished product. Weak stone makes weak roads. Dirty aggregate makes bad concrete. Poorly graded base course fails under load. Everything downstream depends on the aggregate spec being right.

Three Types of Construction Aggregate

All aggregate falls into one of three categories based on its source and how it is processed.

Natural Aggregate

Mined directly from the earth. Pit-run gravel, river rock, and sand are natural aggregates. They form through geological processes: weathering, erosion, glacial deposits, and alluvial flows.

How it is produced: Extracted from open pits, riverbeds, or underwater deposits. Minimal processing. Washed and screened to remove clay, silt, and organic material, then sorted by size. No crushing required for rounded gravel and sand. Angular pit-run material may go through a primary crusher to produce specific sizes.

Characteristics: Rounded or sub-rounded particles (river gravel). Lower interlock than crushed stone because smooth surfaces do not grip as tightly. Excellent for drainage, concrete mix, and landscaping. Less ideal for road base where particle interlock matters.

Cost: $8-$20 per ton at the quarry gate, depending on size and region.

Manufactured (Crushed) Aggregate

Quarried rock run through crushers and screens to produce angular, sized particles. Limestone, granite, basalt, dolomite, and trap rock are the most common source stones.

How it is produced: Blasting breaks solid rock from the quarry face. Primary jaw crushers reduce the blasted rock from boulders to fist-sized pieces. Secondary crushers (cone or impact) reduce it further. Multi-deck vibrating screens sort the output into sized fractions: #57 stone, #67 stone, #8 stone, screenings, and other gradations.

Characteristics: Angular, fractured surfaces. High interlock when compacted. Superior load-bearing capacity compared to rounded natural aggregate. The standard material for road base, sub-base, concrete mix, and structural applications.

Cost: $12-$30 per ton at the quarry, depending on rock type and size.

Recycled Aggregate

Demolished concrete, brick, block, and masonry processed through a crusher and screen. Also called recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) when the source is concrete.

How it is produced: Demolition debris is collected, sorted to remove contaminants (wood, drywall, plastic), and fed through a jaw crusher. An overband magnet removes rebar and steel during processing. The crusher output is screened into sized fractions. See our complete concrete recycling process guide for the step-by-step walkthrough.

Characteristics: Angular particles similar to crushed stone. Slightly higher water absorption than virgin aggregate (4-8% vs. 1-3%). LA Abrasion loss typically 30-45%. Meets DOT base course specifications in all Southeast states. Accepted for concrete mix aggregate at limited percentages (20-30%) in most states.

Cost: $6-$15 per ton purchased. $5-$12 per ton self-produced with portable equipment.

Aggregate Type Comparison Matrix

The cost advantage of recycled aggregate is clear. At $6-$15 per ton purchased (or $5-$12 self-produced), RCA runs 40-60% cheaper than virgin crushed stone. For base course, backfill, and pipe bedding, the performance is equivalent.

Standard Aggregate Sizes and Gradations

Aggregate sizing follows ASTM and AASHTO designation systems. Each number corresponds to a specific sieve analysis (the percentage of material that passes through each screen size). Here are the sizes contractors encounter most often.

Crusher run is the most used aggregate product in site work. It is the full output of a crusher: a blend of all sizes from the CSS maximum down to dust. The range of particle sizes interlocks and compacts into a dense, stable base. Most road base, driveway base, and parking lot sub-base specs call for crusher run or dense-grade aggregate.

For a deeper breakdown of sizes and what each one does, see our crushed stone sizes and grades guide.

How Aggregate Is Made: The Production Process

Whether the source is quarried rock or demolished concrete, the production process follows the same basic sequence: reduce, separate, stockpile.

Quarry Production (Manufactured Aggregate)

1. Drilling and blasting: Drill rigs bore holes into the quarry face. Explosives fracture the rock into manageable boulders. 2. Primary crushing: A jaw crusher reduces boulders from 3-4 feet down to 6-8 inches. Jaw crushers use compressive force: two steel plates (jaws) squeeze and crack the rock. 3. Secondary crushing: A cone crusher or impact crusher further reduces the material to finished sizes. Cone crushers produce cubical particles. Impact crushers produce more angular shapes. 4. Screening: Multi-deck vibrating screens sort the crushed output into sized fractions. Each deck has a different screen opening. Material passes through screens from top to bottom, with the largest sizes caught on upper decks and fines falling to the bottom. 5. Washing (optional): Some aggregate products are washed to remove clay, dust, and fines. Washed stone commands a premium price for concrete mix and decorative applications. 6. Stockpiling: Sized products are conveyed to separate stockpile areas. Wheel loaders fill trucks from each pile as orders come in.

