Fixing up your home can be one trashy job! One thing you can be sure of when embarking on a home improvement, remodel, or construction job is that you will end up with lots of waste and debris. From tearing down walls, cabinets, and flooring, to installing drywall or brick laying, working on a home or commercial project generates piles of heavy and bulky waste.
Hands down, the very best way to handle this type of trash is with a dumpster rental. Because dumpster containers come in lots of sizes, they are perfect for all kinds of jobs.
A compact 10 cubic yard dumpster is perfect for a small bathroom demo. A larger 20-yard dumpster can easily handle a big kitchen remodel. The largest roll off dumpsters, those holding 40 cubic yards of debris, are typically found at larger construction sites.
Each year, homeowners work on over 115 million home improvement projects, spending upwards of $538 billion. And there is no slow-down in sight for this strong market. Over the next several years, industry experts predict growth rates of 4 to 5% per year. In the construction industry, even larger growth rates of 7 to 8% are expected.
With all that DIY work and construction comes mountains of waste. Some of this ends up in residential trash collections, but most of this type of trash can’t simply be put out with your curbside trash. The most popular solution for bulk household and construction waste is a dumpster rental. The growth of the dumpster rental market in the U.S. mirrors that of both the DIY home improvement market and the construction space, with expected growth of about 4% each year.
You might be surprised at the amount of trash that a typical construction project can generate. About 30% of all building materials at a typical construction site end up thrown out as waste. That equates to about 145 million tons of waste sent to landfills.
And much of that waste is heavy. Dumpsters are measured in terms of volume, but the weight of the trash is also a consideration. Each dumpster has a weight limit for that particular dumpster size. This weight limit is sometimes referred to as a dumping allowance.
While you may be able to pack in lots of waste and debris without overfilling your dumpster, you still need to be aware of the weight allowance for your dumpster container.
So, how much can you fit in a dumpster? Dumpster containers are classified by volume.
You can order a 10-, 15-, 20-, 30-, or 40-yard dumpster. The volume is measured in cubic yards of capacity. But there is also a weight limit for each container size.
Weight capacity: 2 - 3 tons (4,000 - 6,000 pounds)
Weight capacity: 2.5 – 3.5 tons (5,000 – 7,000 pounds)
Weight capacity: 3 - 4 tons (6,000 - 8,000 pounds)
Weight capacity: 4 - 5 tons (8,000 - 10,000 pounds)
Weight capacity: 5 - 6 tons (10,000 - 12,000 pounds)
While you can see the volume capacity of the dumpster just by looking at it, understanding the weight it can hold is not as obvious. It all depends on the type of trash you’re loading into your rental dumpster. A dumpster filled with the trash from your garage cleanup will not be as heavy as the debris from a building demolition. Filling a dumpster to the top with Styrofoam packing material will not weigh as much as a load of concrete debris.
So, how much does typical demo debris weigh? This list gives you the general weight of standard demo debris. Your particular material may weigh more or less, but this gives you a starting point.
Water can add significant weight to your dumpster. If the material in the dumpster gets wet or soaked, it will weigh more. Some materials, such as paper, grass, or wood can absorb large amounts of water and are slow to dry out, especially if they are not exposed to the air.
The weight of the load will also increase if the material is compacted, rather than just tossed into your dumpster. You certainly can fit more into a dumpster if you compact it down, but be aware of the effect of this on the final weight of the dumpster.
Dumpster weight overage fees are extra charges that result when your dumpster rental exceeds the allowed weight limit for that size roll off container. Local, state, and federal regulations limit the amount of weight that can be hauled over our roadways and highways. Vehicles that are overweight can damage road surfaces, weaken bridges, crack asphalt or concrete, and are hazards during stormy weather or when involved in accidents.
When disposing of large quantities of demolition, remodel, or cleanout material, you may think you simply need to stay under the capacity limit of the dumpster. But the weight of the material has to also be taken into consideration. Filling up a large dumpster container with very heavy debris can quickly send you over the weight limit.
When your project is completed, your roll off container will be pulled up onto a hauling truck. This truck passes over a large scale at the landfill entrance. The weight of the load, the dumpster roll off container, and the truck is measured and recorded.
The truck operator will then dump the load and return with the empty container to the weighing scale. The truck and empty container is again weighed. The difference between the full load and the empty load is calculated. The difference is the total weight of the waste.
If this amount exceeds the weight allowance for the container, you will be subject to an overage charge.
When you call to order your dumpster, Discount Dumpster puts together a quote that lists out all charges. Dumpsters are priced using a flat fee model. This flat rate includes the rental, delivery and pickup, tax, and the landfill dump fee. Your quote will also include an explanation of the rental period and any potential overweight charge if you go over the weight limit.
When you stay within this weight limit, the flat rate applies to your dumpster container regardless of how much you put into your dumpster. Typically, landfills charge a specific rate per ton of waste disposed of. If the load comes under the weight limit for the container, then the charge is simply the fee for the weight dumped. This dump fee is included in your flat rate for your dumpster.
If the load is overweight however, there will be a additional charge added onto the fee for the load. This overweight charge will be passed on to you above the cost of the flat rate for the rental dumpster. You can expect an over-weight charge of $50 per ton to $100 per ton or more.
The specific fee depends on your location and the landfill’s fee schedule. This potential overage fee will be explained to you when you order your dumpster.
It’s easy to think that if all your trash fits in your dumpster container, you’ll be fine with the weight limit. But this not always the case. Bulky waste items not only take up lots of space—they can also be very heavy. Items like large appliances, chunks of concrete, and layers of floor tile add lots of weight to the container.
