Common Mistakes When Renting a Dumpster

When you rent a dumpster — a large garbage receptacle known as a “skip bin” in the UK, Australia and Ireland — the rental company usually does most of the heavy lifting for you. You might be the one filling the bin, but the company you rent from brings you the dumpster, picks it up, and then processes whatever waste you’re tossing.

However, there are a few factors within your control and discretion regarding your dumpster rental (skip bin hire) that can make a big difference in how helpful the service is to you.

Avoid the following common mistakes to ensure not only your own convenience and safety but that of the crew handling your waste materials.

1. Choosing the Wrong Bin Size

Size matters, especially when it comes to a dumpster rental. You’ll want to do sufficient research and communicate clearly with your rental service provider to determine exactly the proper size bin to accommodate your waste disposal project.

See if you can find the biggest piece of trash sitting in your junk heap and make sure you select a bin that will at least accommodate that piece, with room leftover for everything else.

The dumpster rental’s website will also be able to give you some tips on how to select the proper size.

2. Tossing Forbidden Materials

Some materials and substances have to be disposed of in a certain way, and for good reason. This is often related to environmental health and safety factors.

You absolutely do not want to be sneaking hazardous liquids, asbestos, batteries or other inappropriate things into your rented bin. While you might benefit from the convenience, your actions could cause harm to another person or the environment.

The bottom line is that throwing prohibited materials into the dumpster is a safety hazard, and you could be fined for breaking that rule. Make sure you check with your rental company to be absolutely sure what you can and can’t toss into the dumpster.

3. Tossing Recyclables

Many people make the mistake of filling a rented dumpster with recyclable waste.

Aside from the environmental and material waste of tossing materials that could be recycled, you don’t want to add in the waste of your money for filling a rented bin with recyclable materials, especially if recycling facilities are accessible in your area. You might even have the option of curbside pickup for some of your recyclables.

Even green waste — like lawn trimmings, leaves, or branches — has no place in a dumpster. These materials can be composted to add to your garden or sent to a green waste recycling center. Save the dumpster for items that are truly trash.

4. Poor Placement of the Dumpster

Once you have a bin delivered, it’s going to be in place until it is retrieved by the rental company. You’ll want to have a clear picture of where you want the drop-off team to place the bin.

Don’t forget to account for the distance from where the garbage is to where the bin will be. You’ll likely be loading the dumpster by hand, and placing the bin too far away from your trash materials will create extra work.

Unless you’re purposely trying to make the job harder or trying to get extra steps in for the day, you won’t be too thrilled over repeatedly carrying heavy or messy trash farther than you need to.

5. Packing the Dumpster Inefficiently

Packing anything efficiently, whether it’s a moving truck, the trunk of your car, or a dumpster, is like a game of Tetris. If you have a large amount of material and you’re unsure whether it will all fit in your dumpster in one go, packing the bin efficiently will make a big difference.

Aim to load the larger, heavier items first. From there, it should get easier to fill in the empty spaces with smaller items. Also be aware of whether or not the dumpster will be covered for transport and what will be placed on the topmost layer of trash. If the bin is transported uncovered, you don’t want to have anything loose on top that could blow out and be a hazard to the crew or other motorists.

6. Disregarding Weight or Fill Limits

The rental fee will usually cover the dumpster being filled up to a set maximum weight, and going over will add to your cost. It’s important to be mindful of the overall weight of the material you’re tossing, lest you run the risk of going over the limit.

Like regulations regarding the types of materials permitted to be discarded in the bin, fill limits in terms of volume are also in place for safety purposes. Be mindful of how full your dumpster is getting as you fill it, and be careful not to go over the designated fill limit. If you do, the rental company could refuse to collect the dumpster, resulting in your account accruing further fees.

7. Paying Too Much

When shopping for a dumpster rental company, make sure you compare rates and quotes from multiple businesses. Don’t just choose the first company you come across, but at least do a bit of research to make sure you’re getting adequate services for the amount and types of materials you have to discard.

Filling your rented bin with the proper permitted materials and within the volume and weight regulations for your specific bin will prevent you from incurring additional costs as well.

Renting a dumpster is a service that many people use to help them tackle big waste management jobs. If you fail to avoid these simple mistakes, however, it can make an already tough job pricier and more tedious.

Reputable companies will have a lot of information on their websites about the ins and outs of renting a dumpster. With a little extra research, you can choose the best company for your waste management needs.