Do you have a construction site, and you need to figure out how to get rid of your debris? It is quite understandable that you might have so much that you are considering renting a dumpster (or multiple) to get rid of it all successfully. From roofing, drywall, insulation, wood to flooring, you must keep some tips in mind when removing these things. These tips will also help you avoid pitfalls, such as overages and additional fees. Let’s dive right in.

1. Plan
Planning before executing any major task is the only way to make it successful. So, before you start thinking about disposing of the debris at a construction site, you have to know how much debris has been (or will be) generated. For instance, when clearing a construction site that contains debris such as concrete, shingles, lumber, dry wood, and some other materials, you should separate concrete debris from those other materials. Concrete and shingles heavier and denser, and should not be disposed of with the less dense materials like dry wood. Knowing all these will help you choose the most suitable roll-off container to dispose all the debris.

• You should get a small dumpster (a 10-yard bin) for heavy debris such as concrete
• You should get a large dumpster (e.g., a 20-yard bin or larger) for lighter debris like insulation and dry wood.

 
2. Get an accurate volume of the debris
The size of one cubic yard of debris is 3 ft. x 3 ft. x 3 ft. which is similar to the size of a standard kitchen stove. So, when you look at a 10-yard roll-off dumpster, you should be looking at the size of ten kitchen stoves. By doing your estimates this way, you will be able to work out what size of roll-off dumpster will hold your construction debris.

3. Separate general waste from construction debris
General waste or household waste should not be mixed with construction debris for disposal. Most municipalities have laws against this, and if you are caught using one dumpster for household debris, construction debris, and other wastes, you may be asked to pay some fees.
If you have different types of debris to throw away, what you should do is rent more than one dumpster so that you will be able to separate them all.
If you have a large amount of junk to throw away, it may be more affordable and convenient to hire a debris removal service to do the work for you.

4. Order for a larger container
It would be unfortunate to order a roll-off dumpster that will not be able to contain all the construction debris that you want to dispose. A small dumpster can lead to more cost and stress. You may have to order an extra dumpster or overfill the small one which will cost you more.

5. Schedule container pickups and swaps ahead of time
To make things run smoothly, make sure you schedule pickups and swaps with the dumpster rental company ahead of time. Rental services work on schedule, and it may take some time before they can fit you in. Therefore, book your spot ahead.
Proper planning is the key to clearing out construction debris successfully. You should also maintain a clear line of communication with the roll-off dumpster company. With the tips above, you can make sure that debris disposal for your project is carried out smoothly and without problems.

Like any other industry, the waste management industry has developed its own set of terms to refer to the equipment, services, and processes unique to the industry. While many you can easily deduce and understand without needing a dictionary, there may be some that you haven’t heard before. When renting a dumpster, it’s important to know what these terms mean so you have all the information you need to make an informed decision. Let’s start by breaking down some terms.

10, 20, 30, 40, etc. Yard Dumpsters
When many consumer hear the term “40 yard dumpster” they often wonder, “Is a dumpster bigger than a football field really about to pull up to my house?” While of course that isn’t the case, that begs the next question, “how are they measuring these dumpsters?” Dumpsters are measured in cubic yards, meaning that a 40 yard container contains 40 cubic yards of room to hold debris. 10, 20, 30, and 40 yard dumpsters typically run about the same sizes, check out our sizes pages to see the dimensions of each.
 
10 yard dumpsters
20 yard dumpsters
30 yard dumpsters
40 yard dumpsters
 
Roll Off Dumpster
When you order a dumpster rental you are getting a roll off dumpster. They are called roll off’s because they literally “roll off” the back of the truck that brings them to your property. It’s that simple!
 
Clean Load
A clean load refers to a dumpster that is filled with just one kind of recyclable debris, usually cardboard, concrete, asphalt, or plastics. This makes the hauler’s job easier because they can get the entire load recycled instead of dumping it at the landfill.
 
Mixed Load
As opposed to a clean load, a mixed load refers to a dumpster filled with multiple different kinds of recyclable debris, such as those mentioned above. A mixed load has to be sorted at a sorting facility in order to be properly recycled.
 
Commercial or Front Load Dumpster
A commercial or front load dumpster refers to small 2 to 8 yard dumpsters that are frequently rented by businesses. They are often picked up regularly and are commonly found outside restaurants, office buildings, grocery stores, apartment complexes, etc.
 
Landfill or Tipping Fees
When a dumpster company carts your debris away, most of the time they head to a landfill to dispose of it. The landfill charges the dumpster company a fee for doing so, and they charge per ton. The national average is $44 per ton, but it varies greatly between areas, with some areas costing more than $100 per ton. Usually the landfill fee is included with your rental, but they may charge you more if you go over a certain weight limit. Now you know why!
 
Skip
A skip is the same thing as a dumpster rental. It’s a term frequently used in England when referring to a dumpster.
 
 
Did we miss any terms? If there are any other pieces of lingo that you think we missed, let us know!