Soil and turf removal

Excavated soil, clay and turf cleared loose or in bags from garden levelling, footings and pond digs. Clean topsoil reused where possible. UK prices.

In short: Soil and turf removal is the loading and disposal of excavated soil, clay, subsoil and lifted turf from garden levelling, footings, pond digs and landscaping. It is for homeowners and landscapers with spoil they cannot reuse on site. In the UK, a one-tonne bulk bag of soil usually costs £70 to £150 to collect, and a grab lorry load £250 to £450.

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Soil is deceptively heavy. Dry topsoil weighs around 1.2 to 1.4 tonnes per cubic metre, and wet clay can approach two tonnes, so a modest dig for a garden room base or a pond quickly fills several bulk bags. Excavated soil also bulks up by around 20 to 30 percent once it is dug, so the pile is bigger than the hole it came from.

Clean soil and turf are among the easiest wastes to recycle. Topsoil can be screened and resold, subsoil is used for landscaping and restoration, and turf can be composted or stacked to rot down. The main things that complicate soil removal are contamination, such as oil, ash, buried rubbish or invasive plant material like Japanese knotweed. Tell us if you suspect any of these, as they change how the soil must be handled.

What is included

Loading loose soil, clay, subsoil and stones from piles or bulk bags
Clearing lifted turf rolls and sods
Barrowing spoil out from back gardens with no vehicle access
Collection of filled builders' bags and bulk bags
Keeping clean topsoil separate so it can be reused
Sweeping drives and paths after loading
Transport to a licensed site and a waste transfer note

Who it is for

Garden levelling and lawn replacement projects
Digging footings for extensions, walls and garden rooms
Pond, pool and hot tub base excavations
Landscapers with surplus spoil at the end of a job
Clearing raised beds or old planters

How much does it cost?

As a guide, collecting a one-tonne bulk bag of soil usually costs £70 to £150, a small pile of bags £80 to £180, and a full grab lorry load £250 to £450 where the lorry can reach the pile. See our full cost guide.

How it works

How soil and turf removal works, step by step

Estimate the volume

Measure the hole or the pile, or count the bags, and send photos showing whether the soil is clean or mixed with rubble.

Check for contamination

Mention any oil, ash, buried rubbish or invasive weeds so the right disposal route is used.

Load and clear

The spoil is loaded by hand, shovel or barrow, and the area is swept and left tidy.

Reuse or dispose

Clean soil goes for screening and reuse where possible, with a waste transfer note for the load.

Soil and turf removal: FAQs

Is soil classed as inert waste?

Clean, uncontaminated soil and stones are generally treated as inert waste, which is cheaper to dispose of. Soil mixed with rubbish, ash, oil or other contaminants is not, and may need testing before a site will accept it. Keeping soil separate from rubble and general waste helps it go down the cheapest route.

Can you take soil with Japanese knotweed in it?

Soil containing Japanese knotweed rhizome is controlled waste and must only go to a site permitted to take it, and it is an offence to cause knotweed to spread in the wild. It should not be mixed with ordinary soil. If you know or suspect knotweed is present, say so before booking, as it needs a specialist disposal route.

How many bulk bags will my hole fill?

A one-tonne bulk bag holds roughly 0.6 to 0.7 cubic metres of soil before reaching its weight limit, because soil is so heavy. As a rough rule, every cubic metre you dig out will need around two bags once the soil has bulked up. Wet clay fills a bag's weight limit sooner, so fill heavy soil bags only part way.

Can I put soil in my green waste bin?

Most councils do not allow soil, stones or turf in garden waste bins, because the weight damages bins and contaminates compost. Small amounts can sometimes go to a household waste recycling centre, often in a separate soil or rubble skip and within the local allowance. Check your council's rules first.