On-Site Production (Recycled Aggregate)

Contractors can produce aggregate directly on demolition sites using portable equipment. The process is simpler than quarry production because demo concrete is already partially broken.

1. Demolition and sorting: Excavator breaks the structure and separates concrete from other debris. 2. Feeding: Excavator or wheel loader feeds broken concrete into a portable jaw crusher. 3. Crushing: The jaw crusher reduces concrete to the CSS target size. Integrated overband magnet removes rebar. 4. Screening (optional): A vibratory screener separates the crusher output into sized fractions. Skip this step if crusher run (full-range mix) is the target product. 5. Stockpiling: Sized aggregate is staged for immediate reuse on the same project or loaded for transport to other sites.

The difference: A quarry runs permanently at one location with stationary equipment worth millions. On-site recycling is temporary, using portable machines that set up in hours and move to the next job. The output quality is comparable when proper gradation control is maintained. For the full on-site crushing walkthrough, see our process and cost guide.

Applications by Project Type

Different projects need different aggregate products. This table maps the most common project types to the aggregate products they consume.

Aggregate Testing: How Quality Is Verified

Aggregate is only as good as its test results. Three tests are standard across the industry.

Sieve analysis (ASTM C136): The most common test. A stack of progressively finer sieves shakes for a set time. The percentage of material retained on each sieve defines the gradation curve. Every DOT spec and concrete mix design references a sieve analysis. If the gradation falls outside the spec envelope, the material fails.

LA Abrasion (ASTM C131): Measures hardness. Steel balls rotate with aggregate samples in a drum. The percentage of material that breaks down to fines after 500 revolutions is the abrasion loss. Lower numbers mean harder stone. Most specs allow a maximum of 40-50% loss. Granite typically scores 15-25%. Limestone runs 20-35%. Recycled concrete aggregate hits 30-45%.

Specific gravity and absorption (ASTM C127/C128): Determines density and how much water the aggregate absorbs. High absorption affects concrete mix water ratios and freeze-thaw durability. Virgin crushed stone absorbs 1-3%. Recycled aggregate absorbs 4-8%.

When testing matters: DOT projects, commercial concrete mix, and any specification that references ASTM or AASHTO standards. For backfill, fill, and general site work, visual inspection and a proctor compaction test are often sufficient.

Producing Your Own Aggregate On-Site

Every demolition project creates feed material for aggregate production. A 2,000-square-foot concrete slab at 4 inches thick weighs roughly 50 tons. That is 50 tons of crusher run or sized aggregate waiting to be produced instead of hauled to a landfill at $25 to $80 per ton.

What you need:

• A jaw crusher. The Evortle CT-535 handles jobs under 200 tons. The Evortle CT-850 runs production pace on larger commercial work. Both process concrete, rock, brick, and block. Neither processes asphalt (that needs an impact crusher; see our crusher types guide).
• A vibratory screener (optional). If you need sized fractions instead of crusher run, a vibratory screener separates the crusher output. Skip the screen if full-range crusher run is the target.
• An excavator or wheel loader. To feed the crusher and manage stockpiles. Most demo sites already have one on-site.

The math works at 50 tons and above. Below 50 tons, buying aggregate from a supplier is typically cheaper than mobilizing a crusher. Above 50 tons, on-site production saves money on both disposal (no haul-out cost) and material (no aggregate purchase). At 200 tons, contractors typically save $5,000 to $10,000 compared to hauling out and buying back aggregate.

GrinderCrusherScreen connects contractors with portable crushing and screening equipment across the Southeast. Call 770-433-2670 to talk through your project and get matched with the right equipment. We have been in the equipment business since 1973.

Frequently Asked Questions

Aggregate vs gravel: what is the difference?

Gravel is one type of aggregate. All gravel is aggregate, but not all aggregate is gravel. Gravel refers specifically to naturally occurring rounded rock particles, typically from riverbeds or glacial deposits. Aggregate is the broader term that includes gravel, crushed stone, sand, slag, recycled concrete, and manufactured stone. When a spec calls for “aggregate,” it defines the exact gradation and properties needed. When someone says “gravel,” they usually mean rounded natural stone, though the term is used loosely in everyday conversation.

