Disposing 50 yards trash filled dirt

[MNBobcat]

Hi Everyone,

So what I thought was a dirt pile (left from previous owner) next to my pole barn turns out to be about 50 yards of sand mixed with shingles, metal, car wheels, clothing, glass, cans, wire, grass, etc.

Our local landfill charges by the ton and the pile is 70% dirt. I'm against digging a hole and burying it.

I'm wondering if a rock bucket on the skid steer would work to sift the trash out of the sand? Then I could put the trash in the dump trailer and take it to the landfill. The left over dirt would be full of stuff that I wouldn't want to grow things in so perhaps I could dump that somewhere where someone is looking for "clean" fill?

I don't know what else to do. Just wondering if any of you have tried sifting garbage out of dirt like that? I'm concerned that getting the dirt to sift through the rock bucket might be a lost cause. Anyone have other ideas that might work? I really don't want to build a sifter if I don't have to.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Somewhere there is a thread with a recent post stating that the rock bucket does not work well as a "sifter" unless the dirt or sand is really dry. I've thought about that myself, how hard is it to get the dirt to fall through the cracks.

Just curious, why do you oppose digging a hole and covering it up? That's what every builder I know does, usually in the front yard where they don't expect anyone to dig it up in the future.

Also, are there any hydrocarbons in the mix, oil, gasoline, diesel, or solvents? If so, that can present a real dilemma.

 

[brin]

I would dig a hole 2 feet deeper than the mound of dirt and debris will fill and then cover it with 2 feet of the good dirt you took out of the hole....and be done with it....You don't want to make it harder than it is...

 

[Dutch445]

around here they are paying pretty decent for scrap metal, it may be worth
your while to sort thru the pile after you sift it out of
the dirt. even our landfill will take metal scrap at no charge
unless it's an appliance with refrigerant.
by sorting you may end up with a lot less trash disposal fee
with what's remaining.

 

[Localmotion]

Hi Everyone,

So what I thought was a dirt pile (left from previous owner) next to my pole barn turns out to be about 50 yards of sand mixed with shingles, metal, car wheels, clothing, glass, cans, wire, grass, etc.

Our local landfill charges by the ton and the pile is 70% dirt. I'm against digging a hole and burying it.

I'm wondering if a rock bucket on the skid steer would work to sift the trash out of the sand? Then I could put the trash in the dump trailer and take it to the landfill. The left over dirt would be full of stuff that I wouldn't want to grow things in so perhaps I could dump that somewhere where someone is looking for "clean" fill?

I don't know what else to do. Just wondering if any of you have tried sifting garbage out of dirt like that? I'm concerned that getting the dirt to sift through the rock bucket might be a lost cause. Anyone have other ideas that might work? I really don't want to build a sifter if I don't have to.

Personally I would just dig a deep hole and bury it

If however you really REALLY don't want to do that, you are going to have to accept that it will cost you. I would find the nearest hire shop that rent out power screens - in recent years these have become more popular and are getting smaller. Rent a screen for a weekend and run your pile of trash through it - power screens work a lot better than rock buckets or even trummel buckets. :thumbsup:

A cheaper idea would be to level out the pile of trash, and pay a bunch of kids to rummage through it and pick out all the bits for you - maybe the local school would like to do a project on recycling??? :laughing:

 

[boggen]

haul it to the dump and be done with it, or dig a hole and be done with it.

trying to sift through dirt to remove stuff from it is just asking for extra work. at the cost of fuel and your time and wear and tear on stuff. by the time you messed around, you could have it done and gone to a dump or dug a hole and had things re leveled.

 

[bigtiller]

Put an add on Crages List for fill dirt and see what happens. Someone may pay you to let them haul it away. If not, then give it away, somebody wants it.

 

[MNBobcat]

Thanks guys. I'm not going to bury it. I know that's done a lot but I don't want it on my property because no matter where I put it it will likely be in the way in the future for something I want to do. Also, we grow stuff for consumption and I don't know what's in the pile.

The landfill charges over $100 a ton. 50 yards has got to be 30 ton or more.

I just a few minutes ago found someone with a rock bucket with about 4" spacing between the tines. They're letting me use it for free. I won't get it until next week and if its not going to work I don't want to waste a week waiting for it. My soil is sand and its been dry so it may be it will actually work well.

 

[Localmotion]

I just a few minutes ago found someone with a rock bucket with about 4" spacing between the tines. They're letting me use it for free. I won't get it until next week and if its not going to work I don't want to waste a week waiting for it. My soil is sand and its been dry so it may be it will actually work well.

