Rubbish removal

Rubbish removal in South Africa

Updated 4 November 2026

Rubbish removal in South Africa usually costs between R 550 and R 4,950 per load, depending on the volume, the waste type and the city. A single bakkie load in Boksburg starts at R 650, while skips are charged per day. For a price on your own load, send one request on BlaBlaPrice.

Prices by load and by skip

Most sellers quote per load, so a full bakkie of 4–5 cubic metres in Cape Town is about R 2,000 to R 2,800 all-in, and a 12 cubic metre whole-house clearance runs to R 5,000 to R 7,500. Skips are priced per day: R 600 to R 1,200 for a small skip of 2–3 cubic metres, and R 1,500 to R 2,500 for a medium skip of 6 to 8 cubic metres. Johannesburg, Pretoria and Boksburg are all in Gauteng, while Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha are far apart, so check that a firm covers your suburb.

Rules to check before you book

Waste management is regulated under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act of 2008 (NEMWA), which covers waste management licences. Ask any company whether it holds a licence for the type of waste you have. A licence application must include an independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner, so a firm that has been through that process will know the rules. Household rubbish, garden waste and rubble are different loads, so say which one you have before you agree a price.

Season and timing

Summer in South Africa runs from December to February, and winter from June to August, so November falls just before the summer heat. Ask for a date early in the month, while there is still time to compare offers before the hottest weeks. Check that the vehicle can reach the spot, because a bakkie or skip needs room to park and load.

What to put in your request

Say what the waste is, roughly how much there is and whether it is bagged. Add the floor and whether there are stairs, the transport you expect (bakkie, skip or truck), the address, the date you want and your budget. The more of this you give, the closer the quotes will be.

Sellers quote in cubic metres and bakkie loads, so a rough size is more useful than a guess. Send one request on BlaBlaPrice with the waste, the size and your suburb. The assistant asks for anything missing, checks local sellers' websites and price lists, and shows the prices and businesses it finds. Sellers registered on BlaBlaPrice reply in the chat with their own price and terms, and your contact details stay hidden until you decide to share them. To see how this works, read how BlaBlaPrice works.