What is fine vs coarse aggregate?

Coarse aggregate is material retained on a No. 4 sieve (particles larger than 0.187 inches, roughly 3/16 of an inch). Fine aggregate passes through a No. 4 sieve. Sand is the most common fine aggregate. In concrete mix design, the ratio of coarse to fine aggregate affects workability, strength, and finish quality. A typical structural concrete mix uses roughly 60% coarse aggregate and 40% fine aggregate by weight, combined with cement and water.

Can you make aggregate from demolition concrete?

Yes. A jaw crusher processes demolished concrete into recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) that meets base course specifications in all Southeast states. The crusher reduces concrete slabs, walls, and footings to a target size set by the CSS (closed-side setting). An integrated magnet removes rebar. The output is structurally sound aggregate usable for road base, sub-base, backfill, pipe bedding, and structural fill. For a full walkthrough, see our concrete recycling process guide.

What is the most common aggregate size?

Crusher run (dense-grade aggregate) and #57 stone are the two most common aggregate products in construction. Crusher run is the default for base course, driveway construction, and sub-base layers because its blend of sizes from 1.5 inches to dust compacts into a dense, stable pad. #57 stone (1 inch to No. 4 sieve) is the standard for concrete mix, drainage, and backfill. Together, these two products account for the majority of aggregate consumed on construction sites. See our stone sizes guide for a full reference.

How is aggregate tested?

Three standard tests cover most applications. Sieve analysis (ASTM C136) measures gradation: the distribution of particle sizes. Every DOT and concrete spec references a gradation curve. LA Abrasion (ASTM C131) measures hardness by tumbling aggregate with steel balls and measuring the breakdown. Specific gravity and absorption (ASTM C127/C128) measures density and water uptake. For DOT base course, sieve analysis is the critical test. For concrete mix, all three tests apply. Testing is performed by certified labs and costs $100 to $300 per sample depending on the test suite.

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Stop buying what you can produce. Every demolition project generates raw aggregate material. A portable jaw crusher and vibratory screener turn that rubble into spec product on-site, eliminating both disposal costs and aggregate purchase costs.

Browse concrete crushers on the GrinderCrusherScreen main site or check the crusher rental page for availability in your area. Call 770-433-2670. Since 1973.

The EPA estimates 600 million tons of C&D debris hit the waste stream every year in the United States. Concrete makes up the biggest share by weight. Most of it still goes to landfills at $25 to $80 per ton in disposal costs.

That concrete is not waste. It is raw material. A jaw crusher and a vibratory screener turn demolished concrete into recycled concrete aggregate (RCA): sized, graded base material that meets DOT spec for road construction, backfill, pipe bedding, and structural fill. The process works at fixed recycling plants and directly on the demo site with portable equipment.

This guide walks through every step of concrete recycling, from demolition to finished product. Costs, equipment, environmental numbers, and state DOT acceptance are all covered.

Step 1: Demolition and Collection

Concrete recycling starts the moment the excavator pulls its first slab. The material needs to be broken into feed-sized pieces before it hits a crusher.

Hydraulic breakers mounted on excavators crack slabs, footings, and walls into chunks small enough for the crusher jaw opening. For a compact jaw crusher like the Evortle CT-535, that means pieces under 20 inches across. For a production machine like the Evortle CT-850, the jaw accepts material up to 32 inches wide.

Sorting happens at the pile. Excavator operators separate concrete from wood, drywall, roofing, and other C&D waste streams. Clean concrete (no contaminants, no mixed debris) produces the best aggregate and commands the highest reuse value. Mixed loads with soil, wood, or trash require more screening passes and produce lower-grade output.

Stockpile the feed material. The excavator stages broken concrete in a feed pile near the crusher. On large jobs, this pile grows continuously as demolition progresses. On smaller jobs, the full teardown may happen before crushing starts.

Step 2: Rebar Removal and Pre-Processing

Reinforced concrete has steel rebar embedded in it. Every commercial foundation, bridge deck, and structural wall contains reinforcement. That steel needs to come out before the aggregate is usable.

Two methods handle rebar removal:

Overband magnets on jaw crushers pull rebar, tie wire, and steel fragments from the crushed material automatically during processing. The CT-850 includes the magnet as standard equipment; on the CT-535, it is an available option. The magnet sits above the discharge conveyor. As crushed material exits the jaw chamber, the magnet grabs ferrous metal and drops it into a separate scrap pile. This is the standard method on portable crushing operations.