Given that it's sand, it might work ok. Be sure to take some photos of the trash before and after for us, as if it does work it will be worth noting for future TBN users...

Also Bigtiller's idea is a good one - stick an advertisement for free infill, and let someone who needs to fill a hole bury it on their land :thumbsup:

 

[MNBobcat]

Localmotion,

I did put an ad on craigslist for free fill. If someone wants it, that would be the best option for me!

 

[dave1949]

Maybe combine the rock bucket with hosing? Get some in the bucket, shake it, hose it, dump it? Would take a lot of water but might work.

 

[Luremaker]

A simple home made screen may work well. Here is a picture of my screen. It made with a few 2x6's, cedar posts and some heavy duty chain link fence. I use mine all the time and it's survived hundreds of yards of top soil loaded with rock and roots.

 

[MNBobcat]

A simple home made screen may work well. Here is a picture of my screen. It made with a few 2x6's, cedar posts and some heavy duty chain link fence. I use mine all the time and it's survived hundreds of yards of top soil loaded with rock and roots.

Hi Luremaker,

That's pretty slick. Looks like it would be easy to make, too. I may give that a try.

 

[RxRatedZ71]

Lure:
I was thinking of something along those lines. If the material to be sorted out is larger, then just get a couple of cattle-panels and stagger them rather than using the chainlink fence. However, I think the chain link will definitely clean it better and produce more "usable" dirt in the end.

 

[toy]

Thanks guys. I'm not going to bury it. I know that's done a lot but I don't want it on my property because no matter where I put it it will likely be in the way in the future for something I want to do. Also, we grow stuff for consumption and I don't know what's in the pile.

The landfill charges over $100 a ton. 50 yards has got to be 30 ton or more.

I just a few minutes ago found someone with a rock bucket with about 4" spacing between the tines. They're letting me use it for free. I won't get it until next week and if its not going to work I don't want to waste a week waiting for it. My soil is sand and its been dry so it may be it will actually work well.

I would think that the shingles should be stacked close together in one spot, so if I could I would sift those out and sepperate those. The larger stuff I believe I would get out and anything that I wouldn't want to contaminate my land, and the rest I believe I would bury.

 

[rswyan]

A simple home made screen may work well. Here is a picture of my screen. It made with a few 2x6's, cedar posts and some heavy duty chain link fence. I use mine all the time and it's survived hundreds of yards of top soil loaded with rock and roots.

Similar to the one I built - I think originally intended to use chain-link fence .... but then I forgot I had the chain-link when I went to build it .... :confused2:

:laughing:

My screener's frame is 1' wider (6') than my loader's bucket (5') and I have 3 (removable) screens for it .... all of the screens are built out of 2" x 4" lumber, on various spacings. The screens sit at a 45 degree angle.

The large (coarse) one uses a sheep/goat panel from TSC (1/4" welded wire) with 4" holes, the middle one uses welded wire fencing with 1" holes, and the third one (which I've never used yet) is made with hardware cloth with 1/4" holes - it is meant to be used to screen dirt out of small gravel.

FWIW, the middle one with 1" holes will remove most everything over 1/2" diameter (rocks and pebbles anyways) from soil.

It may take multiple runs thru the screener to remove all the soil (fines) .... and it tends to work best the slower you pour the material out of the bucket. If there is organic material like weeds, brush, or roots mixed in a leaf rake and/or push broom works well for cleaning the screen.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Don't mean to be negative, but if the shingles are composite you should check for the presence of asbestos. Laying on the ground undisturbed, the shingles should not be a problem. Start messing with them and the asbestos becomes friable, you have problems.

 

[Luremaker]

Here are few pictures of my original stationary screen. The picture on page 1 is of the portable version. I can move if from site to site with my FEL. I've had to repair it from time to time. If I remember correctly the screen is 7 feet wide by 8 feet long. Fence stapes hold the chain-link fence in place.

 

[MNBobcat]

Don't mean to be negative, but if the shingles are composite you should check for the presence of asbestos. Laying on the ground undisturbed, the shingles should not be a problem. Start messing with them and the asbestos becomes friable, you have problems.

That's been one of my concerns. I started wearing a dust mask while I was loosening and piling the dirt. How do you tell if a shingle has asbestos? Do you break one and see if its stringy?

 

[MNBobcat]

If I haven't said it before, you guys are the best! Thanks so much for sharing the ideas and especially the photos.

Tonight I'm going to start building something like what luremaker shared. I haven't been able to find any chain link fence (no luck on craigslist) but I do have some welded wire rebar for concrete that I can use for the coarse sifting.