Jobsite Waste Cost Math

Ask ten contractors what debris removal costs per job and eight will shrug. Those eight are leaking margin. Here's the 5-minute math that fixes it.

The three real costs

1. The container. KYN's contractor 7-day rate is $425–450 — below the standard $485 because repeat volume is worth something. On a monthly account it drops further (next lesson).
2. Tonnage. 2 tons ride included; overage is $90/ton. A kitchen gut runs ~1.5–2 tons. A tile floor tear-out can double that. Estimate tonnage per job type once, then reuse the number.
3. Crew time. Loading isn't free — it's labor hours at your loaded rate. A bin dropped 30 feet from the demo saves an hour of wheelbarrow time versus one parked at the curb. Placement is money.

Worked example: bathroom remodel

Container $440 + expected 1 ton over (~$90 tile allowance) + 3 crew-hours loading (~$135 at $45/hr loaded) = ~$665 true waste cost. Put $750 in the bid and waste becomes a small profit center instead of a mystery expense.

The alternative costs more

The "free" alternatives aren't. Crew trucks running to the landfill burn billable hours, fuel, and DOT risk. Piling debris on-site until the end burns rework time and invites code complaints. One bin, placed right, loaded as you go, beats both — every time we've run the numbers with SWFL GCs.

Homework

Write down your last three jobs and what waste actually cost — rental, overage, and hours. That baseline makes every lesson after this one concrete. Details: contractor rentals, pricing, and the contractor playbook.