5 Easy Steps In The Dumpster Renting Process

Step 1 Planning Plan ahead and schedule the dumpster before you actually need to be using it. Consider the length and approximately how much waste your job might produce. This will help you in deciding on the size dumpster you might need. This table might help you in selecting the correct size for your job.

 Dumpster SizeStandard DimensionsTruckload Equivalent*

10 Yards 10 ft. x 7 ft. x 4 ft. 4

15 Yards 14 ft. x 7 ft x 4 ft 6

20 Yards 20 ft. x 7 ft. x 4 ft. 8

30 Yards 20 ft. x 8 ft. x 5 ft. 12

40 Yards 22 ft. x 8 ft. x 8 ft. 16

* Based on a standard pickup truck

Step 2 Budgeting Get a quote from a dumpster rental company where you get the best price. This includes the total price for the dumpster delivered and removed. As well as how much, if any, tonnage is included and how many days of rental are included in the price. Also in this phase you should consider distance from teh provider because this will impact the overall cost of the project. This can eaisly be done by using Google Maps or Mapquest. 

Step 3 Placement When your dumpster arrives if you haven't already arranged with the company, you should tell the driver where to place your dumpster. Whether it will be in your driveway, backyard, a vacant lot, or on the street there must be at least 20 feet of clearance above your chosen area for the truck to be able to place it where you want. This is due to how the cans are lowered off the trucks by lifting and lowering at an angle.

Step 4 Usage When loading your dumpster, you should open the door walk items in, and lay them in an organized fashion. Distributing the weight evenly on the base will allow maximum room and make it easier to pick up when full. After the base is full close the door and begin to throw smaller items over the side, again trying to make it as level as possible while doing so. The caution in this phase is that you should be aware of the service provider's maximum fill line. Most companies will have maximum fill restrictions for their waste bins and will charge overages for the container being filled past the designated line. The reason is the containers must travel on a roadway once full and an overloaded container is a safety hazard. If you fill past the line the dumpster rental company will have to adjust the bin and remove some of the debris and in turn, they will charge additional fees for this.

Step 5 Pickup After your dumpster is full or you have cleaned up all you need to call the company and schedule a day and time for them to come pick the dumpster up. It's always a good rule of thumb to try and be present when the container is being picked up because this will allow you to address any issues on the spot. The most common issues are overages and restricted materials being placed in the container. Most companies will give you a window for pickup as they did for drop-off. If you cannot be present a backup solution would be to take photos or a short video in and around the container. This way if there is a dispute after the fact you have documentation.