What Can I Put in My Dumpster?

Construction projects can take a long time and produce many types of waste. Materials like wood, shingles, metals, plastic, drywall, trees, plumbing, rock, and dirt are often no longer needed during new construction or demolition. That’s a lot of material to dispose of. In fact, 145 million tons of construction and demolition waste was sent to landfills in 2018 in the United States.

Our dumpster rental customers have many questions about what can be disposed of in their dumpster. A helpful way to determine which materials can be disposed of in your dumpster is to sort them into three categories: allowed, sometimes allowed, and never allowed in your dumpster. Although Homewood Disposal serves the Chicago area and NW Indiana, these rules and recommendations are relatively consistent within the waste industry throughout the United States.

Not sure where to start? Check out what applies to you.

Allowed

Sometimes Allowed

Never Allowed

What Items are Allowed in my Dumpster?

Furniture

Disposing of old furniture it can be a large task. Furniture can be disposed of in all of our large construction dumpsters. If you have weekly commercial service and your furniture does not fit in your dumpster, give us a call.

Flood Debris

In the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, flooding is very common. Dealing with floods can be difficult, but our dumpsters can hold all those water damaged items. Whether it’s wet carpet or damaged drywall, we will take it.

Household Garbage

Americans create approximately 4.9 pounds of waste per day. Whether you are hosting a large event or corporate get-together, a dumpster is a great option for food and paper goods disposal. Household waste is acceptable in all dumpster sizes.

Household Projects

Whether you are redoing your kitchen, bathroom, basement, or anywhere in the house, most household construction items are allowed in our dumpsters. Drywall, wood, cabinets and more are acceptable in all dumpsters.

What Items are Allowed in Some Dumpsters?

Dirt and Concrete

Dirt, bricks and concrete can be disposed of in our 10 yard construction dumpsters. Our 10 yard dumpsters are built to hold these heavy items. Do not place these items in any other dumpster sizes, the dumpsters will become too heavy to safely haul away.

Looking to Rent a Dumpster?

Free Online Quote

What is NOT Allowed in my Dumpster?

Technology

E-waste accounts for 2% of American’s trash in our landfills, but is equivalent to 70% of our overall toxic waste. TV’s, computers, printers, etc., can NOT be disposed of in any of our dumpsters.

Appliances

Many old appliances have a nasty material that can wreck the ozone layer when sitting in a landfill. No appliances, such as a refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, etc., are allowed in any of our dumpsters.

Hazourdous Waste

When hazardous waste isn’t handled properly it’s a threat to the environment and human health. Do not put oils, gases, or chemicals in any of our dumpsters. These items should be recycled or handled by a special collection service and should never be placed in a dumpster.

Liquids and Oils

Liquids of any kind should not be disposed of in a temporary construction dumpster. Latex paints can be disposed of in a dumpster if they are dried up. (Try kitty litter or an absorbent drying product to quicken the process.) Oil-based paints and flammable liquids should never go in your dumpster, they are consider hazardous waste.

Materials in Weekly Commercial Dumpsters

What can and cannot be placed within a commercial dumpster is very similar to the recommendations mentioned above for temporary construction dumpsters. If you are a customer and have additional specific questions about what material can be disposed of within your commercial service, please contact your account representative.