Are you needing to rent a dumpster? If so, check out this guide to learn the top tips for renting a dumpster.
Are you renovating your home or office? Do you have a large amount of debris to remove from your property?
Have you always wanted to rent a dumpster—just for fun? Whatever the reason, you’ll want to go about renting a dumpster the right way.
It might seem simple to find a dumpster company and get a dumpster delivered wherever you need it. However, if you’ve never rented a dumpster before, you’ll want to check out these tips for renting a dumpster.
Home or Office?
Where do you need your dumpster? That’s a critical question when renting a dumpster for your project.
If you need debris collection and removal in a residential area, you need a residential dumpster. Many neighborhoods have different requirements for waste disposal. Your city could have rules and regulations about dumpster sizes and where you can put a dumpster on your property.
When it comes to commercial debris removal from an office or warehouse, different rules, pricing, and dumpster sizes can apply.
When you request a dumpster, make sure you let us know where it’s going and the nature of your commercial or residential project. This information helps you get the best rates and the right dumpster sizes.
Size Matters
Not all dumpsters are the same! Depending on the size or amount of debris, you want to rent the right sized dumpster. If you choose a dumpster that’s too small, you add expense with multiple pick-ups from a dumpster you fill too fast.
If you order dumpster that’s bigger than you need, you’ll pay more for space you won’t use.
In general:
- Basement, attic, or garage cleanouts do well with a 15-yard box.
- New home construction or a residential reservation needs to handle more debris. Choose a 30-yard box to avoid repeated dumpster fills and removals.
- For most large-scale commercial projects, including tearing off the roof, go big with a 40-yard box.
For your smallest projects, like tearing out and replacing a deck for your home, ask your dumpster provider if they offer trash bins or small, 10-yard boxes. You’ll save money on a smaller container as long as your project doesn’t fill more than the bin holds.
But, don’t underestimate the bin size that works best for your project. When using a rental dumpster, you can’t leave items above the rim of the dumpster. Overfilling your dumpster is a hazard to the public and to the person who removes it at the end of your project.
Choosing the wrong size can increase the dumpster use and removal fees—whether you choose a bin that’s too big or too small. Talk with us to help determine the right size dumpster for your needs.
Location, Location, Location!
Where is the best spot for your dumpster? They tend to be an eyesore; plus you need to place the dumpster in the most useful and safest location.
Make sure you understand any regulations that restrict dumpster placement at your home or business. Put the dumpster in an ideal location for the safe removal of your debris.
Be sure the dumpster company has easy access to deliver and remove your dumpster.
You Can’t Toss That
It’s a dumpster, so you can toss any size, shape, or type of materials, right?
Wrong.
True, a dumpster’s purpose is to hold an assortment of debris and waste. However, there are many things you can’t toss into a dumpster without facing a penalty.
Make sure you remove debris from any cleanout or construction project responsibly.
Some excluded items should be evident due to their potential for extreme harm. These items shouldn’t be common household items but could be more common during a commercial project.
Your Dumpster Can’t Hold These Items
Don’t use your rented dumpster for these dangerous items:
- Hazardous waste
- Radioactive material
- Chemical products, including pool chemicals and lawn fertilizers
- Industrial waste
Other household items or products might be less obvious prohibited items, but they don’t belong in a dumpster.
- Household cleaners, like bleach or solvents
- Herbicides and pesticides
- Flammable liquids
- Paint in liquid form or lead paint chips
- Fluorescent tubes or any lightbulbs
- Any liquids
There is one exception to tossing paint in your dumpster. Feel free to load wholly dried latex paint in cans into a rented dumpster.
Additional prohibited items include:
- Propane tanks
- Automobile tires, motor oil, batteries, and transmission fluid
- Any hydraulic or lubricating oils and oil filters
- Antifreeze
- Cloths or rags contaminated with solvents or gasoline
- Soil contaminated by petroleum
- Asbestos
- Appliances
- Medical waste and medications
- Asbestos
Not only are these prohibited items dangerous when sitting in a dumpster, but they can also leak out of containers and contaminate soil or harm wildlife. Plus, disposing of these items in your dumpster also puts the supply and removal company at-risk of harm.
Be responsible about the debris you put in your dumpster. Make other arrangements for hazardous items or the disposal of anything on these lists.
Budget Your Dumpster
Don’t forget about debris removal! When creating the budget for your cleanout or construction project, but sure you budget for the cost of renting a dumpster.
Work with your local dumpster company to find the right size dumpster for as long as you need it. Be sure you work through every aspect of your project, including requesting a separate dumpster for yard-only waste if required.
Renting a Dumpster Completes Your Project!
Your project isn’t complete without renting a dumpster to take care of waste and debris. From emptying your basement to remodeling your home, a temporary dumpster keeps debris out of the way of your work.
We can handle debris removal for just about any project from commercial to residential. When you’re ready to talk about the best dumpster for your needs, contact us for a free estimate!