Understanding Dumpster Rentals | Express Recycling and Sanitation

Before renovating, it’s essential to have a place to put all the waste when demolishing or tearing out rooms. You can hope it all goes away by itself by piling it in your backyard, haul it out to a landfill yourself or you can hire a hauling company to do it for you.

One of the best options is to rent a container, also known as rolloffs or dumpsters. You typically see these types of containers near construction sites. So how does a regular homeowner rent a container?

Understanding Dumpster Rentals and the “Lingo”

Container companies usually deal with contractors who know the terminology or the “ins and outs” of renting a dumpster. Here a few terms to help you make your way through the process:

“Container” and “rolloff” – both acceptable terms for these large metal boxes. Even though “dumpster” is used less frequently, most use this term when renting a container.

Containers are rented in standard cubic yard sizes. “Yard” or “Yarder” are terms used by contractors instead of “cubic yards.” For example, you would say you want to rent a “forty yarder” if you were renting a 40 cubic yard size container.

Is your container going on the street? Check with proper authorities.

If you’re putting a container on the street, you should contact your local parking enforcement or building permit office for information about the permits you will need. If you have room to place it on your street, you definitely want to clear this up so that you do not have to face these worries after the container is already in place.

You can almost be certain that the provisions of the homeowner’s association contract do not allow for a rolloff if you live on a street with a neighborhood association. Appearing before the association’s board might provide you with some exemptions.

Before they deliver the container, you should make sure where it is going – on the street or on your property – and that the truck dropping off and picking up will have the necessary room it needs to maneuver. You can purchase traffic cones to reserve space in front of the container. This way you don’t have to worry about an irate truck driver calling you because he can’t back in.

Choosing the right size container for the job is important and you should choose a container one size bigger than you think you need. Waste products like carpeting, scrap wood and drywall take up volume quickly. Because rock, dirt and concrete have more weight than volume, you can only fill the container quarter full. Always check with your rental company to verify. Containers of similar volume may come in different dimensions and one dimension you want to verify is height. Hefting weighty materials over the side of a too-high container can be difficult.

Different size containers include:

12 cubic yd. – 12′L x 8′W x 4′H

Great for small construction projects such as:

Roofing, concrete or masonry, basement, attic, or garage clean-out

Takes up 1 car space in your driveway

20 cubic yd. – 22′L x 8′W x 4′H

Perfect for mid-size remodeling and construction projects such as:

Roofing, siding and window replacement, concrete and masonry, or 2 car garage clean-out

Will take approximately 2 car spaces in your driveway

30 cubic yd. – 22′L x 8′W x 6′H

Ideal for Full Scale Construction Projects, Major House Clean-Outs and:

Demolition projects