Manual pre-processing involves cutting exposed rebar with a torch or hydraulic shears before material enters the crusher. This adds labor time but reduces wear on jaw plates. On jobs with heavy reinforcement (number 8 bar and above, or post-tensioned cable), pre-cutting rebar improves feed rate and extends jaw liner life.

The scrap steel has value. Ferrous scrap prices fluctuate, but rebar pulled from a concrete recycling operation typically sells for $150 to $250 per ton to local scrap yards. On a 500-ton concrete job with 2% steel content by weight, that is 10 tons of rebar worth $1,500 to $2,500 in scrap revenue.

Step 3: Primary Crushing

This is where concrete becomes aggregate.

The excavator or wheel loader feeds broken concrete into the crusher hopper. Jaw plates close on the material and crush it to the set CSS (closed-side setting). CSS controls the maximum particle size in the output. Set the CSS to 0.8 inch on the CT-535 for road base aggregate. The CT-850 produces 1-inch minus material at its tightest setting. Open the CSS to 1.5 inches on either machine for larger base material.

Jaw crushers handle concrete, rock, brick, block, and masonry. They do not process asphalt. Asphalt requires an impact crusher, which uses a different crushing action. See our crusher types guide for the full breakdown on jaw vs. impact vs. cone crushers.

Two equipment tiers cover most recycling volumes:

Not sure which model fits your project? Estimate your tonnage first using our demolition sizing guide.

Throughput depends on three things: material hardness, rebar density, and feed consistency. Clean unreinforced concrete crushes faster than heavily reinforced structural walls. Consistent feed sizes (no oversized chunks jamming the chamber) keep production steady. An experienced excavator operator who manages the feed rate makes a measurable difference in daily output.

Step 4: Screening and Grading

Raw crusher output is a mix of particle sizes from dust to the CSS maximum. For many applications (road base, backfill, haul roads), this crusher run material works as-is. The blend of fine and coarse particles interlocks and compacts well.

For spec work that requires specific gradations, screening separates the crusher output into sized products.

A vibratory screener takes the crusher output and sorts it across two screen decks into three size fractions. Common separations:

• 3/4-inch clean: Coarse aggregate for concrete mix, drainage layer, and structural applications
• 3/8-inch clean: Fine aggregate for concrete mix, bedding, and surface course
• Minus 3/8-inch fines: Fill material, base fines, and blending stock

Each fraction has a different market value and a different set of end uses. Screening adds a processing step but creates multiple saleable products from a single feed source.

Gradation matters for DOT work. State DOT specifications define exact sieve analysis requirements for base course, sub-base, and aggregate products. Running a crusher and screen together lets you hit those gradation targets on-site. Refer to our crushed stone sizes guide for standard size designations.

Step 5: Stockpiling and Quality Control

Crushed and screened material goes to stockpile areas organized by product size. Proper stockpiling prevents contamination between grades and keeps the product clean for end use.

Stockpile management basics:

• Separate each product grade with at least 10 feet of clearance
• Build conical piles, not flat windrows (less surface area exposed to rain and contamination)
• Keep stockpiles on clean, compacted ground or geotextile fabric
• Label each pile with size designation and test date

Testing and spec compliance matter when selling aggregate or using it on DOT projects. Standard tests include:

• Sieve analysis (ASTM C136): Confirms gradation meets target specification
• LA Abrasion (ASTM C131): Measures hardness and durability. RCA typically scores 30-45% loss (spec maximum is usually 50%)
• Soundness (ASTM C88): Tests resistance to freeze-thaw cycles
• Specific gravity and absorption (ASTM C127/C128): RCA absorbs more water than virgin aggregate (typically 4-8% vs. 1-3%). This affects concrete mix design ratios.

For base course and backfill applications, sieve analysis alone is usually sufficient. For concrete mix aggregate, the full test suite applies.

Fixed-Plant vs. Portable On-Site Recycling

Concrete recycling operations run two ways. The economics are different for each.

Fixed-Plant Recycling Yards

Permanent facilities with stationary crushers, multi-deck screens, stockpile areas, and scale houses. Contractors haul demolition concrete to the yard, pay a reduced tipping fee ($8 to $15 per ton vs. $25 to $55 at a C&D landfill), and the facility processes it into graded products for resale.

Pros: No equipment rental needed. Drive in, dump, leave. Works for small jobs where mobilizing a crusher does not make economic sense.

