Don’t waste your dumpster rental—use it to its full potential
Dumpsters can accommodate a wide variety of waste and debris, but not everything.
Construction debris, yard waste, and household trash can all be put in a dumpster.
You need to know the dumpster’s weight limit and any prohibited items.
When it’s time to remodel your kitchen, update your landscaping, or declutter your home, renting a dumpster is a convenient way to get rid of large amounts of waste at once. Get the most value out of your rental by learning what you can put in a dumpster—you may be surprised at what you can use it for!
Doing a whole-home cleanout can be extremely satisfying—until you realize you have a pile of discarded items that would require endless trips to the dump to dispose of. Renting a dumpster can save you a lot of time and hassle. Just throw your items into the dumpster and keep working.
You can put all kinds of household waste in a dumpster, including clothing and other textiles, kitchen items, home furnishings, and more. As long as your waste doesn’t include any hazardous or prohibited material, you can throw almost anything from a cleanout in a dumpster rental.
You might not think of a dumpster as somewhere to throw yard waste, but unless your area has regulations prohibiting it, you can use a dumpster to get rid of all kinds of yard waste, including:
Leaves
Branches
Sticks
Brush
Storm debris
You can also use a dumpster when updating your landscaping to dispose of pavers, bricks, edging, and fence components.
Residential dumpsters are commonly used for construction and remodeling debris. Construction materials can be heavy, so make sure you’re aware of the dumpster’s weight limit. If the load is too heavy, a local dumpster rental company won’t be able to safely haul it away, and you might have to pay additional fees to have the dumpster emptied and replaced.
Some construction and remodeling debris you can put in a dumpster includes:
Drywall
Cabinetry
Counters
Concrete blocks
Bricks
Lumber
Siding
Bathroom fixtures
When it’s time for a new roof, a dumpster is the ideal way to dispose of old roofing materials. Shingles, plywood, underlayment, gutters, downspouts, and more can all be put in a dumpster. Remember that shingles are very heavy, though, so you’ll need to make sure you have the right size dumpster and don’t exceed its weight limit.
Most small appliances can be thrown away in a dumpster. Broken or unwanted vacuums, toasters, blenders, coffeemakers, and more can be disposed of safely in a dumpster.
Some appliances, like refrigerators, air conditioners, and washers, can’t be put in a dumpster or may need to be properly drained of hazardous fluids first. It’s best to check with the dumpster rental company for their policies about these items.
Tables, chairs, shelves, and other furniture made of wood, metal, or plastic can be put in a dumpster. You may not always be able to get rid of upholstered furniture this way—some areas have guidelines dictating how to dispose of these items. Ask the dumpster rental company if they prohibit upholstered furniture.
You can't just throw anything into a dumpster rental. Fluorescent light bulbs, paint, tires, household cleaners, and food waste are just a few commonly prohibited items. Ask dumpster rental companies what you can and can't throw into their dumpsters before renting.
When used properly according to the rental safety guidelines, a dumpster is safe to use. To avoid injury, use safety precautions like work gloves and sturdy shoes, load the dumpster as recommended by the rental company with heavier items going in first, don’t overload the dumpster, and don’t put hazardous or prohibited material inside the dumpster.
Alternatives to a dumpster include junk removal services and dumpster bags. These are good options if you have limited space and can’t fit a dumpster on your property or if a dumpster isn’t available. You can also take smaller loads of waste to a disposal facility yourself if you have a vehicle that can fit your items.
Not all residential dumpsters can be locked, but some lidded dumpsters are fitted with locking bars or mechanisms that will fit a lock. Ask the dumpster rental company if they have locking dumpsters available if you’re concerned about keeping animals out or other people using your dumpster for illegal dumping.
