Renovation & Demolition Debris in Southwest Florida
The kitchen is half out. There are cabinets in the driveway, a pile of tile and backer board in the garage, an old range nobody has moved, and a skip you thought was included that never arrived. The contractor says demolition debris was not in the quote. Your neighbours are starting to look at the driveway.
Starting at $99 · free flat-rate quote before we start
Construction and renovation debris is not ordinary household waste, and most contracts do not include hauling it. Concrete in particular is not eligible for Lee County curbside pickup. If your contractor is not removing it, budget for separate disposal rather than assuming the county will take it.
How it works
Find out what the contract actually covers
Debris removal is a line item, not an assumption. Some contractors include it, some price it separately, some leave it entirely to the homeowner. Read the scope before the demolition starts, because the moment to negotiate is not when the driveway is full.
Separate the material types
Clean wood, drywall, tile and concrete, metal, and old appliances all go different places and cost different amounts to handle. A mixed pile is the most expensive way to dispose of anything, and for county collection it is what causes a pile to be left entirely.
Concrete is its own problem
Lee County does not collect concrete, so broken tile beds, slab, and block are a self-haul or a paid haul regardless of what else happens. Weight rather than volume drives the cost, so a small pile can be a heavy load.
Clear as you go, not at the end
Staged removal during a longer renovation keeps the site workable and stops the driveway becoming the storage solution. It is usually the same total cost as one large clear and considerably less unpleasant to live with.
The details that matter
Separating renovation materials
Small stacks of wood offcuts and tile fragments sit in separate sturdy containers.
- Renovation debris removal
- Separating renovation materials
Loading debris in manageable batches
A worker wheels a small covered debris cart toward an open truck outside a home under renovation.
- Renovation debris removal
- Loading debris in manageable batches
Worth knowing before you start
Renovation waste is not curbside waste
Household collection is not designed for construction debris, and putting it out is how a pile sits for weeks. Lee County Solid Waste (239-533-8000) and Collier County (239-252-2380) can tell you what their programs will and will not accept before you stack anything at the road.
Old paint, solvent, and adhesive are hazardous waste
Renovations generate them in quantity. They do not go in a debris load or at the curb — they go to a county household hazardous waste drop-off. Set them aside as you find them rather than discovering a shelf of them at the end.
Homes built before 1978 may contain lead paint
Sanding or demolishing painted surfaces in an older home can disturb lead-based paint, and there are federal rules for contractors working on pre-1978 housing. If your house is that vintage, ask your contractor how they are handling it before demolition, not after.
Metal and appliances are worth separating
Scrap metal, old appliances, and copper have salvage routes that keep them out of a disposal load entirely. Separating them reduces the volume you are paying to haul.
You may not need to hire anyone for this
The parts you can genuinely handle on your own. We would rather tell you than sell you.
- Read the debris-removal scope in your contract before demolition begins
- Separate clean wood, metal, drywall, and concrete into distinct piles as you go
- Set aside paint, solvents, and adhesives for a county hazardous-waste drop-off
- Call the county before putting any renovation debris at the curb
- List reusable cabinets, fixtures, and appliances — architectural salvage and habitat-style resale outlets often take them
Where renovation debris comes in
- Renovation and demolition debris removed, sorted by material
- Concrete, tile, and block the county will not collect
- Old cabinets, countertops, fixtures, and flooring
- Appliances routed to salvage rather than landfill where possible
- Staged clears through a longer project so the site stays workable
- Guidance on what has to go to a county hazardous-waste drop-off
Renovation Debris — starting at $99
Debris is priced by volume and weight — heavy material like concrete and tile costs more per load than an equivalent pile of cabinets. Text a photo of the pile to (239) 494-3305 for a quote before you start stacking.
Text us a photo and a quick description. We'll send a flat quote — usually within the hour.
Text Us a PhotoStarting pricesFrequently asked questions
Will the county take my renovation debris?
Household curbside collection is not designed for construction debris, and concrete is not eligible for Lee County pickup at all. Call Lee County Solid Waste on 239-533-8000 or Collier on 239-252-2380 to check what their programs accept before you stack anything at the road.
My contractor says debris was not included. Is that normal?
It is common enough that it should be checked in every quote rather than assumed. Some include it, some price it separately. If yours does not, it is straightforward to handle separately — it is just better to know before demolition day.
Can you come more than once during the job?
Yes, and for anything longer than a week or two it is the better approach. Staged removal keeps the site usable and costs about the same in total as one large clear at the end.
What about the paint and adhesive?
Those are household hazardous waste and cannot go in a debris load. Set them aside and they go to a county drop-off. We will tell you what falls into that category when we quote.
Do you take the old appliances too?
Yes. Ranges, dishwashers, refrigerators, and water heaters all have proper routes, and metal generally goes to salvage rather than landfill.
Related services
Junk removal across SWFL — we load it, sweep up, and haul it away, often same-day when we have a truck open.
The storm has passed, the power is back, and the yard is full. There is a pile of branches by the road, a soaked mattress in the garage, torn lanai screening in a heap, and drywall and carpet you pulled out before the mold started. Somebody has already knocked on the door offering to haul it all for cash. You are not sure what you are supposed to pay for and what the county takes for free.
You closed on Friday. You walked in on Saturday expecting empty rooms and found a garage full of paint cans, a lanai of rusted furniture, a shed nobody mentioned, and a garment rack in the primary bedroom. Your movers arrive Monday. The sellers have stopped answering the phone.
Whole-property cleanouts across Southwest Florida — we clear it all out.
Bought it? We'll go get it and bring it home.
An extra set of hands for the heavy stuff — by the hour.
Need it fixed, moved, or hauled?
Call, text a photo, or send a quote request. Most jobs quoted same day.