Cons: You still pay trucking and tipping fees. You lose the material value (the recycling yard keeps the aggregate). Wait times during peak hours cost you driver time. And you need a recycling yard within economical haul distance of your site.

Portable On-Site Crushing

A jaw crusher and vibratory screener come to your demo site. You process the concrete where it sits. No trucks leave the site. No tipping fees. The aggregate stays on your project.

Pros: Zero haul trips. Zero disposal fees. You keep the aggregate for backfill, base course, or resale. Works on any site with enough space for the crusher footprint.

Cons: Equipment rental cost. Need an excavator or loader to feed the crusher. Requires space for the crusher, screen, and stockpiles. Minimum volume of around 50 tons to break even vs. hauling.

For a full cost comparison, see our on-site crushing process and cost guide.

Recycled vs. Virgin Aggregate: Side-by-Side Comparison

The key difference: RCA absorbs more water and has slightly lower abrasion resistance. For base course, sub-base, and fill applications, these differences do not affect performance. For structural concrete mix, most specs limit RCA to 20-30% of total aggregate content.

State DOT Acceptance: Southeast States

Every state DOT has its own specifications for recycled concrete aggregate. Acceptance varies by application. Here is where SE states stand.

All six SE states accept RCA for base course work, which is the most common end use for recycled concrete on contractor jobsites. For structural concrete mix applications, state policies differ. Check the current edition of your state DOT standard specifications before bidding work that depends on RCA acceptance.

Environmental Impact of Concrete Recycling

Concrete recycling has measurable environmental benefits. These numbers matter for LEED certification, green building compliance, and increasingly for public bid scoring.

The real environmental win is eliminating truck trips. A 500-ton demo job hauled out at 20 tons per truck is 25 round trips. At an average 25-mile distance, that is 1,250 miles of truck travel eliminated. At roughly 6 miles per gallon for a loaded tri-axle, that is 208 gallons of diesel saved on trucking alone.

What Concrete Recycling Costs

The cost depends on whether you haul to a recycling facility or process on-site.

Hauling to a recycling yard:

• Tipping fee at the recycling facility: $8-$15/ton (lower than C&D landfill rates)
• Trucking: $5-$8/ton (varies by haul distance)
• Loading and staging: $2-$4/ton
• Total: $15-$27/ton

On-site portable crushing:

• Equipment rental (crusher): varies by model and market
• Equipment rental (vibratory screener, if needed): varies
• Fuel: varies by material hardness and hours run
• Operator (if not using existing crew): varies
• Total: $5-$12/ton (see full breakdown in our on-site crushing cost guide)

Value of the recycled product:

• RCA base material sells for $6-$15/ton at recycling yards
• Self-produced RCA replaces purchased virgin aggregate at $15-$30/ton
• Scrap rebar recovery: $150-$250/ton of steel

On a 300-ton commercial demo job in Atlanta, on-site crushing at $8/ton costs $2,400 to process. That same 300 tons would cost $12,000 to $24,000 to haul and dump at a C&D landfill. And you keep the aggregate on-site instead of buying $6,000 worth of new base material.

The break-even point for on-site crushing sits around 50 tons. Below that, hauling to a nearby recycling yard is usually cheaper. Above 50 tons, the economics tip sharply toward on-site processing. For detailed math at different job sizes, see our disposal cost comparison.

The Step-by-Step Process: Summary Table

LEED and Green Building Credits

Concrete recycling directly contributes to LEED certification under the Materials and Resources (MR) category. In LEED v4.1, the Construction and Demolition Waste Management credit rewards projects that divert C&D waste from landfills.

Two paths to credit:

• Path 1 (Diversion): Divert 50% of total C&D waste (by weight) for 1 point. Divert 75% for 2 points. On-site concrete recycling counts 100% toward diversion because the material never leaves the site.
• Path 2 (Reduction): Reduce total C&D waste generation below an established limit. Less common on demo projects but applicable on new construction.

For contractors bidding LEED-certified projects, on-site concrete recycling is one of the easiest MR credits to earn. The documentation is straightforward: weigh your feed material, weigh your output, document the reuse. No third-party recycling facility records needed when you process on-site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is recycled concrete as strong as virgin aggregate?

For base course and sub-base, yes. RCA compacts and performs at equivalent levels to virgin crushed stone when properly graded. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) for well-graded RCA typically exceeds 80%, which meets or exceeds most DOT base course specifications. For structural concrete mix, RCA is approved in limited percentages (typically 20-30% of total aggregate) because its higher water absorption affects the water-cement ratio.

