Dumpster Rental FAQ
This section covers the most common questions residential and business customers ask when looking to rent a dumpster.
Renting a dumpster is not as trivial a matter as it may first appear. First-time dumpster rental customers are often surprised by the level of formality that occurs in arranging and finalizing the process. The formality exists mainly because the extent of the waste issue is being taken a lot more seriously by state authorities across the country. These municipalities are realizing that there won’t be enough space to accommodate the exponential volumes of trash being produced by residents and businesses every single day, which means stringent regulatory measures must be imposed to prevent and discourage the permanent dumping of solid wastes at landfill sites.
Such rules influence many aspects of the dumpster service you will receive, some of which are mentioned in some parts of this section.
For Residential
You can get a dumpster by searching for a rental company that operates in your location. We recommend you rent from a hauler that cares about protecting the environment you live in, as this better ensures that your rubbish will be disposed of in the most beneficial way.
The dumpster rental process typically works as follows:
- You communicate with a dumpster rental company requesting their services
- You and the dumpster company make arrangements and agree to terms (including selecting a dumpster type and size and payment terms)
- Your dumpster is dropped off at the agreed address on the arranged date and time
- You load your dumpster with the accepted weight and type of waste
- The rental company picks up your dumpster (with or without trash inside of it) from the agreed address on the contracted date and time.
It can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000 to rent a dumpster for residential or construction purposes, and above $1000 for major construction and demolition projects. Price largely depends on a customer’s specific requirements and the rental company. For example, with all other variables remaining constant, the price of renting a 10-yard dumpster is significantly less than rates to rent a 40-yard dumpster. Dumpster rates are also dependent on the state you are renting in. This is mainly due to the different fees dumpster companies are charged by municipal authorities for things such as licenses and tipping permits. Some services include the fees they are charged to dump the waste in the cost of the rental while others categorize it as an additional cost.
Dumpster dimensions are measured in cubic yards (just called “yards”) and include the following sizes: 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 yards. Different companies offer a varying combination of sizes, so may not have every one of these sizes in stock.
The dumpster size a customer should use is determined by their particular requirements. Simply put, a bigger waste removal project will need a suitably larger dumpster, and vice versa. To get a better idea of which size is right for you, check out our page on dumpster sizes (in the dumpsters drop-down menu at the top of the page). You can also get advice directly from an established rental company as they are likely to have serviced similar requirements before.
You can rent a dumpster for anywhere from one day to four weeks with most rental services. However, larger waste management companies are able to supply dumpsters which can be kept for over four weeks or even on an on-going basis if required. In this scenario, the dumpster is serviced similar to regular curbside collection, with removal occurring daily, weekly or bi-weekly.
With most rentals, you can pay by cash. However, not every company accepts check payments though many do. Electronic payments are very rarely accepted by independent local haulers, but are mainly accepted by brokers or medium-to-large waste management companies with state- or nationwide internet and telephony operations. The accepted payment method largely influences whether you pay for the rental before or after you have received the service. Some waste removal services will only begin the work after they have received full payment; others will begin providing their services after receiving partial payment; and some accept payment on the day of pickup.
A dumpster should not be loaded with items that are classed as hazardous. If you are not sure whether the items you have are hazardous you should run them by your dumpster rental company to be on the safe side. Flammable and toxic materials are also typically prohibited from going in a dumpster. As a rule of thumb, any item that is acceptable in a curbside bin can also go in a dumpster. Although acceptable household solid waste or construction debris such as asphalt roofing shingles and plasterboard are allowed, some haulers may forbid the mixing of recyclable materials with non-recyclable materials in the dumpster.
Yes. Dumpsters should be loaded in a way that the debris inside is even. There shouldn’t be any concentrations of trash heaps or holes in a particular spot inside the dumpster. You should also try not to overload the dumpster, meaning that the trash should not pass the top nor stick out of the container. Incorrectly filling a dumpster can lead to additional rental fees. Large dumpsters usually have a door making it easier to load correctly.
Yes, you can. You can rent smaller containers ranging from 1 yard to 8 yards in size. These are useful if you don’t have much debris for removal, such as for a minor yard or garage cleanup.
