Dumpster Rental Tips

Renting a dumpster for three to four days can often cost up to $850, including dump fees. The thing about renting a dumpster is that it can be very expensive and take time.

Due to the sizes of dumpsters available and the disposal fees in different areas, the cost of renting a dumpster and disposing of its contents is varied throughout the industry.

Before you rent a dumpster, do your research including checking out competitor’s pricing, and ask yourself is junk removal the better option? This will help you avoid problems and hidden costs that give you a headache and slow down big projects.

The average cost of 10 yard dumpster rentals can range from $150 – $500, and the cost to rent a 20 yard dumpster falls in the $300 – $700 range.

However, keep in mind that dumpster rental costs vary based on what you’re dumping, how many days you’re renting it for, what state you live in, and even which zip code.

When you’re looking for cheap dumpster rental solutions, make sure that when you get free quotes from several dumpster rental companies near you and you ask if they’re based on your location, as some may sneak the cost in later and surprise you.

When do I need a dumpster rental permit in Atlanta?

Dumpster permits are typically required in Atlanta when you are planning to place your roll-off container directly on a street, sidewalk or any other type of public property. This type of permit is commonly referred to as ‘street’ or ‘right-of-way’ permits.

Who issues dumpster permits in Atlanta?

Dumpster permits are issued by The Department of Public Works Office of Transportation of Atlanta.

If you are placing your dumpster in any privately-owned space such as your driveway, you will not need a street permit.

But if you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association (HOA), you will probably need permission from them before placing a dumpster on a residential street.

How do I obtain a dumpster permit in Atlanta?

Getting a permit to park a dumpster on Atlanta city streets, sidewalks or property is not as hard as you might think. It does take a little bit of pre-planning, but if you follow the steps, you won’t have any issues getting your dumpster permit in Atlanta, Georgia.

Does my location require a dumpster rental permit?

If you live in a property that has an HOA fee, you need to call for guidance on what is allowed and not allowed on the grounds. Most likely they will be able to help you out with this.

If you are responsible for obtaining a street permit, contact your city’s public works or building department. They will provide you with the appropriate form to fill out. Depending on the city, this process can be done in person, over the phone or online.

Contact the City of Atlanta’s Department of Public Works Office of Transportation for your dumpster rental permit.

You should apply for your permit at least one week prior to when you need the container, just in case there is any lag time in processing the request with the government. If you don’t have time for all of this work, you can always book a reliable junk removal company like LoadUp to come take anything you need. You won’t have to do any of the work and it’s as easy as clicking a button!

How do I schedule a dumpster rental in Atlanta?

Once you’ve received your permit, let you can begin looking through the different sizes of dumpsters that you’ll find at dumpster rental companies. This can take a while so be sure that you have enough time for research.

If you just are not sure where to get started and want to skip all the trouble, LoadUp can help with that! Our local Loaders will do all the work for you that you would have had to do yourself with a dumpster – and there’s no permit required. LoadUp’s fast and easy services are as easy as hitting a button and booking online for an upfront price today in all over metro Atlanta GA.

If you’re thinking about renting a dumpster, it’s important to understand the real cost of dumpster rental, what to expect when renting dumpsters, and what you can’t toss out.

In this article, we’ll look at the average cost of dumpster rental and factors that influence the price, including dumpster size, prohibited items and price variations based on the location. After reading this, you’ll have a close estimate of what you would pay and how you can get a better deal when you are disposing of junk and bulk waste on your time.

It isn’t “all the same” when it comes to what you put in a dumpster. Some things are recyclable while others must be disposed of differently, and some of the things you’re planning on throwing out may be considered hazardous or could damage the dumpster.

The company you rent a dumpster from should give you a list of what is and isn’t allowed in the dumpster. If you put prohibited items or materials in the dumpster, you will have to pay a whole lot more than you would have otherwise.

People usually fill rented dumpsters with construction waste and demolition debris. This includes wood, siding, drywall, yard waste, carpeting, wire, foam, flooring and roofing materials, and some small appliances.

❓ Dumpster Rental vs. Junk Removal: LoadUp can help you decide which service best fits the specific needs of your disposal job in just a few simple steps.

Things you’re usually not allowed to put in a dumpster include batteries, automotive parts, pesticides, florescent light bulbs, gasoline, fuel containers, anti-freeze, paint, electronics, and appliances.

Things like tires, mattresses, and furniture are prohibited only in certain locations, but they do usually cost extra in areas where they are not prohibited.

