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What Can You Put in Dumpster Rentals? The Do’s and Don’ts


Dumpster rentals are great for people moving out, renovating, downsizing, or decluttering. You load them up, call the rental service and let them haul the mess away — no muss, no fuss. However, you can’t throw just anything in a rental dumpster, so knowing what’s allowed beforehand is essential. This post will discuss what you can and can’t put in most dumpster rentals.

For rental dumpsters in Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, or Washington, DC, contact Next Day Dumpsters at 888-616-3495 today!

What Can You Put in a Dumpster Rental?

You might be surprised by how many items you can throw away in a dumpster rental. While not everything is allowed, you can get rid of most unwanted items, such as:

  • Furniture: Throw out old couches, bed frames, mattresses, and coffee tables easily.
  • Lawn debris: Get rid of leaves, tree branches, grass, and other debris after bagging it up.
  • Demolition debris: If you’re remodeling your home, you can throw out most construction materials, like wood and concrete, in a dumpster rental.
  • Household trash: Anything you’d throw in your home’s trash can is allowed in a dumpster rental.
  • Appliances: Feel free to throw your old microwave, oven, dishwasher, or refrigerator in your rental dumpster.
  • Electronics: After removing the batteries, you can throw laptops, computers, TVs, speaker systems, and other electronics in your rental dumpster.

If you’re unsure whether something is allowed, call the dumpster rental service to ask. Most companies will have detailed lists of allowed and disallowed items.

Items You Cannot Throw Away in a Rental Dumpster

You must be careful about disposing of certain items, especially in a rental dumpster. Some items that can’t be put in a rental dumpster include:

  • Paints: These can contain harsh chemicals that must be disposed of carefully.
  • Batteries: The metals and corrosive materials in batteries make them hazardous to throw away.
  • Propane tanks: These pose a fire hazard and shouldn’t be put in rental dumpsters.
  • Toxic & medical waste: You must look up local regulations for disposing of toxic and medical waste to avoid environmental harm.
  • Liquids, solvents, Freon, or chemicals: All of these contain harsh chemicals that could be considered toxic waste or safety hazards.
  • Equipment containing gas or oil: Like propane tanks, equipment containing gas and oil are flammable.

Throwing these items in your rental dumpster could result in additional charges or penalties. If you aren’t sure how to dispose of the above items, contact your local dumpster to ask. There are likely local rules and regulations you need to follow.

Choose Next Day Dumpsters for Dumpster Rentals

Do you need a rental dumpster for your move-out or home renovation? Look no further than Next Day Dumpsters for help. We provide 15-, 20- and 30-yard dumpsters for our clients. Our team will deliver your dumpster rental to your home, office, or construction site and return in two weeks to haul it away. If you place your order before noon, we can deliver your dumpster rental the same day or the next day.

If you need a rental dumpster for your home or business, request a quote by calling 888-616-3495 now.