Building site rubble and waste clearance
Clear rubble, plasterboard and offcuts for builders and renovation projects on a regular basis.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
6,717 UK companies in this field, 35% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 38110 “Collection of non-hazardous waste”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
Regular and one-off clearing of construction and renovation waste from sites, using a tipper or larger van, and sorting waste for proper disposal.
Your first three steps
- Register as a waste carrier and check which waste types you can legally carry
- Get a suitable tipper or large van, with the right insurance, and identify local permitted transfer stations
- Introduce yourself to local builders, merchants and letting agents and offer a trial clearance
Who pays
Small builders, developers, landscapers and homeowners running renovation projects.
How it makes money
Per load, per visit or day rate, with repeat work from builders who need waste cleared weekly during a project.
Skills that help
- Heavy manual work and fitness
- Driving a larger vehicle
- Knowing how to sort waste types
- Building relationships with contractors
Watch out for
- Waste carrier registration and waste transfer or consignment notes, so check what applies to your waste
- Hazardous materials such as asbestos need licensed specialists, so never take them without checking
- Vehicle weight limits and driving licence category for larger vehicles
- Public liability, goods in transit and employer's liability if you hire help
- Heavy lifting and injury risk, so plan for safe handling and protective kit
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: building site rubble and waste clearance
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a building site waste clearance business?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on the tipper or larger van you use, insurance, safety kit and how you find contractor customers.
How much can a site clearance business make?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £2,000 to £8,000, depending on how many builders and projects you serve, your prices and your disposal costs. This is revenue, before costs.
What should I check before clearing construction waste?
Check waste carrier registration and which waste transfer or consignment notes apply. Never take asbestos or other hazardous materials without checking, and check vehicle weight limits, driving licence category and insurance, including employer's liability if you hire help.
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