Before You Hire A Dumpster Rental Company

We know renting a dumpster can be confusing.  We do our best to ensure our customers know what is included or excluded in our dumpster service.  Most people have never rented a dumpster, so we try to make it as easy as possible.  Here are some questions to ask when you are renting from a dumpster company. 

What is your out the door price? Does your pricing include all local franchise fees, taxes, fuel surcharges, etc.? Our pricing is always out the door, we do not hide our pricing.

Are you properly licensed to operate in my area? If the company is not properly licensed, they maybe illegally dumping your trash and you may be responsible for cleanup. Or worse yet, they may not have the proper insurance if they damage your property. Do not rent from them if they are not listed as a licensed dumpster hauler in your area.   Jobsite Dumpsters is a service of GreenWaste of Sacramento.

Are you a local company or a dumpster broker? There are a lot of reputable dumpster brokers out there, unfortunately there are lot of not so reputable brokers too. Most reputable brokers ensure they are using only licensed haulers, some not so reputable brokers just go with the cheapest not knowing if they are licensed or not.   If you have problems such as damages, overages, questions, sometimes getting things settled can become complicated.  Dumpster brokers advertise for dumpsters in your area and rent dumpsters on your behalf from local companies at a markup to you. In most cases it is cheaper to use a local licensed hauler.  We have included the links to licensed haulers in our service area. 

What can I put into my dumpster? Most disposal facilities have specific requirements of what they will accept or not accept in your dumpster. Some charge additional fees for items like mattresses, e-waste, tires, or even how the materials are mixed.  It is important that you know what you can and cannot place into your dumpster.   We give our customers a full list of possible charges when they order, because no one likes being surprised.  All materials must fit below the rim of your dumpster for safe transport. 

What size dumpster do I need? Depending on what type of materials you are disposing of is an important factor of what size of dumpster you need.

  • If you are disposing of concrete, brick, asphalt, dirt, sod removal, or a mixture of those items. Tile roofing, concrete roofing tiles, pavers, CMU block, or retaining wall blocks.  A 10 cubic yard dumpster will be your only option, this size dumpster is a heavy-duty dumpster designed for this type of materials. 
  • If you are cleaning out your garage, moving, clearing out yard debris like trees & brush, cleaning out your house, doing a small kitchen or home remodel, composite, or wood roofing, a 20 cubic yard dumpster is the most common size.
  • If you are tossing out large items or have a lot of household items such as a hoarder’s house, doing a full remodel, new home construction, or a commercial construction project, a 40 cubic yard dumpster is most common size.
  • A 20 cubic yard dumpster is equivalent for about 9-12 pickup truck loads. Is your time worth going to the dump 9-12 times? 

** All materials must fit below the rim of your dumpster for safe transport.  Items sticking over may result in the driver refusing to remove the dumpster due to safety reasons.**

Where can I place the dumpster? Some cities have restrictions on dumpster placement.  Our customer service representatives know where street placement is allowed and where an encroachment permit would be issued to allow street placement.  Even your HOA may have restrictions on where you can place your dumpster, please check with your HOA prior to renting.  While placing the dumpster in the street may seem like a good idea, we only recommend it for dirt and concrete dumpsters as those the heaviest and may cause damages to your driveway.  If street placement is not available, then you will have to place it on your driveway.  By placing your dumpster on the street, you are also welcoming your neighbors to use it, and you will be responsible for whatever is placed into your dumpster rental.  We always recommend customers to place dumpsters on their driveway to prevent illegal disposal and placing plywood underneath the dumpster to help avoiding any damages (we do not supply plywood). 

  • 10 Cubic Yard dumpster is 16 feet long, 3 feet tall, 8 feet wide. Fits most driveways.
  • 20 Cubic Yard dumpster is 16 feet long, 4.5 feet tall, 8 feet wide. Fits most driveways.
  • 40 Cubic Yard dumpster is 21 feet long, 8 feet tall, 8 feet wide. Requires a longer driveway.

*We recommend 4 feet beyond the end of the dumpster to allow for the doors to operate.

I have a waste management plan for my construction project, does this dumpster including recycling reporting? If you are remodeling, or have a construction project, most building permits require you to fill out a waste management plan.  This includes but not limited to ensuring that you recycle 65% of all debris coming off your project.  The dumpster needs to be rented as a construction and demolition debris dumpster or “C&D”.   Some dumpster rental companies charge extra for this service.  All our dumpsters rented for C&D include free recycling reporting for up to 1 year after your last rental. We can even assist with any questions that you may have.  We recycle 70-95% of what you toss, and we work with all the jurisdictions we provide service to.   

Are there discounts for source separated items? Most disposal facilities will offer lower rates for items they do not have to separate.  There is a lot of labor costs involved when recycling and processing your materials.  For example, most facilities will charge $5 per ton for clean concrete, but if you mix that concrete with dirt, they charge $35 per ton.  Some jurisdictions that we provide service in, also do not charge a franchise tax of 10-12%, which saves you more money. 

Is there a cheaper option? Our customer service representatives are not paid on commission and take pride in qualifying our customers with the right dumpster, at the best price.  It never hurts to ask if there is a cheaper option, just because our representatives are trained to find the lowest priced option not every company operates that way. 

  • Debris Type: Disposal facilities have difference prices for different materials they accept. Some materials like concrete, clean wood, metal, sheetrock, brush, they can recycle for a profit and offer a discount on disposal.   Other materials such as plastics, painted wood, palm trees, bamboo, furniture, are considered trash and costs more to dispose of.  Even items such as mattresses, sofas, refrigerators, require additional processing and facilities charge extra for.
  • Dumpster Size: Making sure that you get the right sized dumpster is key. You do not want to get a dumpster that is too small and need to rent another one.  Getting a dumpster too big for your project could be wasting your money.  Most companies include so much weight in each dumpster size/type.  Construction debris typically weighs more than household junk.  Household junk is typically bulky and takes up a lot of space but weighs less.  If you can break down your debris to minimize air space in your dumpster will help, ensure you are getting the most of your rental.
  • Weight of Trash/Debris: The weight of debris can surprise you. It is probably the biggest complaint we have from homeowners.  All our dumpsters go to facilities that have certified scales and are weighed in and out of the facility.  Most dumpsters we rent have a set amount of tonnage included in the price.  If you exceed that amount you are charged for that amount. We recommend that if it is raining to cover your dumpster with a tarp.
    • Household junk is typically lighter in weight.
    • Dirt, concrete, brick, drywall, stucco, roofing shingles are typically the heaviest items. These items can also cause damages to dumpsters, and most facilities charge extra if these items are mixed into dumpsters rented for construction debris, or mixed household debris.
      • Dirt/Soil depending on moisture, sand, stone, gravel weights 2,200-3,000 pounds per cubic yard.
      • Concrete typically weighs about 4,050 pounds per cubic yard.
      • Brush uncompacted is about 250-500 pounds per cubic yard.
      • General Household Debris 150-400 pounds per cubic yard.

*Please note these are only estimates.

While we cannot answer every question on here, make sure that you ask questions when placing your order. 

 

Job Site Dumpsters is an affordable way to clean up debris.

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