How to get rid of an old shed or playset
Break it down, sort the metal, clean wood and treated lumber, and haul it in a dump trailer. Treated lumber and shingles count as construction debris, charged at $106 a ton at Howard County's Alpha Ridge Landfill. Howard's curbside bulk pickup doesn't take wooden swing sets or construction debris, so a 7x14 trailer at $165 a day ($174.90 with tax) is the simplest route for most yards.
Key takeaways
- Howard County bulk pickup doesn't take wooden swing sets, wooden picnic tables or construction debris.
- Treated lumber and shingles go as C&D: $106/ton at Alpha Ridge for rental-trailer loads.
- Example: a level 7x14 of mixed C&D weighs about 3,000–3,470 lb, or roughly $162–$188 at the scale.
- Contact Miss Utility at least two full business days before digging out footings.
- Howard limits commercial vehicles on residential streets to 6 hours, so park in the driveway.
What are my options for getting rid of a shed or playset?
Give it away whole, hire someone, or tear it down and haul it yourself.
| Option | Best when | What you pay for |
|---|---|---|
| Give away or sell it intact | It's solid and the buyer can move it | Nothing, if the buyer hauls it |
| County bulk pickup | Only loose bulk items, not the structure | Free for eligible homes, but swing sets and C&D aren't accepted |
| Junk removal crew | You want zero labor | Labor, truck time and their disposal markup |
| Dumpster | Slow, multi-week job | Rental period and tonnage |
| DIY with a dump trailer | You can do a day of demo | Trailer rental plus scale weight |
Howard County's curbside bulk pickup takes up to four items per pickup, and each must be liftable by two crew members. Its guide specifically excludes construction and demolition debris and wooden picnic tables and swing sets. For the cost comparison, see junk removal vs a dump trailer or run the dumpster vs dump trailer calculator.
How do I take it down safely?
Kill the power, empty it, then work top down: roof, walls, floor, footings.
- Power. If the shed has electric, have a licensed electrician disconnect it first.
- Empty it. Fuel cans, paint and chemicals don't go in a debris load. Ask the landfill where they go.
- Roof. Strip shingles first. Asphalt shingles weigh about 731 lb per cubic yard.
- Walls and floor. Cut panels into pieces that lie flat in the bed. Pull or bend over nails.
- Playsets. Unbolt rather than cut where you can. Keep slides, swings and hardware separate.
- Protect yourself. Gloves, eye protection and boots. Old sheds hide nails, glass and wasp nests. Sweep the driveway with a magnet when you're done, because loose roofing nails puncture tires.
- Footings. If you'll dig out piers or posts, contact Miss Utility (811) at least two full business days ahead. It's free.
Permits and approvals: in Ellicott City's historic district, exterior changes need a Certificate of Approval. Columbia village covenants vary.
Rent the 7x14 14K Dump
$165/day · $279 weekend · $595 week. Total with tax shown before you book.
See prices and bookHow should I sort the load?
Sort by material, because the landfill prices clean wood, metal and C&D differently.
| Material | Where in Howard | Rental-trailer rate (FY27) |
|---|---|---|
| Metal shed panels, swing-set frames, fencing | Alpha Ridge metal recycling | Ask us |
| Untreated, unpainted lumber | Wood Waste Area | $40/ton |
| Treated lumber, plywood, shingles, mixed debris | C&D | $106/ton |
| Concrete pad or footings | Large quantities not accepted from commercial loads | See below |
Rental trailers are treated as commercial at Alpha Ridge, and card payments carry a 2.45% fee. If you don't sort, the whole load is billed as C&D. For concrete, Anne Arundel's Millersville site charges $200/ton, Carroll's Northern Landfill refuses pieces over 6 inches, and the private Baltimore Recycling Center takes any county's loads at $93/ton with a 1-ton minimum. See can you put concrete in a dump trailer.
Landfill fees, hours and rules are set by each county or site and can change without notice. We don't control them; call the site before you go. Current details are on our Howard County dump guide.
How many loads, and what will it cost?
If the broken-down pieces stack flat below the 24-inch sides of a 7x14, it's one load.
Example: one level 7x14 load (7.17 cubic yards) of mixed shed debris at 417–484 lb per cubic yard weighs about 2,990–3,470 lb.
| Example cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| 7x14 dump, day rate | $165 ($174.90 with tax) |
| Alpha Ridge C&D at $106/ton + 2.45% card fee | ~$162–$188 |
| Example total | ~$337–$363 |
| Optional: Return It Loaded (we dump it) | Scale price + $49 ($51.94 with tax) |
A shingled roof adds weight, and so does a concrete floor, which should ride separately. For comparison, 15-yard dumpster quotes in Columbia run $350–685. Estimate your own job in the load calculator.
Does a metal, plastic or wood shed change the plan?
Yes. Metal can go to recycling, plastic goes as trash, and wood depends on whether it's treated.
- Metal sheds. Unscrew the panels and nest them flat. Alpha Ridge's residents' guide lists metal items such as fencing, aluminum siding and cable for metal recycling. Ask the weighmaster where a rental-trailer load of metal should go.
- Resin or plastic sheds. Snap the panels apart. They're light and bulky, so they fill space, not weight. Expect them to be charged with mixed debris.
- Wood sheds. Treated floor framing and painted siding go as C&D. Only clean, untreated, unpainted lumber qualifies for the $40/ton wood rate.
- Wood playsets. If the lumber is treated, stained or painted, plan on C&D. Plastic slides and swings ride with it. Steel swing frames can go with the metal.
Good lumber, hardware and metal roofing can often be reused or given away. Every piece you don't haul is weight you don't pay for at the scale. Post it before you cut anything, because whole panels go faster than piles.
Where can I park the trailer while I work?
In your driveway or on your lot, not on the street.
Howard County Code § 21.232 limits commercial vehicles on residential streets to 6 hours, with fines of $250, $500 and $750. In Columbia's Oakland Mills village, covenants bar storing trailers in the open. Baltimore County Code § 18-2-206 sets $250-a-day fines for commercial trailers on residential roads, and Sykesville limits on-street trailers to 48 hours.
A weekend rental (any 2–3 days) is $279 ($295.74 with tax) and gives you time to demo Saturday and haul Monday morning. Delivery in Howard is $75 each way ($79.50 with tax), and $125 ($132.50 with tax) in Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Carroll counties and the City of Laurel. Book the 7x14 dump trailer.
Questions
Can I burn the old shed wood?
Don't. Treated and painted lumber shouldn't be burned. Haul it as C&D.
Will someone take a used playset for free?
Often, if it's sound and they take it apart themselves. List it before you start cutting.
Can I put the shed's contents in the same trailer?
Household junk can ride along, but keep fuel, paint and chemicals out of the load.
Sources
- Howard County: curbside guide (bulk limits; swing sets and C&D not accepted)
- Howard County: Residents' Convenience Center guide (metal accepted, treated lumber as C&D)
- Howard County: Alpha Ridge user fees and charges (FY27)
- Howard County: Alpha Ridge commercial customers (2.45% card fee, concrete limits)
- Maryland Office of People's Counsel: Miss Utility 811