Last Update
Table of Contents
Last Update
When it comes to construction, renovation, or home improvement jobs, planning a means of junk disposal is one of the most important and often overlooked parts of the project.
Without the right dumpster or trash removal setup, your job site will quickly devolve into a hazardous, cluttered mess with dangerous pieces of trash piled around, just waiting for someone to trip over or bump into it.
The best way to avoid this happening is to plan ahead by renting a dumpster and making sure that you know what can or can’t be put into it. Just like your household trash cans, certain items are or aren’t permitted to be disposed of in a rented dumpster.
Permitted Items
Most general household trash is allowed to be disposed of in a dumpster. General trash consists of paper items, toys, food waste, or anything else that would commonly be found in a household trash can. Let’s go through some of the other common items and some do’s and don’ts of putting them in a dumpster rental.
Furniture
Furniture is one of the most common things people rent dumpsters to get rid of when renovating or clearing out a job site. Because of their bulky space requirements, a dumpster rental is one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to get rid of furniture.
It will help you fit more in your dumpster if you can break down some of the furniture into smaller pieces, meaning you will save money in the end.
One item of furniture to watch out for is mattresses. Some dumpster rentals will not allow you to dispose of mattresses in them because they can contain biohazards or be contaminated with bedbugs.
If you’re looking to dispose of mattresses, it’s best to contact the disposal company and clarify their policies on them to avoid incurring extra charges.
Electronic Items
In moderate quantities, almost all dumpster rentals will accept electronics. However, if you’re cleaning out an office or something similar with mass amounts of electronics, again, it’s best to clarify with the disposal company to avoid extra fees.
Certain types of electronic waste might be regulated more heavily in your area, such as cell phones or computers with toxic batteries, and extra recycling feeds might apply.
You can also look into donating electronics, especially if they are still in working order, to certain charities or services that specialize in dealing with this type of waste.
Electronic waste is particularly tough on the environment, so it’s worth doing it right.
Yard Waste
Almost all yard waste is accepted in dumpster rental. Sometimes, if the dumpster will only be used for yard waste, you can save money by letting the disposal company know it is a “clean load”, or “green waste”.
If you have large amounts of yard waste, a dumpster rental is an excellent way to get rid of it.
One thing to watch out for when it comes to this type of waste is excessive weight, for materials like dirt or concrete. If you go over a certain weight limit, it can cause you to incur extra fees or charges.
Flooring tiles or roofing shingles can add up quickly, so be careful when loading anything made of ceramic or stone so you don’t exceed your weight limit.
Always ensure you rented a large enough dumpster to avoid issues with overloading or running out of room in your dumpster.
Appliances
Most appliances are permitted to go into dumpsters. However, once again, it’s worth clarifying with the waste disposal company to make sure you follow all regulations appropriately. Some things to consider are:
- Does the appliance contain hazardous chemicals, such as freon, mercury, or PCB capacitors?
- Is it more cost-effective to contact a dedicated appliance recycling or donation center?
- Does your local utility offer a “bounty program” where they will allow you to turn in your old appliances for free or even offer small amounts of money for them?
Getting the Job Done
In general, anything not listed in this article will be fine in a dumpster without a second thought. Waste disposal companies specialize in getting rid of people’s trash, and there probably isn’t anything you could be trying to get rid of that they haven’t seen or dealt with before.
Most types of organic or non-organic trash are just fine to put in a dumpster, such as children’s toys, tools, paper documents, old Christmas decorations, etc.
Anything that you would throw away in a household trash can you can similarly throw away in a rented dumpster.
The main reason people rent dumpsters is so they can get rid of large amounts of junk without worrying too much about it, and in most cases, this will work fine. However, to ensure you keep costs low and can complete your job effectively, it’s best to clarify any questions you may have before you throw them in the dumpster.
