Muck away pricing —
what it should actually cost
Muck away is the job most often underpriced. Get the bulk factor wrong or forget the tip cost and the margin is gone before the first wagon moves.
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The bulk factor
One cubic metre of material sitting solid in the ground becomes roughly 1.3 cubic metres once it is dug and loose in the wagon. Price on the solid figure and you will be short by nearly a third.
So 500 m³ to excavate is 650 m³ to haul. On an 8-wheel tipper carrying about 12 m³ loose, that is 55 loads, not 42.
Tipper payloads
| Wagon | Payload | Loose volume | Typical day rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-wheel tipper | 8 t | ~5 m³ | £240 |
| 8-wheel tipper | 18–20 t | ~12 m³ | £320 |
| Artic tipper | 25–28 t | ~16 m³ | £420 |
Tip and disposal costs
| Waste classification | Cost per load |
|---|---|
| Inert | £80–150 |
| Non-hazardous | £120–200 |
| Hazardous / contaminated | £250–600 |
Contaminated ground needs a WAC test before it can be priced properly. Never quote hazardous blind.
Typical all-in rates
Inert muck away within 10 miles usually lands at £18–32 per m³ all in. Beyond 20 miles, haulage starts to dominate and cycle time governs everything — load, travel, tip, return. A 20-minute round trip means three loads an hour per wagon, no more.
What people forget
- Waste Transfer Note is legally required for every off-site load in the UK
- Waste carrier registration is required to haul it
- Loading excavator cost, not just the wagons
- Standing time if the tip has a queue
- Weekend or out-of-hours rates
Questions.
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