Tightly packing in lots of trash also increases the weight load of your dumpster container. If you compact the trash you are tossing, the weight of the load will quickly rise. While you may be able to fit more into your dumpster, you risk having too much weight for your dumpster container.
So, how do you avoid having any extra charges added on to your final bill at the end of your rental? There are several ways to keep under the weight limit.
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When you call to order your dumpster, ask for assistance in determining the right size for your particular project. Our dumpster rental service representatives have lots of experience in all types of jobs. If you have waste that is heavy, share that with the representative. They will be able to get you the proper size while keeping the weight under the limit.
Your quote for your dumpster rental will include an explanation of any overweight charges that could occur. Most dumpsters are priced using a flat rate model, but if the weight of the dumpster goes over the weight limit in your contract, there will be an additional charge at the end of your rental. Find out ahead of time how much this overage charge is. Typically, you will be charged in 500-pound increments, with an average cost of $25 to $50 for each additional 500 pounds.
When loading up your dumpster, do not go over the top fill line. This is a sure way to exceed the weight limit. But even if you keep the trash below this line, it can still be overweight. This happens when your particular waste is very heavy and dense.
Examples of this type of material include concrete, floor tile, roofing shingles, drywall, demolition waste, and dense or wet landscape material. Filling up a dumpster to the top with these types of waste will lead to an overweight charge.
It may not be easy to accurately estimate the weight of your trash material beforehand. But as you load up your dumpster, evaluate each batch to ensure that you do not have excessively heavy material. If you are working with a team, consult with each other to determine the type of waste ending up in the dumpster container.
The longer you have your dumpster, the more waste you’ll put in it. Compacting down the waste to add more to your dumpster will easily send you over the weight limit. Trash exposed to the elements for long periods of time also retain water, which can add to the weight of the load.
If you need a dumpster for a longer job, ask about dumpster swap-outs. Your dumpster will be picked up and replaced with a new empty dumpster. This allows you to have a dumpster available over the course of your long job without trying to cram more into the container.
Rain and snow can be very heavy. Water from rain or snow can settle into the bottom of the container. It may be difficult for this water to evaporate if covered with trash, as there will be less air flow.
When your dumpster is picked up at the end of your job, it is tilted and pulled up onto the bed of the truck. If there is water in the bottom of the dumpster container, some of it will run out when the container is elevated onto the truck.
This can greatly reduce the excess water weight in your dumpster container. If all the water does not drain out, there may still be water within the container and some of the waste material may be wet, which can add to the container weight.
When inclement weather is in the forecast, consider covering your rental dumpster to prevent a build-up of water in the bottom of the dumpster container. You can do this with some heavy-duty tarps. Cover the top dumpster opening and secure the tarp with rope or bungee cords to prevent it from flying off or leaking.
Your rental dumpster provider may have tarps they can provide you. If you know that a spell of bad weather is in the forecast, waiting a few days to begin your project is a good strategy as well.
If you know from the get-go that you will have extremely heavy material, inquire about using an inert dumpster rather than a typical roll off dumpster container. You are limited in the type of material you can deposit in an inert dumpster. Inert waste does not contain any contaminated or biodegradable material. It may be taken to a special part of the landfill or even to a dedicated landfill for inert material.
There is a strict requirement that no organic waste be placed in an inert dumpster. Common inert materials include concrete, road base, roofing shingles, bricks, and dirt. All of these materials are very heavy and can quickly send you over the weight limit.
If you know that you can separate out your waste to include only these types of materials, then you may be eligible for an inert dumpster rental. Using an inert dumpster can save you money, as they are often priced lower than a conventional dumpster container. You will need to ensure that no household or construction debris is included in the load.
An open dumpster on your property can be inviting to illegal dumpers. When others throw their trash into your dumpster, it will increase the weight of the container. The best strategy to counter illegal use of your rental dumpster is to limit the amount of time it stays on your property.
Don’t keep a rental dumpster longer than is necessary. Request a delivery date that is close to the start of your project and plan to begin using it on the first day you get it. Once your job is done, call to arrange for quick pick-up.
To further prevent illegal use of your dumpster, ask that the dumpster be delivered within a secured area if possible. This could be behind a fence or gate or adjacent to a building less visible from the street. Keep the area well-lit. And just as a tarp can keep the rain out, it can also keep others from tossing trash into your open dumpster.
One surefire way to keep the weight of your trash under the limit is to simply not put as much material into your rental dumpster. Instead of throwing everything away, think of ways to cut down on the amount of waste you have.
If anything is still in usable condition, give it away or donate it to a charitable organization. This could be an old piece of furniture, some leftover drywall, or clean fill dirt. You can post on sites like Facebook Marketplace or Nextdoor, offering these items for free.
If the material you’re discarding is broken, unusable, or damaged, you can’t give it away. But you may be able to recycle it. Examples of heavy material you can recycle include concrete, old paint, batteries, appliances, and scrap metal. Recycling or donating more items will keep the total weight of your dumpster container down and under the limit.
There is no doubt that using a rental dumpster is one of the easiest ways to cleanup your clutter or deal with your remodel, landscaping, or construction waste. A dumpster is convenient to use and will save you money over using a junk hauling service or even hauling it all to the landfill yourself.
Part of the ordering process involves us listening to your description of the type of work you’re doing, and then helping you determine the right size dumpster for your needs. The most important step to take to avoid an overage charge is simply to be aware of the limit and how much you are actually putting in your dumpster.
Discount Dumpster can review the type of waste of you’re disposing of, talk over how much it all might weigh, and give you additional strategies for dealing with heavy trash or a larger-than-expected load.
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