Can recycled concrete go under a building?

Yes. Recycled concrete aggregate is approved for structural backfill and foundation sub-base in all six SE states. It compacts to 95%+ Modified Proctor density, which meets standard structural fill requirements. Many commercial and residential foundations sit on RCA base course. The key is proper gradation and compaction testing, the same requirements that apply to virgin aggregate.

What about rebar in the concrete?

Jaw crushers process rebar-reinforced concrete without issues. An overband magnet pulls steel from the crushed output automatically (standard on the CT-850, optional on the CT-535). The steel goes to a scrap pile and the aggregate exits clean. Heavy rebar (number 8 and above) slows the feed rate and increases jaw liner wear, but the machine handles it. Pre-cutting exposed rebar on heavily reinforced material reduces wear and improves throughput.

How much does recycled concrete cost?

Three price points depending on how you get it. Purchased from a recycling yard: $6 to $15 per ton. Self-produced on-site with portable crushing equipment: $5 to $12 per ton processing cost. Hauled to a recycling facility for disposal: $15 to $27 per ton all-in (tipping plus trucking). The cheapest option is producing it yourself on jobs over 50 tons. See our concrete disposal cost guide for the full math.

Do DOTs accept recycled concrete aggregate?

Yes. All six Southeast states (GA, FL, NC, SC, TN, AL) accept RCA for base course, sub-base, and pipe bedding. Acceptance for structural concrete mix aggregate varies by state and typically allows RCA at 20-30% of total aggregate content. Always check the current edition of your state DOT standard specifications. Acceptance criteria include sieve analysis, LA Abrasion, and soundness testing. See the state acceptance table above for specific spec references.

Can you sell recycled aggregate?

Yes. Contractors who produce more RCA than they need on a job sell the surplus to neighboring projects, landscaping suppliers, and aggregate yards. Market price for RCA ranges from $6 to $15 per ton, depending on gradation and local supply. Clean, well-graded 3/4-inch base material commands the highest price. This turns a disposal cost into a revenue stream. Some contractors run concrete recycling as a side business, processing rubble from other demo companies and selling the output.

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Skip the recycling yard. A portable jaw crusher and vibratory screener on your demo site turn concrete rubble into DOT-spec base material. No haul trips. No tipping fees. No waiting in line at the transfer station.

GrinderCrusherScreen connects contractors with portable crushing and screening equipment across the Southeast. Browse concrete crushers on our main site or check rental availability on the crusher rental page. Call 770-433-2670 to talk through your project. We have been matching contractors with the right equipment since 1973.

A trommel screen is a rotating drum with sized mesh panels that separates material by particle size. Mixed material goes in one end. As the drum spins, small particles fall through the mesh openings. Larger particles tumble forward through the drum and discharge off the far end. One machine, one pass, two or three clean stockpiles.

Contractors and material producers use trommels to screen topsoil, compost, mulch, sand, woodchips, and C&D fines. The machine replaces hand-sorting, multiple passes through static screens, and the old method of hauling mixed material off-site for someone else to process.

How a Trommel Screen Works: Step by Step

The operating principle is simple. A steel drum (typically 4 to 6 feet in diameter and 7 to 16 feet long) sits on a slight incline, higher at the feed end. The drum rotates at 14 to 20 RPM. Mesh panels line the inside of the drum in one or two screen sections, each with different-sized openings.

Step 1: Feed the hopper. A loader or excavator dumps mixed material into a feed hopper at the elevated end of the trommel. An apron or belt feeder meters the material into the drum at a controlled rate. Overloading the drum reduces screening efficiency. A steady, even feed produces the cleanest product.

Step 2: The drum rotates and tumbles. As the drum spins, material lifts partway up the drum wall, then cascades back down through the air. This tumbling action breaks up clumps, exposes every particle to the mesh openings, and keeps the screen self-cleaning. Stuck material shakes loose with each revolution. That self-cleaning action is one reason trommels outperform flat screens on wet and sticky material.

Step 3: Fines fall through. The first mesh section has the smallest openings (1/4 inch to 3/4 inch for most applications). Fine particles drop through and land on a conveyor belt below the drum. That belt carries the fines to a stockpile: your finished product if you are screening topsoil or compost.

Step 4: Mid-size product sorts next. If the trommel has a second mesh section with larger openings, mid-size particles fall through to a separate conveyor and stockpile. This gives you a second graded product from the same pass.

