What you put into a dumpster rental impacts the environment and could impact what you ultimately pay for your dumpster rental, as the last thing you want is to incur any penalty fees or worse, find out that your particular waste cannot be disposed of at a landfill by a Stamback service-person.
Before you rent, you should know the acceptable items and approved materials that you can and can’t throw in a typical roll-off dumpster rental.
Depending on local ordinances and location-specific laws, and the size and use of the dumpster rental, what is and isn’t allowed to be thrown away and the specific guidelines and list of unacceptable materials may vary.
Although some of these items are allowed in larger-sized units, in general, this blog provides some guidelines of acceptable materials that CAN be thrown away and a list of prohibited items that are NOT allowed to be discarded in a standard dumpster rental.
What Materials You CAN Throw Away
Nearly everything that doesn’t pose a risk to the dumpster or to the environment is usually safe to throw away. Although every neighborhood, city, and county could have different rules, here’s a list of items that you can confidently put in a Stamback roll-off dumpster rental:
- Alkaline batteries
- Aerosol cans
- Construction and demolition debris – drywall, plywood, brick, concrete, stone, and tiles can all be thrown in a dumpster
- Keep weight limitations in mind, as these heavier waste products add up quickly
- Dirt/Soil
- Electronics – computers, radios, alarm clocks, etc
- Larger amounts of e-waste generally require different methods of disposal
- Furniture
- Household trash, garbage and non-hazardous household material
- Small appliances – microwaves, blenders, coffee brewers, and toasters
- Roof shingles and siding
- Wooden furniture
- Yard Waste – leaves, branches, plants and sticks
Prohibited Materials You CAN’T Throw Away
Prohibited items that are not considered safe to throw in a dumpster rental, for both the environment, as per local laws, and for the dumpsters themselves include:
- Adhesives
- Aerosol cans (that are filled or not empty)
- Air conditioners
- All liquids
- Animals or animal waste
- Antifreeze
- Appliances
- Asbestos
- Barrels
- Batteries
- Chemical products
- Contaminated oils (mixed with solvents, gasoline, etc.)
- Flammable liquids
- Fluorescent tubes
- Hazardous waste
- Herbicides and pesticides
- Hot water tanks
- Industrial waste
- Inks and resins
- Large household appliances: refrigerators, washing machines, clothes dryers, ovens, etc.)
- Lead-based painted debris
- Lubricating/hydraulic oil
- Medical or infectious waste
- Motor oil
- Non-alkaline batteries
- Oil filters
- Paint and lacquers (except dried latex paint cans, no liquids)
- PCB/PCB-containing material
- Propane tanks
- Radioactive material
- Railroad ties
- Solvents
- Televisions and computer monitors
- Tires
- Transmission oil
This guide helps answer the question of what you can and can’t throw into a dumpster, but your location and local laws might be a little different. If you still need help determining what is accepted in your area, contact Stamback Services and we’ll be happy to help tell you exactly what is and is not allowed.
Information in this article may be inapplicable to customers who receive service pursuant to a Stamback Services agreement with a municipality, association or other entity, or where applicable law requires differing terms of service.