Renovation debris removal in Providence

The short answer

Renovation debris is priced by item, by bag count or by truck fill. Common Providence renovation items: full kitchen cabinet set $293, cast iron bathtub $185, cast iron radiator $123, toilet $64, bathroom vanity $69. Bagged debris runs from 10 bags at $132 to 50 bags at $575, and loose debris by truck fill from a quarter truck at $241. Carry-out from any floor is included.

What Providence renovations produce

Much of the Providence housing stock is a century old or more. Triple-deckers were mostly built between 1870 and 1920, and the East Side has houses older than that. Renovating them produces a particular kind of debris: plaster and lath rather than drywall, cast iron radiators and tubs, old-growth lumber, layers of flooring, and kitchens that have been redone several times over.

Mill-loft conversions in Olneyville, Pawtucket, Woonsocket and Fall River produce another mix: framing lumber, drywall, metal studs, old fixtures and packaging from new materials.

Both kinds of project share one problem. The debris is often on an upper floor, the street is narrow, and there is no easy place to stage it.

Why the city will not take it

Providence's free bulky-item pickup is built for household furniture and large appliances set at the curb, from buildings of six or fewer units. Renovation debris is a different thing. Bags of plaster, pulled cabinets, old flooring and framing lumber are not bulky household items, and leaving them at the curb on trash day is not the same as booking a collection.

A few items from a remodel do overlap with the city list. An old refrigerator, stove, dishwasher or water heater from a kitchen or basement job can go through the free program if you schedule it with Waste Management 24 hours ahead and get it to the curb yourself. Everything else needs its own route.

Doing it yourself means hauling to a disposal site. The state's landfill is the RIRRC Central Landfill at 65 Shun Pike in Johnston, and its commercial tip rates are set by contract and not published, so call before you load a truck. RIRRC also posts weather closures, so check before you drive over.

Flat prices for renovation items

Bags and loose debris

Plaster is heavy. Bag it in contractor bags only partly full so they can be carried safely down stairs. Concrete, brick and masonry are priced separately because of the weight.

Worked examples

Bathroom gut on the second floor of a Federal Hill triple-decker. Cast iron tub, toilet, vanity and 20 bags of tile and plaster: $185 + $64 + $69 + $259 = $577.

Kitchen remodel in a Cranston ranch. Full cabinet set and two stone countertop sections: $293 + $111 + $111 = $515.

Heating upgrade in an East Side Victorian. Four cast iron radiators: $123 + $123 + $123 + $123 = $492.

Flooring job in a Warwick cape. Carpet removal in three rooms: $71 + $71 + $71 = $213.

For a larger mixed pile of framing, drywall and fixtures, a truck tier is usually simpler. The quote shows the lower option.

Pickups in stages through a project

On a tight Providence lot, debris that sits for weeks becomes its own problem. It blocks the back stairs, fills the porch and annoys the tenants on the other floors. Many renovators book pickups at the natural break points of a job instead of waiting for the end.

A typical second-floor kitchen and bath in a Pawtucket or Elmwood three-family might run in three visits. Demolition day takes out the fixtures: cabinet set, cast iron tub, toilet and vanity, $293 + $185 + $64 + $69 = $611. Mid-project takes the plaster and lath once it is bagged, often 30 bags at $385. The final clean-out takes offcuts, packaging and old doors, often 10 bags at $132 plus two interior doors, $132 + $41 + $41 = $214.

Across the whole project, that is $611 + $385 + $214 = $1,210, and the debris never stays on site longer than a few days. Same-day pickup when you book by 4 PM means a visit can be called in as soon as a phase wraps up.

Debris pickup versus a dumpster

A dumpster works well when there is space for it and the project will produce a steady flow of debris over several weeks. In much of Providence, there is not that space. Streets on College Hill, Federal Hill and Fox Point are narrow and fully parked, and a dumpster on the street usually needs city permission.

A dumpster also does not come upstairs. On a triple-decker job, someone still has to carry every bag down to it. A pickup brings the crew to the debris, carries it out and leaves nothing on the street.

Many renovators use both: a dumpster for the main demolition and pickups for the heavy items and the final clean-out. See junk removal vs dumpster rental in Providence.

Things to know before the pickup

• Hazardous materials. Older homes can contain materials that need testing and specialist handling before they are disturbed. Hazardous waste is not standard and is handled case by case, so ask before booking.
• Paint. Accepted: $30 for a one-gallon can, $52 for a five-gallon bucket.
• Building rules. Condos and managed buildings may need a certificate of insurance. JunkRabbit emails a COI within one hour of booking.
• Scheduling. Crews work seven days a week from 8am to midnight, and same-day pickup is available when you book by 4 PM.

Frequently asked questions