Only if you prefer. For the most part, your dumpster can be delivered even if you are not present at the drop-off address. Just make sure to provide clear and accurate instructions for its placement. If there is a particular spot where you would like the container to be placed that requires some sort of special knowledge, then it is recommended that you or another person with that knowledge be there to provide guidance for delivery.
If the dumpster has been loaded properly and there are no obstructions to access it, your presence will usually not be required for pickup.
If at any point during your rental you realize that may you may need to have the dumpster for longer than you planned you should let the dumpster company know as soon as possible. Some companies are flexible in these scenarios and will not charge you extra to keep the container for a few more days or so. Others will charge a fixed daily rate for every additional day you have the dumpster.
Not usually. You may, however, need to acquire a permit from your local parking enforcement or building permit office if you plan on placing the dumpster on public property, such as a nearby street. The length of the permit is determined by the issuer, so it would be wise to first check if you require a permit before actually booking your rental as a hauler may accept your custom before confirming your permit status.
You can, but you typically won’t get as much space and weight per dollar for storing your waste with these bags in comparison with a dumpster. If you plan to use a dumpster bag, you should at least be prepared and willing to dispose of its contents yourself as its removal may not be guaranteed in your area. You will also need to take extra caution to not overload the bag as it can tear if it’s loaded past its bearing point, which itself is harder to gauge than with a rental container. With a dumpster rental, removal of your waste is guaranteed and all fees for delivery and pickup included in the pricing.
Due to the logistics involved, dumpsters are available for rent on a first-come first-serve basis. You may be able to get a dumpster on the same day of your order if the company you are dealing with can accommodate it, which can sometimes be the case.
Yes. Although it is possible to rent a dumpster for a day, or less than a full day, some rentals may only accept bookings that are made at least one day in advance.
For Business
Businesses can rent dumpsters for long-term or temporary waste management solutions. In either case the process is usually as follows:
- Your business requests the services of a waste management company
- Your business and the waste management company discuss requirements and settle on rental terms, such as length of service contract, payment, legal, and waste collection schedule
- Your dumpster is dropped off at your business address on the arranged date and time
- Your dumpster is loaded with the accepted waste materials from your business operations
- Your dumpster is picked up and emptied on the contracted day and time.
The cost of your rental will vary based on your business’ requirements, location and the service provider. To give you some idea of price, the average cost for the on-going rental of a 2-yard dumpster with one collection a week is between $50 and $150 a month before tax. Businesses renting for a temporary occasion can expect to be offered cheaper rates than residential customer rentals.
A capable waste management service can supply you with as many dumpsters as is needed to effectively store and manage the waste volumes generated by your business. If your organization has significant traffic or occupancy, then your waste needs would be best served by an established waste management company that has the experience and resources to manage a large waste stream.
Businesses can rent the following dumpster sizes (in cubic yards): 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 cubic yards.
This largely depends on your business’ primary goals for renting the dumpster. If you are renting on a long-term basis then the most popular dumpster sizes for business are 2-yards, 4-yards, 6-yards, and 8-yards. If your purpose for renting is for a temporary project or event, then depending on the size of the project or event, you may require a larger dumpster such as a 10-yard, 20-yard, 30-yard or 40-yard roll-off container.
Yes. A key legal consideration when renting is the health and safety of people on your legal property. You should perform due diligence on the waste management service before renting to ensure that they have the proper licenses and are permitted for service. You should also do your utmost to protect the safety of your employees, customers and visitors by ensuring that the company has a good safety record and utilizes the safest waste management practices. Your business will also need to comply with other regulatory requirements within its jurisdiction, such as recycling requirements.
Commercial dumpsters can be serviced anywhere from once a week to once or twice every day of the week depending on your business needs.
Your business can receive any number of additional waste management services including waste audits by waste stream advisers, program design, cost analysis, and equipment specifications for projects of different scales.
Yes. Some haulers have LEED construction specialists that can help construction businesses manage their waste and recycling responsibilities for various types and sizes of building projects. There are haulage companies that also offer free waste consultation, assisting businesses in recognizing and applying the most cost-efficient “green” building tactics, conducting analysis and waste audits for LEED reporting, while supplying proper waste disposal and recycling dumpsters.