How to Load a Dumpster

Dumpsters are incredibly helpful tools when you’re taking on big projects like home renovations or estate cleanouts. But many dumpster users and first-time renters may not know exactly how to fill a roll-off dumpster. Yes, there are best practices on how to fill a dumpster that can help you maximize your investment in the rental, as well as help everyone remain safe during the project. Here are five tips on filling a dumpster.

Tips for Properly Loading A Dumpster:

1.Break Things Down

Whatever you’re going to put in your dumpster, break it down to its smallest state. This goes for foam, concrete, drywall and other items. The smaller you can break down these items, the more you will be able to place in your dumpster — which means greater value for your rental.

2. Flatten Boxes

If you’re working with cardboard removal, it’s highly important to flatten all boxes. This can be time-consuming and a general hassle, but it will save you a great deal of space in a dumpster. Grab a box cutter and make sure you’re reducing the boxes to their flattest state. Be careful when folding flattened boxes, too. If they don’t fold down to be completely flat, they can sometimes form pockets of unused space at the bottom of a dumpster.

3. Bulk at the Bottom

Are you working with bulky items like old equipment, furniture, housing fixtures and similar things? If so, place the bulkiest items at the bottom. Once you have a layer of bulky items at the base of your dumpster, you can start to fill in with smaller items, which brings to our next tip.

4. Fill the Gaps

Always fill in gaps as you begin to fill your dumpster. It’s easy when you’re in the midst of a significant removal project to work quickly and go too fast. But be conscientious throughout your project and pause every once in a while to make sure you are filling all gaps. For example, if you’re throwing away furniture, make sure you’ve filled in the empty areas formed by the legs with smaller items to be trashed.

5. Distribute Weight Evenly

Make sure you’re distributing weight across your dumpster. If the weight is not evenly distributed, the dumpster can shift during loading or transit, which can lead to a dangerous situation for all involved. Take time throughout your project to assess how well your dumpster is filling and to ensure the weight is properly balanced.

6. Don’t Load too High

Lastly, make sure you do not load above the side wall of the dumpster because loose items can fly out during transportation. The loose debris can cause harm and possibly death if it causes a car accident or hits someone

How Not To Load A Dumpster:

Overloading a dumpster can cause many issues with disposal.  See below for common mistakes when loading a dumpster and examples of what not do to when loading your rental.

Above is an example of how not to load a dumpster with roofing materials.  Since the waste is above the top rail, we cannot safely transport the materials so they can be disposed of.

In the example above, the dumpster was overfilled with asphalt.  It’s important to remember when loading heavy materials such as concrete, dirt, or asphalt that the dumpster must be loaded at least 12″ below the top of the container. If it isn’t, the dumpster will exceed the weight limit allowed to legally drive on public roads.  When this is the case, safety issues become a huge liability on the company.  If you find you have more to dispose of than what fills the container 12″ from the top, we’d recommend discussing it with your rental company or renting a second container.

Although often times overloading with furniture will not cause a dumpster to go overweight, a dumpster cannot be loaded over the top.  At Hometown Waste, safety is our biggest concern and a dumpster loaded like the one above cannot be safely transported for disposal.

The only thing pretty about the picture above is the sky.  During a large cleanout, this dumpster was entirely overfilled.  When loading a dumpster, the contents should always be below the top rim of the bin.  In this case, the contents were about 4′ over the bin, where we cannot transport the dumpster safely.

Have Questions About Your Rental?

At Hometown Waste, we offer dumpster rentals throughout New Jersey at highly competitive prices. Whether you’re taking on a one-time project and wondering about best practices for filling a dumpster or you’re a seasoned pro who’s taking on home renovation projects regularly, we have the waste removal solutions that make your job easier.  We highly recommend contacting our support team so we can assist you with choosing the perfect size dumpster for your application. Based on our industry knowledge, we can help you avoid filling a dumpster incorrectly which will help eliminate additional charges associated with transporting and ridding of the debris.

Contact us today about your dumpster rental options in New Jersey.