Dumpster Rental Made Easy

How to Avoid Hidden Fees When Renting a Dumpster

by Dumpster Cheap

Hidden fees. Known to cause irritation, anger, and frustration. Unfortunately, they can also be a fact of life when doing business, even when dealing with dumpster rental companies.

A renter should keep an open mind when working with a rental company. Most dumpster rental companies have straightforward policies that will help renters understand exactly how much it costs to rent equipment. However, there are some steps a renter can follow to help them avoid hidden fees.

1. Get a Price Quote

This step seems obvious but, due to the needs of the renter, it can sometimes get overlooked. Getting a price quote should also be first thing a renter requests when dealing with a rental company. Make sure the quote includes a breakdown of the rental equipment and services, and don’t hesitate to walk away if the renter declines to provide one. Communication will be the biggest asset for both the renter and rental company, but it only works when both parties actively engage with each other.

2. Return the Dumpster on Time

Many companies will charge extra for keeping the dumpster longer than agreed. A renter should plan ahead on the project estimations so they can keep the dumpster for an appropriate amount of time. This allows the renter to avoid late fees and gives the rental company an idea of how soon the dumpster will be available for other renters. And in the event extra days are needed, a renter should also ask about additional fees.

3. Ask About Service Fees

Does the company charge extra for dropping off or picking up the dumpster? Will there be fees for exceeding the dumpster’s weight limit? And what are the penalties for disposing prohibited items in the dumpster? Anything that could lead to a fee should be discussed with the rental company.

Permanent vs Roll-off dumpsters

There’s a tool for every job, and there’s a dumpster for every type of debris removal. Choosing the right dumpster frequently starts with a basic question: permanent or roll-off?

Permanent dumpsters are generally smaller containers because they are emptied on a regular basis and do not need to hold much at one time. Permanent dumpster service should be considered for longer-term projects, the kind that can’t be handled in a long weekend. A good example of permanent dumpsters would be the garbage cans and recycle bins used around the house.

Temporary roll-off dumpsters are delivered on a truck and then rolled off to where they will be used. These are typically larger containers that can handle all the waste that comes with that particular job.

Temporary service is just what the name implies – a one-time need for project-specific waste removal. A good example of temporary bins would be the 40-yard containers seen on construction sites.

Considering which dumpster to use will depend on the project. If emptying the garage of old junk and debris can be accomplished with the standard permanent trash cans, the potential renter will save money by not renting a roll-off dumpster. If the potential renter plans on removing and replacing roof tiles, a temporary roll-off dumpster might be cheaper and more convenient than making multiple trips to a waste disposal station.

Always consider the available options for each project, and don’t make assumptions based solely on past experiences; every project is different.

How far in advance do I need to book my dumpster?

Preparation is everything, be it for vacations, finances, or dumpster rentals.

To ensure the right dumpster will be available when needed, it can be wise to reserve the dumpster as early as possible. Waiting too long can lessen the chances the right dumpster will be available, which can force the renter to settle for an inappropriate size that can lead to further fees. This will also be of service for the rental company, as they can keep stock of their available dumpsters and ensure the proper one will be available.

This does not mean the renter needs to call ahead two months in advance. In most cases, two or three days notice is usually sufficient to ensure dumpster delivery on time. The busiest days tend to be on Mondays and Fridays, both of which coincide with ideal project start dates (Mondays for professionals, Fridays for renters with weekend project), planning a delivery date for the middle of the week might improve the chances of delivery.

However, if a few days’ notice is not possible, the renter should still contact the rental company. If the company wants to do business, they will find a way to make an arrangement with the renter, which may include the possibilities of discounts or longer rental periods.

What things can I put into my dumpster?

Pay attention to what can and can’t go in a dumpster.

Generally speaking, most dumpster rental companies will provide a list of things that cannot be disposed of in a dumpster. This may surprise some renters who look at the dumpster and think that every piece of waste and debris should go in.

Although the specific rules that regulate what can and cannot go in a dumpster vary from area to area, there are several types of materials that most dumpster rental services will not allow under any circumstances.

Some of the things include:

• Batteries, especially the kind that contain mercury
• Automotive fluids like used motor oil, engine coolants, and transmission fluid
• Pesticides and herbicides that could pollute groundwater
• Paints and solvents, which contain oils and other chemicals that can harm the environment
• Electronics, especially those that contain batteries

Additionally, there are also some items that can usually put in a dumpster as long as the renter is willing to pay an additional fee. These include:

• Appliances
• Mattresses
• Tires

When in doubt, it's best to contact the rental company to get a list of things that can't put into the dumpster. Communication and preparation will always be the best tools available in renting dumpsters.

Trash Removal vs. Dumpster Rental

During the research and preparation of any project, the question of trash removal and dumpster rental will arise.

Both options present a way to haul away project debris and maintain the safety and cleanliness of the project area. As with most options, both present attractive qualities for debris removal that vary depending on the project and location in question. If a potential renter has a project they’re about to undertake at home, the renter may be wondering if it’s better to hire someone to come haul off all the trash and junk for you, or if they should just rent a dumpster and load it themselves.

