When there's a large pile of rubble on your driveway following construction or dozens of bags filled with garden waste, renting a dumpster is the easiest and quickest to dispose of it.
However, you don't necessarily need to rent a dumpster to clear out your garage or remove the decking. Plus, you need to think about whether such a rental is worth the cost and consider the benefits of other waste disposal methods before making a final decision.
If the waste you're dealing with is too much for your residential trash service but still manageable, you could consider recycling or repurposing some of it, or you could try selling things if you're just getting rid of unwanted possessions taking up space in your garage basement. Alternatively, if you either don't want to or can't salvage your waste, you could consider junk removal services and save yourself from doing any heavy lifting. To end your confusion, this article analyzes everyday situations where people rent dumpsters and assesses whether it's the right thing to do.
Clearing the Garage and Basement
While most residents keep their home's indoors in check, many of us are guilty of using the basement and garage as areas of hoarding. Garages and basements don't usually function as extra living space, so it's easy to fill them up with rarely used items when there is no room in the house. However, eventually, you'll be forced to make room by getting rid of things, in which case you might need a dumpster.
You'll first need to estimate how much waste you have regarding volume and weight. One cubic yard is roughly the same as a cube with a length, height, and width of 3 feet. Try to picture how much waste you have in terms of the number of standard home ovens (about one cubic yard), and you can roughly estimate the size of dumpster you'll need. Generally speaking, a 12-yard dumpster is suitable for most small to medium-sized jobs.
While the information above makes junk removal services seem less expensive in this scenario, it's important to remember that the cost is for one journey. If you have a tough job ahead and need to throw things out slowly as you tackle the garage, and if you’re unsure of how much waste you'll have, you probably need a dumpster.
Landscaping
Junk removal companies tend to charge more to pick up garden waste than household possessions, though the extra cost isn't as high as it is with construction debris.
The most affordable option depends on the volume of waste you have and the company you choose, but because landscaping can be a drawn-out task, having a dumpster to fill as and when you please is likely the most convenient way to get rid of your waste. However, remember that you can compost some of the garden waste, which would help you do your part for the environment as well as save cash.
Tips for Renting a Dumpster
Make sure you choose the right sized dumpster because it's illegal for the waste haulers to retrieve overfilled dumpsters. We've explained the typical sizes above and given you examples of which dumpster is appropriate for common removal and renovation tasks, but if you're in doubt, choose a size that's larger than you expect to need to avoid extra charges and fines.
By Federal law, you can't dump any hazardous household waste (HHW) into your dumpster because doing so could result in water contamination, destroyed habitats, and human illness. The EPA defines HHW as anything that's toxic, combustible, corrosive or reactive, and typical examples of HHW include paint tins, batteries, motor oil, medicine, and varnish. Most neighborhoods offer HHW collection services, or you can call the manufacturer for instructions regarding safe disposal. It's easy to assume that small amounts don't matter, but 200 million gallons of oil gets disposed of improperly every year.
Finally, make sure to consider whether a dumpster is what you really need by using the information detailed in the previous sections because there are other options available that can be more cost-effective depending on the situation.
