How to Get Rid of Rubble in Cape Town
You have three honest options: load it up and take it to a City drop-off yourself, hire a skip for a big building job, or have someone collect it. Top Trimmers takes rubble away at R450 a load on our large trailer. What you must never do is dump it.
- The City of Cape Town runs drop-off sites. Check its drop-off page for which sites take builders' rubble, and the current rules, before you load up.
- A skip suits a long building job where rubble piles up over days.
- For a pile that's already there, collection is quickest. Top Trimmers takes rubble away at R450 a load on our large trailer, and it's sometimes included when we're doing other work.
- Dumping rubble is illegal in Cape Town. The City issues fines for it, and you can report dumping on 0800 110 077, 24 hours a day.
- Garden waste is a separate job: see garden refuse removal.
Rubble turns up faster than you expect. Lift an old patio, knock out a wall or redo a bathroom and suddenly there's a mountain of broken brick, concrete and sand in the driveway. It's heavy and awkward to move. Here are the ways to get rid of it in Cape Town, and how to pick the right one.
Can you take rubble to a City drop-off yourself?
Yes. The City of Cape Town runs drop-off facilities across the metro, and some of them take builders' rubble. Which sites accept it, how much you can bring in a day and how it has to be sorted are set by the City, and the City's own pages don't all agree on the current rules, so we don't list them here. Check the City's drop-off facilities page before you load up.
Doing it yourself suits a small pile, if you have a bakkie or a trailer and the time. Rubble is heavy, so a pile that looks small can take more than one trip.
When does a skip make sense?
A skip suits a building or renovation job that makes rubble over days or weeks: it's filled as the work goes on and taken away at the end. You'll need somewhere for it to stand while it fills, and it makes less sense when the rubble is already sitting in a pile and you just want it gone.
Who will collect rubble from your property?
You can also pay someone to load it up and take it away. For a pile that's already there, it means you don't have to lift it or drive it anywhere yourself.
Top Trimmers removes rubble across Cape Town's northern suburbs from our base in Parklands. We load it onto our large trailer and take it away at R450 a load.
Why should you never dump rubble?
Because it's illegal and the City enforces it. Cape Town's Integrated Waste Management By-law bans dumping waste in a public place, and that includes rubble left on a verge or a pavement. In the first three months of its 2023/24 financial year, the City issued 580 fines for illegal dumping and 353 for littering, 933 fines in all.
When you pay someone to take rubble away, ask where it's going. And if you see rubble being dumped, report it to the City on 0800 110 077, toll free, 24 hours a day.
What about garden waste mixed in with the rubble?
Branches, grass and soil are a different kind of waste from bricks and concrete. If a job leaves you with both, mention it when you ask for a quote. Top Trimmers takes garden waste too, at the same R450 a load. See garden refuse removal.
Your options at a glance
| Option | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Take it to a City drop-off | A small pile, if you have a bakkie or trailer | Check the City's page for which sites take rubble and the current rules |
| Hire a skip | A building job that makes rubble over days | Needs somewhere to stand while it fills |
| Have it collected | A pile that's already there | Top Trimmers: R450 a load, sometimes included in other work |
| Dump it | Never | Illegal under the City's by-law. Report dumping on 0800 110 077 |
Before you book a rubble collection: a checklist
- Take photos of the pile, with something in the shot for scale
- Say if there's garden waste mixed in
- Say if it's part of a bigger job, such as a clean-up or landscaping
- Know where a trailer can park near the pile
- Ask where the rubble will go
WhatsApp your photos and address to 071 623 4949 and Top Trimmers will come back to you within 24 hours with a price. Quotes are free, and you can pay by EFT or cash. Top Trimmers isn't VAT registered, so there's no VAT on our quotes. See rubble removal for how we work and the rubble removal cost guide for what changes the price.
More questions about getting rid of rubble
Who do I call about rubble dumped on my street in Cape Town?
Report it to the City of Cape Town on 0800 110 077, which is toll free and open 24 hours a day. Dumping waste in a public place is against the City's by-law, and the City issues fines for it. If it's rubble on your own property, Top Trimmers can take it away at R450 a load.
Is a skip or a trailer collection better for my rubble?
It depends on when the rubble is made. A skip suits a building or renovation job that makes rubble over days or weeks, as long as you have room for it to stand. If the rubble is already sitting in a pile in Cape Town's northern suburbs, Top Trimmers can load it onto our large trailer and take it away at R450 a load.
Where can I drop off rubble myself in Cape Town?
At a City of Cape Town drop-off facility that accepts builders' rubble. Which sites take it, and the daily limits and sorting rules, are set by the City and change from time to time, so check the City's drop-off facilities page first. If you'd rather not lift it, Top Trimmers can collect it.
Top Trimmers
Top Trimmers is a garden and landscaping company in Parklands, Cape Town, owned and run by Tylor Titus since December 2019. The team looks after gardens, trees and grounds across the northern suburbs.
About Top Trimmers →Rather have it taken away?
Rubble removalRubble loaded and taken away, R450 a load.
Garden refuse removalBranches and green waste cleared from your garden.
LandscapingNew beds and planting once the ground is clear.More to read
Rubble in the way?
WhatsApp photos of the pile to 071 623 4949 for a free quote. We reply within 24 hours.