What Can You Put In A Dumpster? (Find Out Now!)

When you think of a dumpster, what comes to mind? For many people, it’s an image of overflowing garbage in the street, but there are plenty of items that probably shouldn’t be there. What can you put in a dumpster?

Items suitable for disposal in a dumpster include bulky furniture, construction debris, landscaping waste, and some appliances. Avoid throwing out hazardous liquids and materials, flammable items, and electronics. If you’re unsure what’s acceptable, contact your local waste management company.

Follow along to learn what you can and can’t throw in a dumpster. We’ll also discuss if it’s okay to dump stuff in any commercial dumpster or if you should rent your own!

Generally, this rule applies to anything that isn’t recyclable.

Things you’d typically throw in your kitchen garbage can like paper towels, tissues, and other daily trash items are acceptable.

The exception here is food- some dumpsters allow you to throw minimal amounts of food waste inside, but a bunch of leftover scraps may get you fined.

The reason for this is that a bunch of rotting food sitting outside will attract bugs, rodents and stink up the surrounding areas. Dumpsters aren’t always emptied every week as your home’s garbage can is, so these odors can build up.

You might be shocked to learn that it’s admissible to put appliances in the dumpster.

Refrigerators, freezers, A/C units, washers, dryers, microwaves, and more can be thrown away safely. The key here is to make sure there aren’t any hazardous substances left inside.

For example, A/C units often contain freon, a non-combustible gas that is used as a refrigerant. It’s odorless and tasteless but can be harmful to the skin and lungs in large quantities. Be sure to dispose of this first!

Related Guide: How To Get Rid Of An Old Gas Grill?

Any biodegradable material you trim from your yard can also be disposed of in a dumpster.

This covers leftover items such as tree or plant debris, large branches, dirt, or mulch- anything that’s too big to go in regular garbage cans.

However, some cities only allow a certain amount of outdoor waste to be thrown in a dumpster. There are many ways you can recycle this material! Additionally, there’s usually a “yard waste collections” company you can call to come to get strictly organic trash.

Construction waste includes wood scraps, insulation, and siding.

Almost everything (with some exception) that’s leftover when a construction project is completed can be thrown in the dumpster.

Just make sure there aren’t any hazardous liquids or materials left behind. If you are unsure about an item, it’s best to call waste management services or your dumpster provider.

Now that we’ve got the easy stuff out of the way, let’s move on to what you shouldn’t put in a dumpster.

Even if dumpsters look open to the public, that’s not always the case.

Throwing out waste on private property, such as in dumpsters or containers behind commercial or residential buildings, is forbidden unless the owner allows it.

Sometimes big stores like Walmart or Costco have several massive dumpsters behind their locations- this isn’t an invitation for you to use them. Usually, they’re locked or have surveillance cameras to ensure unverified personnel aren’t dumping personal items inside.

Your best bet is to call a service to have hazardous or otherwise large items removed from your property. If you’re taking on a big project and need continuous access to a dumpster, they’re available for rent!

Related Questions

Are dumpsters charged by the weight?

When you rent a dumpster, the fee typically includes the container itself (for a designated amount of time), delivery of the dumpster, the cost to dispose of your trash, and an allotted amount of weight.If you go over this weight limit, companies will charge you extra. The reason for this is that excess weight makes it difficult for their trucks to transport the dumpster and may require multiple trips.Additionally, landfills don’t want people to use dumpsters to dispose of extremely heavy items.

Will a dumpster damage my driveway?

Dumpsters are bulky and can cause irreparable damage if handled incorrectly.As long as a qualified company delivers your dumpster and places it properly, your driveway shouldn’t sustain any cracks or harm.

Is dumpster diving illegal?

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.However, dumpster diving can be illegal in certain states. Before sifting through someone’s garbage can, read up on the rules of your zip code.