Dumpster Rental Horror Stories: What Not to Do

Renting a dumpster is a straightforward process; order the bin, toss in your junk, and let the dumpster company come and haul it away. Simple, right? Well, it turns out, thatsome people have turned dumpster rentals into an absolute mess, shocker, I know....! From neighborhood cleanup nightmares to unexpected fines, these dumpster rental horror stories will have you double-checking before your next cleanup project.

1. The Mountain of Junk

One contractor thought he’d save money by ordering the smallest dumpster for a massive renovation job. This resulted in a mountain of debris in the dumpster falling over the sides, blocking driveways, and making the worksite look like a wasteland. He was ultimately fined by the city, the client was very upset, and he had to rent another dumpster to clean up all the mess anyway. Get the right-sized dumpster for the job in the first place. Spending a little extra on the front end will save you time, money, and headaches on the back end.

2. The Hidden Surprise

A rental customer once got a call from the dumpster company asking if they were aware of a body being thrown in their dumpster. The reason they called was because the landfill workers found something in their trash that looked like a dead body! Police were called andan investigation took place to find out that it was only a mannequin. The customer learned a valuable lesson that day: If there is something that could be questionable label it or tell your driver. It will avoid future hassles.

3. Your Neighbors are Using You

You rented a dumpster for your own personal home clean-out, andyou wake up one morning only to find that every neighbor on the block has suddenly decided to use your dumpster. This happened to one unlucky homeowner! He woke up to find an old couch, half a bathroom’s worth of tiles, and someone’s broken toys in their rented dumpster. The bad thing is now you will be stuck with excess weight fees! Make sure your dumpster is in a secure place on your property and monitor it to make sure you don't have uninvited guests.

4. The Exploding Dumpster

A well-meaning rental customer threw away some unknown chemicals into their dumpster. On a hot summer day, some of the chemicals reacted to the heat and exploded! It turned the dumpster into a small bomb. No one was hurt but there was a loud explosion and a visit from the fire department later! The unknowing customer was hit with hazardous waste fines. Always know what you can and can’t toss into a dumpster and hazardous materials are a no-no!

5. The Dumpster That Was Forgotten

An out of town business owner rented a dumpster for his business for a one-week project. He didn't schedule a pickup and a month later, the dumpster was still there. He found out that without notifying the company he wanted a pickup none would happen. The business owner was out a couple of hundred bucks for forgetting one call...Always schedule your pickup in advance!

How to Avoid Dumpster Rental Disasters

Dumpster rentals don’t have to turn into horror stories.

• Get the right size – Overfilling can lead to extra fees. Get the next size larger
• Monitor your Dumpster – Don't throw hazardous waste in the dumpster. Also, watch who you give access to your dumpster.
• Make sure of your Rental Schedule – Ensure drop-off and pickup dates are correct.
• Try to Follow Weight Limits – Extra weight can lead to fines.

By learning something from these dumpster rental horror stories, you can ensure your next cleanup project goes smoothly! DumpCo Rental has your back with professional service, flexible options, and zero nightmares. Contact us today!