Everything you need to know before your rent a residential dumpster.
Welcome to QuickDumpsters’ comprehensive guide to residential dumpsters. In this article, we’ll provide an in-depth overview of an essential but often overlooked aspect of home management, renovations, and clean-ups.
Whether you're a homeowner, a renter, or a residential contractor, understanding the ins and outs of residential dumpster rentals can help you easily tackle your projects and simplify the waste management process.
Residential dumpsters come in various sizes and types. Each dumpster is designed to fit specific needs, be it a small home clean-out, garage clean-out, or a large-scale renovation project.
But how do you know which one to choose? What materials can go in a residential dumpster? How much will it cost? What are the local laws and regulations? Do you need a permit?
In this article we aim to answer these questions and many more, serving as a one-stop resource for all things related to residential dumpsters. We’ll answer every aspect you need to consider—from the cost of renting a dumpster, placement, the ordering process, what materials you can and cannot dispose of, and how to choose the right size for your residential project.
This guide will help simplify your decision-making process, giving you the confidence you need to choose the best dumpster rental option for your home project.
If you’re a contractor, roofer, or work in a profession where you regularly rent residential dumpsters, you likely already have an idea of how to estimate the costs associated with renting a dumpster.
For the rest of us though, it helps to have an understanding of the primary factors that influence the overall cost.
Size of the Dumpster
Residential dumpsters come in a variety of sizes. In general, the larger the dumpster the higher the base pricing. Common dumpster sizes include 3-yard, 10-yard, 20-yard, 30-yard, and 40-yard containers.
Additionally, each dumpster has varying weight and volume capacities-with larger dumpsters being able to hold the most weight. Oftentimes each dumpster will be priced with “included tons”.
For example, a 10-yard residential dumpster might be priced at $600 with your first 2 tons of debris disposal included and a fixed rate per additional ton.
Duration of the Rental
Another significant impact on costs to rent a residential dumpster will be the rental duration. Most dumpster rentals include a standard 7-day or 14-day rental period included in the base cost.
If you need to keep the dumpster for longer than the standard rental period, many companies offer a daily, weekly, or monthly extended rental for additional fees. Be sure to ask about extended rental costs. Oftentimes you can save money by opting for an additional week or month over a daily extended rental.
Location
Longer travel distances may incur additional delivery charges, especially in rural or hard-to-reach areas. If you’re in a major metropolitan area like Los Angeles or Denver, you’ll have access to several dumpster rental companies servicing residential and commercial customers.
Be sure to consider the distance from the rental facility to your residence as longer distances tend to be more expensive.
Types of Materials
Residential dumpster rentals charge for weight on a per-ton basis. The types of materials you’re disposing of will have a significant impact on the overall weight of your dumpster at the landfill.
For example, a home cleanout with miscellaneous junk and debris will likely weigh much less than a residential remodel project which often includes heavier materials like plaster, wood, and other building materials.
As mentioned above, the price of your dumpster will vary depending on a variety of factors including materials, location, rental period, and size. However, as a general guideline, you can expect the following price ranges:
It's important to be familiar with the additional fees associated with your dumpster rental - especially in the case when you’re renting for a residential project and don’t have a manager or general contractor handling the rental.
Here’s a breakdown of the additional fees you should consider:
We’ve outlined the costs associated with renting a residential dumpster. But, how about some tips on saving money and how to make the most cost-effective decision?
Here are a few considerations to help save you some hard-earned cash:
Short-term vs. Long-term Rental
As mentioned above, most companies offer standard 7-day or 14-day rental periods. However, there are companies that offer short-term daily rentals if you have a project that only takes a day or so to complete (like a garage clean-out for example).
Additionally, if you know beforehand that you’ll need the dumpster for an extended period, many companies offer monthly rental rates that are much cheaper than paying a daily extended rate. Always inquire before you book your rental to see what options are available and suit your project.
Off-Season Discounts
Like most businesses, the dumpster rental business experiences seasonality. Many residential customers for example remodel homes, landscape their yards, and tackle Spring cleaning projects in the Summer and Spring seasons.
In Winter months, business tends to slow down, and to accommodate for the lighter workload companies may offer a discount to their customers.
As a homeowner, your city likely provides you with weekly trash and recycling services to dispose of your household waste. Each week you place your trash cans curbside and the waste services provider empties the cans. Residential dumpsters however aren’t always as simple.
Some cities have legal restrictions, require permits, or even have certain waste management companies they’ve contracted that you’re supposed to work with.
In contrast to your weekly curbside trash pickup, residential dumpsters, and roll-off dumpsters may be subject to state and local laws dictating how close they can be placed to a residence, roadway, or other structures such as office buildings and commercial space.
If you plan on placing your dumpster in a public right of way such as a street or alleyway you may be required to obtain a dumpster rental permit. HOAs (Home Owner Associations) may also have their own rules and regulations regarding where dumpsters can be placed in residential areas.