Step 5: Oversize discharges off the end. Everything too large to pass through any mesh section tumbles out the discharge end of the drum. This oversize fraction includes rocks, sticks, roots, debris, and any contamination. It stockpiles separately for disposal, re-grinding, or re-crushing.

The result: one load of mixed material becomes two or three clean, separated stockpiles without a single hand sort.

What Can a Trommel Screen Separate?

Trommels handle almost any bulk material that needs sizing. The mesh panels determine what passes through and what stays in the drum. Swap the panels and the same machine adapts to a different application.

Screen Panel Sizes and What They Produce

The mesh panel size is the single biggest variable in trommel operation. Change the panels and you change the product. Most trommel operators carry multiple sets of panels and swap them based on the job.

Mesh swap takes about 30 minutes per panel on most trommel models. Plan for 2 to 3 hours to swap a full drum set. If you run multiple materials in the same week, schedule mesh changes during shift breaks or between material loads.

Trommel vs Vibrating Screen: Which Do You Need?

Two screening technologies compete for the same jobs. The choice depends on your material.

When to pick a trommel:

• Compost, mulch, and topsoil (organic, fibrous, often damp)
• Wet or clay-heavy soil
• C&D waste with mixed debris
• Any application where the feed sticks, clumps, or contains stringy material

When to pick a vibrating screen (shaker):

• Dry crushed stone and aggregate
• Sand classification
• High-volume quarry production on dry, granular feed
• Applications needing 4+ size fractions in a single pass

For most contractors and landscape supply operations, a trommel is the more versatile choice. It handles wet Monday material and dry Friday material without a swap. Vibrating screens are specialists built for dry, granular processing.

Throughput: How Fast Does a Trommel Screen Material?

Throughput depends on four variables: machine size, mesh opening, material type, and moisture content. Smaller mesh openings slow the process because particles need more exposure time to find an opening. Wet material slows throughput because moisture causes fines to stick together and resist passing through the mesh.

These are estimated ranges based on typical field conditions; actual throughput varies by material type, moisture, and screen size. A qualified operator maintaining steady feed and clean mesh will land toward the upper end. Contaminated feed, oversized debris, and poor feed consistency reduce throughput.

Two Trommel Models for Every Job Size

CZ Screen MDS MIDI

The compact trommel. A 4-foot by 7-foot screening drum on a portable, track-mounted chassis. The MDS MIDI fits tight sites and handles moderate volume for compost operations, landscape supply yards, and small to mid-size topsoil screening jobs. It transports on a standard trailer without oversize permits.

The MIDI is the right machine when your daily volume stays under 400 to 500 cubic yards or when site access limits you to a compact footprint. One loader keeps it fed. One operator runs the show.

Screen USA TROM 512

The production trommel, built by our team at Screen USA. A 5-foot by 12-foot drum with three discharge fractions standard (fines, mids, oversize). Track-mounted. Throughput up to 150 cubic yards per hour on standard material.

The TROM 512 is the machine for landscape suppliers running 1,000+ cubic yards per week, recycling operations processing C&D waste, and composting facilities that need production-level output with consistent grading. The larger drum diameter and longer screening length give material more time and tumbling action inside the drum, which improves separation accuracy.

Common Trommel Applications by Industry

When to Pair a Trommel with Other Equipment

A trommel works best alongside other machines when the job involves mixed materials on the same site.

Trommel + crusher (soil recovery before crushing). On demo sites with mixed concrete and dirt, run the raw material through the trommel first. The screen pulls out reusable topsoil and fines before the concrete goes to the crusher. This recovers sellable dirt that would otherwise get buried in the crusher run pile.

For aggregate sizing after crushing, use a vibratory screener. If the project requires graded aggregate from crusher output (#57 stone, #4 stone, or structural fill), the right pairing is a crusher plus a vibratory screener like the CD410. The screener’s vibrating decks separate crusher run into three graded products in one pass. Trommels work on soil, compost, and organic material. Vibratory screeners work on dry, granular aggregate.

Trommel + grinder (compost and mulch operations). A horizontal grinder reduces stumps, brush, and yard waste into raw mulch. A trommel downstream screens that material into graded mulch, removing oversize chunks for re-grinding. This pairing is standard at landscape supply yards and composting facilities.

GCS connects you with multi-machine packages on a single delivery. One mobilization fee. Crusher and screener for on-site aggregate production. Grinder and trommel for mulch and compost operations. Call to discuss what your job needs.