Renting a container is a better solution if the potential renter wants the flexibility to load the dumpster on their own time and they don’t mind doing it themselves to save on labor. Dumpsters also work well if the renter has at least seven cubic yards or more of debris. Roll-offs usually start at 10 cubic yards, so if the renter only has 3-4 yards of waste, they’re paying for much more dumpster than they need.

Trash or junk removal makes more sense if the potential renter wants someone else to load the old stuff. It also works well if they want it to be taken away quickly so they don’t have to worry about it, or if they only have a few large items. If that applies, it may probably cheaper to have the debris removed than renting an entire dumpster.

10-Yard Dumpster Dimensions

Dimensions play a key role in considering what size dumpster to rent. Some guesswork has to be applied for the renter’s benefit: too large, and the renter will feel like they’ve wasted their money, but too small might lead to the renter not having the needed disposal space.

To help determine the right dumpster size, the renter needs to consider the size of the job, how much waste/debris will be generated during the job, and the available space on the property to accommodate the dumpster. If the job will produce more debris than can be hauled away in a truck but small enough that a 40-yard dumpster would be too big, a 10-yard dumpster might be ideal.

Built to hold 10 cubic yards of waste and debris, a 10-yard dumpster measures approximately 12 feet by 8 feet by four feet, although the exact container sizes will vary with different companies. This size dumpster works great for debris from a garage or basement cleanout and small kitchen/bathroom remodeling, removing a deck below 250 square feet, and disposing of a single layer of 1,500 square feet of roof shingles.

When considering the size of the project, check with the rental company to see what their recommendations would be. Good communication can ensure the renter gets the right size dumpster for the job and prevents the rental company from loaning out the wrong dumpster, which can be detrimental to their business.

20-Yard Dumpster Dimensions

Contrary to some expectations, renting a dumpster does not have a one-size-for-all-jobs rule. Depending on the rental company, dumpsters come in a variety of sizes to better suit differing needs.

One of the more popular dumpsters for home projects, a 20-yard dumpster allows for the renter to dispose of about 20 cubic yards of waste and debris. While obviously larger than a 10-yard dumpster, a 20 yarder also allows for more flexible uses by the renter. While a 10-yard dumpster might allow the renter to address one large project, such as a kitchen or bathroom remodel, the additional space of a 20-yard dumpster might allow the renter to dispose of debris from multiple projects at a single time.

Normal dimensions for a 20 yard container are about 22 feet by 8 feet by 4.5 feet high, or roughly 10 pickup truck loads of debris and waste. It’s compact size makes it ideal for projects that fall short of complete demolition and building from scratch, including basement, attic or garage cleanups; flooring and carpet removal from a large house; removing 300 to 600 square feet of deck, and take off 2,500 through 3,000 square feet of shingle removal from a single layer roof.

30 Yard Dumpster Dimensions

There are dumpsters for every task, from weekend home projects to long-term construction jobs, but it’s important to select the right size dumpster for the specific job.

Take 30-yard dumpsters, for example. Much larger than the standard dumpsters used for small projects, a 30 yarder works best for jobs that will produce a larger amount of garbage and debris than found with smaller tasks. Usually measuring 22x8x6, these dumpsters can usually be spotted on construction sites and bigger home projects like adding a wing onto an existing building or demolishing a garage.

A 30 yard dumpster will hold 30 cubic yards of waste or debris. While the exact measurements of the dumpster will vary depending on the rental company, a 30 yard dumpster will generally hold between 9 and 15 pickup truck loads of waste, so it’s a good choice for whole-home residential cleanouts as well as commercial cleanup projects.

The renter should communicate the planned project to the dumpster rental company to better establish the project needs. The weight allowance for a 30-yard dumpster tends to range from 2 to 8 tons (4,000 to 16,000 pounds). A renter should take care not to exceed the weight limit or they could face overage charges, which should further encourage the renter to maintain good communication with the rental company.

40 Yard Dumpster Dimensions

There are big projects, there are small projects, and there are the projects that make you say, “We’re going to need a bigger dumpster.”

For those extra large projects, the 40-yard dumpster serves as the best resource for removing trash and debris on a job site. As the biggest dumpster size offered by most rental companies, 40 yarders present the best and most convenient answer for maintaining job site cleanliness.

Typically standing at 22x8x8 feet, a 40 yarder can be surprisingly versatile. A common perception would be that such a large dumpster would only be used on large construction job sites, but that would be incorrect. A 40-yard container will hold between 12 and 20 pickup truck loads of debris, so it’s perfect for large residential projects as well as for commercial and industrial use.

Renting a 40-yard dumpster will get a container that holds about 40 cubic yards of waste, making it ideal for projects like window/siding replacement on a large home, large commercial jobs like roof removal or commercial/office cleanouts, major home additions, or any job where a large amount of demolition debris will be produced.

Before agreeing to rent a 40 yarder, a potential renter should consider what the project variables such as expected project debris, estimated project timeline, and where the dumpster can be stored on the property during usage. Communicate the project needs to the rental company to ensure the right dumpster for the job, and maintain that communication throughout the project if need be.