Lauren Klesser
Considering that we live in an incredibly consumer-driven world, it is normal for every single one of us to produce our fair share of waste. Take one look around your home, and you’ll see that you own a lot of stuff, and you’re probably not using most of them. It wouldn’t be surprising if sooner or later, you will feel that you may have to declutter your home.
When decluttering, you can choose to give some of your belongings away or sell some of them in a garage sale. But what can you do to the junk that no one will accept or buy? The only thing left to do then would be to dispose of them, which shouldn’t be a problem if only there weren’t so much stuff to throw away. When you find yourself in a situation when you have trash that will probably be too much for you or your neighborhood dumpster to handle, you need to consider calling a dumpster rental company.
Renting a dumpster can make any waste disposal situation more convenient for you. A dumpster rental company can make life easier for people who are undergoing a major decluttering effort, as well as those engaged in home construction or remodeling projects. However, before calling a dumpster rental company, there are several things you need to know about it. Here are bits of information that will hopefully help serve as a dumpster rental guide.
When To Rent A Dumpster
As mentioned above, you will likely need the services of a dumpster rental company if you’ve got a top to bottom decluttering activity going on that involves the disposal of big stuff like furniture, appliances, and exercise equipment you no longer need or use.
The same is true if you’re ripping out walls, floors, roof tiles, or sidings as part of a home renovation, which typically produces a lot of debris that has to go somewhere.
Another great time to rent a dumpster would be engaging in significant yard projects. All the trees, shrubs, and sod you remove will fit nicely into a dumpster rental designed for this purpose.
Dumpsters Come In Different Sizes
If you’re thinking about renting a dumpster, you have to be sure about the amount of junk you need to take care of because most dumpster rental companies offer dumpsters of varying sizes. You don’t want to be spending more money on a big one that you can’t fill, or renting a dumpster that’s too small for your purposes. If you’re not too sure about the size of the dumpster you need, you can always consult with representatives of dumpster rental companies and get information from them.
Some Things You Just Can’t Dump
It would be wrong to assume that renting a dumpster means you can just dump any kind of trash into it. Dumpster rental companies usually have guidelines on what type of waste you can dump into the containers they provide. Hazardous or flammable materials are generally not allowed. Some dumpster providers also frown upon mixing materials, like gravel going with other materials. Before you hire a dumpster rental company, make sure you fully disclose to them the nature of the junk you intend to dispose of.
There Are Weight Limits
While the general idea is to fill the dumpster you rent to its capacity, there are still weight limits that dumpster rental companies put in place. After all, they’re the ones who will have a hard time hauling away a dumpster that’s too heavy. In most cases, exceeding the weight limit means having to pay extra.
There Are Dumpsters for Specific Materials
Not all dumpsters are built alike. Some dumpsters are designed to hold household debris, while some are made to accommodate heavier stuff like construction debris.
Consider The Space For The Dumpster
When you’re renting a dumpster, you have to make sure you have an easily accessible spot in your property to put it. Since the dumpster company will be picking up the dumpster at a prearranged day and time for disposal, the truck they will send over should have no problem doing the job. That spot for the dumpster should not have obstructions of any kind near or above it. The recommended clearance above the dumpster should not be less than 22 feet.
If you don’t have any easily accessible space in your property, you can place the rented dumpster in the street. However, you will likely need a permit for that, so visit city hall and inquire about what you need to do to get that permit.
Dumpsters Can Be Pretty Tall
Your neighborhood dumpster is approximately three feet tall. The containers that dumpster rental companies provide, however, can be so much taller than that. A 40-yard dumpster, for instance, is typically eight feet tall.
If you’re not a seven-footer, you will surely have a tough time dumping your trash into the dumpster. You can, of course, remedy this by using a small step ladder every time you throw something into the container.
Get Your Waste Ready For Disposal
It’s tempting to simply wait for your rented dumpster to arrive before you prepare the rubbish you’re going to throw away. However, it would be more advantageous for you if you get all the junk ready beforehand. Boxes, for instance, can take up a lot of space inside a dumpster if you put them in the way they are, but if you break them down into pieces, your dumpster will have more room for more debris.
Having your junk ready beforehand also allows you to fill the container as soon as the dumpster rental company delivers it. That way, you can keep the amount of time you need the dumpster down to a minimum, and that should bring the rental fee down.
These are just some of the things you need to know before calling a dumpster rental company. There may be a few other considerations, but the ones mentioned above are already a good place to start.