Trommel Maintenance Basics

Trommels are mechanically simple compared to crushers. The primary maintenance items:

Mesh panels. Inspect daily for tears, holes, and wear. A torn panel allows oversize material into the fines product and ruins the gradation. Replace worn panels before they compromise product quality. Carry spare panels on-site if you are running abrasive material.

Drive chain and sprockets. The drum rotates on a chain drive or gear drive. Check chain tension weekly. Lubricate per the manufacturer schedule. Loose chains skip teeth and cause uneven drum rotation.

Drum seals. Rubber or brush seals at the feed and discharge ends prevent material from bypassing the screen. Worn seals let fines escape around the drum instead of passing through the mesh. Inspect monthly.

Bearings. Grease drum support bearings per the daily schedule. Under-greased bearings overheat and fail. Over-greased bearings push grease past the seals and contaminate the product. Follow the manufacturer spec.

Conveyor belts. Check belt tracking daily. A misaligned belt drops material between the frame and the belt, creating a cleanup mess and losing product. Adjust tracking rollers as needed.

Expected wear life on mesh panels: 500 to 2,000 operating hours depending on material abrasiveness. Topsoil and compost are easy on panels. Crushed concrete and rock wear them faster. Budget for panel replacement if you are running abrasive material for extended periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a trommel and a vibrating screen?

A trommel uses a rotating drum to tumble material across mesh panels. A vibrating screen uses a flat deck that shakes at high frequency to move material across the mesh. Trommels handle wet, sticky, and fibrous material better because the tumbling action self-cleans the mesh and prevents clogging. Vibrating screens process dry, granular material faster because the high-frequency vibration separates particles efficiently. For most contractor and landscape supply applications involving soil, compost, or mixed materials, a trommel is the more versatile choice.

Can you screen wet material in a trommel?

Yes. Trommels are the preferred screening method for wet material. The rotating drum continuously tumbles the material, which prevents the mesh from blinding (clogging) the way flat vibrating screens do in wet conditions. Expect throughput to drop 30 to 50% compared to dry material of the same type, because wet fines clump together and resist passing through the mesh. Coarser mesh settings help maintain throughput on wet feed.

What sizes can a trommel produce?

Trommel screens accept mesh panels from 1/4 inch to 4 inches. The mesh size determines the maximum particle that passes through. A 1/2-inch mesh produces material with particles up to 1/2 inch in diameter. A 3/4-inch mesh produces material up to 3/4 inch. Most trommel operators carry multiple panel sets and swap them based on the job. Common sizes: 3/8 inch for compost, 1/2 inch for topsoil, 3/4 inch for mulch and coarse fill, and 1.5 to 2 inches for overburden removal and rough separation. For aggregate sizing and road base grading, a vibratory screener is the better tool.

How fast does a trommel screen material?

Throughput ranges from 25 cubic yards per hour on fine, wet material with small mesh to 150+ cubic yards per hour on dry, coarse material with larger mesh. The compact CZ Screen MDS MIDI runs 40 to 80 cubic yards per hour on typical topsoil and compost. The production-level Screen USA TROM 512 runs 80 to 150 cubic yards per hour. Material moisture, mesh size, feed consistency, and operator skill all affect the actual rate.

What maintenance does a trommel need?

Daily: inspect mesh panels for tears and holes, grease drum bearings, check conveyor belt tracking. Weekly: check drive chain tension and lubrication, inspect drum seals. Monthly: inspect drum seals for wear, check all bolted connections for looseness from vibration. Replace mesh panels when holes appear or when product starts showing oversize contamination. On a well-maintained machine, mesh panels last 500 to 2,000 operating hours depending on material abrasiveness. The mechanical simplicity of a trommel (a rotating drum on bearings with a chain drive) means less downtime and lower maintenance costs compared to vibrating screens.

Get Connected with a Trommel Screen

GrinderCrusherScreen has connected contractors and material producers with screening equipment since 1973. Whether you need a compact trommel for a topsoil operation or a production unit for a recycling yard, we match you with the right machine.

Call 770-433-2670 or visit the trommel screen rental page to request pricing.

Need a trommel for soil and compost screening, or a vibratory screener for aggregate grading after crushing? We coordinate multi-machine packages on a single delivery.

Looking to buy instead of rent? Browse trommel screens for sale on GrinderCrusherScreen.com.