Oftentimes these rules are in place in order to keep the disturbance to a minimum for your neighbors! It's always a good idea to check with your local HOA or public works department to see what requirements need to be met in order to have your dumpster delivered to your residential property.
Ease of Access for Loading and Unloading
Once you’ve combed through any legal restrictions and understand the local code pertaining to dumpster rentals, you’ll want to choose a convenient location for your dumpster. This is an essential step that makes the delivery, loading, and pickup of the dumpster go smoothly.
Here are a few considerations for loading and uploading your dumpster:
Consider Your Neighbors
Construction projects are usually accompanied by a large amount of debris and noise. Adding a large dumpster in front of your home can be an additional eye-sore for the neighbors.
Be sure to communicate with them beforehand!
Let your neighbors know that you plan on renting a dumpster and how long you plan on keeping it there. This will help avoid complaints and potential conflicts that would otherwise impede your project.
Safety Concerns
While you certainly want to consider placing the dumpster in an easily accessible location, you should also consider it a potential safety issue.
If you have kids, or pets or loading the dumpster with construction debris there are some hazards you should be aware of:
Now that we’ve gone through all the legal and pricing considerations for your dumpster rental, you’re probably wondering “How do I get a dumpster to my house?”. Next, we’ll break down the research and delivery process so you can prepare to have the dumpster delivered to your house.
Types of Dumpsters Available
Residential dumpsters typically come in different sizes, ranging from 3 cubic yards, designed for smaller clean-ups, up to 40 cubic yards, designed for larger home renovations.
As mentioned above, each size comes with its associated costs, so it's important to properly estimate your waste output in order to choose the proper dumpster.
Recommended Companies
When choosing your dumpster rental company there are a few things you should consider:
Online vs. Phone Orders
Most dumpster rental companies have updated technology that allows customers to order their dumpster rentals directly online.
While this is convenient, you may have special instructions or additional concerns that would be better addressed to a customer service representative who can customize your request. In some cases, it might make reasonable sense to call the company directly versus placing your order online.
Information You’ll Need to Provide
Prepare to book your dumpster in advance by having the following information handy:
What to Expect on Delivery and Pickup Days
The day has come! Here is what you can expect on delivery and pickup days:
At the time you book your dumpster rental, you likely communicate the types of debris you expect to dispose of. But oftentimes, there are a few items you’re not sure you can throw away.
Don’t worry; in this section, we’ll go through what items are generally permitted in residential dumpsters and some special considerations you should be aware of.
While dumpsters can handle a wide variety of waste, there are some things that are typically off-limits due to environmental, health, and hazard reasons. The following are materials that you can NOT put in a residential dumpster:
Some materials and items such as mattresses or large appliances may be allowed in the dumpster, but they come with additional fees.
Be sure to ask upfront what the associated costs are with putting these items in the dumpster as most companies will charge a “per-item” fee:
If you’re not sure whether or not certain materials or items can go in your dumpster you should always ask! Doing so will save you time and money and ensure the pickup of your dumpster goes smoothly.
As opposed to a typical homeowner’s property, apartment complexes come with their own set of challenges and considerations. With usually limited parking and curbside space, it's important to know the varying dumpster sizes and take these challenges into consideration.
The most common dumpster size for apartment complexes is the 3-yard dumpster. This dumpster is about 5ft * 4ft* 6ft and comes with wheels and a lid.
The 3-yard dumpster is ideal for apartment complexes because it's easily maneuverable and can be placed in tight spaces like garages or parking structures that allow for easy access for tenants.
As we noted, most apartment complexes have limited space and accessibility. If you need to rent a dumpster to clean out your apartment for a move or get rid of your junk, be sure to notify your landlord in advance so they can make necessary arrangements and notify other tenant
For permanent service and weekly waste disposal, usually, a 3-yard dumpster is suitable and can be emptied on a regular predetermined basis.
Sharing Dumpsters
With multiple tenants, it can be cost-effective to share your dumpster with a neighbor. Whether they’re moving or cleaning out junk, coordinating with your neighbor in advance can help save space at the apartment complex and save you money!
Coordinating With Property Management
Whether you’re renting a 3-yard dumpster or a roll-off, your landlord won’t be happy if they have a dumpster taking up valuable space at the apartment complex.
Make sure to notify them in advance so they can provide you with special instructions, dumpster placement, etc. to avoid potential issues.
While renting an apartment dumpster is similar to renting a dumpster for homeowners, there are certainly more logistical complexities that need to be navigated beforehand. With these tips in mind, you'll be better prepared to make an informed decision.
Here are a few helpful resources that you can access online:
We’ve covered in depth all the necessary considerations required to rent a residential dumpster for your home or apartment.
From estimating costs, legal and local regulations, safety, and acceptable materials, you should be better prepared to make an informed decision.
If you have any questions about a residential dumpster rental, we’re here to help!
For questions call 1-800-674-8227.
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