Concrete Removal and Recycling Across the Sacramento Region

Concrete is among the heaviest materials on any demolition site. Driveways, patios, slabs, footings, pool shells and tilt-up walls all have to go somewhere. In the Sacramento region, clean concrete can often be processed and reused as aggregate instead of landfilled, which is better for the environment and can reduce disposal cost.

How concrete comes out

• Breaking: Excavators with hydraulic breakers or crushers fracture slabs and footings into pieces that can be loaded.
• Saw cutting: For partial removal, saw cuts give clean edges and protect the concrete that stays.
• Sorting: Rebar and mesh are separated. Metal is typically recycled, and cleaner concrete is easier for recyclers to accept.
• Hauling: Broken concrete is loaded and trucked to a recycling yard or disposal site.

Recycling basics

Recyclers crush clean concrete into aggregate for road base and fill. Each facility sets its own acceptance rules, often wanting loads free of trash, soil and contaminants, and fees vary. A good contractor checks with the facility it plans to use.

What affects the job

• Thickness and reinforcement of the concrete.
• Equipment and truck access, including side yards and alleys.
• Locating buried utilities through USA North 811 before digging.
• Contamination such as oil staining or mixed trash.
• Distance to the recycler and facility fees.
• Pools, which may need engineer-specified breakout and fill.

Questions to ask a contractor

• Where will the concrete go, and can you provide weight tickets or recycling records?
• How will rebar and other metals be handled?
• Who is responsible for utility locates and permits?
• What condition will the area be left in?

Sacramento Demolition Co provides concrete removal and hauling for residential, commercial and development sites. Call (714) 333-0178 to discuss your project.