An average dumpster holds about 4 tons (that’s 8,000 pounds of waste sent off to a landfill).

If you go over the weight limit, you will have to pay a per-ton overage fee. This is usually $30 to $100 per additional ton, depending on landfill fees near you.

In most states, you’re required to get a permit before renting a dumpster. This is especially true if your dumpster is blocking a traffic lane or sidewalk, on the street, or within public view.

Permit fees when renting a dumpster cost an average of about $40 to $75 per dumpster, per week. Permit fees can vary depending on what state, city, and county you are renting the dumpster in and are required to obtain permits for.

Depending on the size of the dumpster, rental fees typically range from $300 – $620. Dumpster size is one of the first factors that help determine the price of a dumpster rental. The most commonly rented size is a 20 yard dumpster, with a 40 yard dumpster being the largest size you can rent. Here is a list of common dumpster sizes with their average price ranges, per week of rental:

Dumpster Rental Costs

The average price of renting a dumpster in the United States is around $530. However, what you can expect to pay for dumpster rental for your project will be different and depends on several different factors.

Causes of Varying Dumpster Rental Costs

Things that can change the price of renting a dumpster include:

• Cost of living in your city
• Landfill rates where you live
• Size/capacity of a dumpster
• Length of rental period
• Weight of a dumpster after filling it
• Overfilling a dumpster
• Types of waste you put in the dumpster
• Whether you have to get a dumpster permit
• Distance & accessibility of your location

The overall cost of dumpster rental is very different from state to state and city to city. Basically, you can expect to pay more to rent a dumpster if you live in a place with a higher cost of living.

Another factor is variations in landfill fees. Landfill fees, sometimes presented as “disposal fees”, are generally determined by supply and demand. Prices tend to be higher in places where there’s not much demand, but prices are lower in cities where there are many dumpster companies and more competition in an attempt to undercut the prices of competitors.

To determine what size you need, estimate the cubic footage of everything you’ll be putting in your dumpster, and then go up one size. It’s much more expensive to overfill a dumpster you thought was going to be big enough than to go ahead and rent a size larger and not fill it all the way.

Most dumpster companies charge by the week. Unfortunately, most companies won’t give you a discount if you only need the dumpster for a couple of days.

This is because it costs the company the same amount to deliver, pick up, and empty the dumpster’s contents at a landfill, no matter how short a time you have it. If you end up needing to use the dumpster for more than a week, obviously it’s going to cost more.

Dumpster companies will usually charge an additional fee of around $10 to $25 per day if you need the dumpster longer than you originally planned. However, some companies also offer per-day and per-month rates in addition to weekly rentals.

Living in a rural area or far away from the dumpster rental company will also mean you will have to pay more to rent a dumpster and have the delivery driver haul the dumpster to your location.

If a dumpster rental company has to drive very far to deliver your dumpster, they may charge you an additional fee per mile to cover the cost of fuel. These fees are generally based on current gas prices.

If you decide to rent a dumpster, it’s important to understand what you can and can’t throw in it. As we mentioned earlier, throwing prohibited items in a dumpster will end up costing you more. You can expect to pay additional, hefty fees on top of the cost of renting the dumpster.

Before getting hit with an unexpected charge, check out the graphic below, and know before you throw!

Click here to download a copy of our items prohibited in dumpsters printable flyer.

The bottom line is, you’ve got a couple of options when you have a lot to get rid of. You can rent a dumpster and deal with all the costs and considerations listed above, or you can contact a junk removal company, book a pickup, and have them do all the work for you.

If you have a lot of yard waste or construction debris and you want the flexibility to dispose of it all a little at a time over a period of a week or two, then it probably makes more sense for you to rent a roll-off dumpster.

If this is the case, we would suggest using a local dumpster rental company rather than a big name franchise or national corporation since local, small dumpster rental businesses tend to be less expensive and offer better customer service that’s more friendly and tailored to your specific needs.

If you only have a few large appliances, pieces of furniture, or random boxed or bagged stuff, then going with a junk removal company is likely the better option for you.

Another advantage to junk removal is that many companies use eco-friendly disposal methods and will take your junk to be recycled or donated to charity, whereas renting a dumpster means that everything you put in that dumpster will be dumped in a landfill.

Either of these options will make the disposal part of your project easier than if you were to haul everything yourself, and both can be very cost-effective, depending on how much and what kind of stuff you’re getting rid of.

However, using a junk removal service will probably end up costing you less than renting a dumpster, especially if you’ve got a smaller load of things you need to dispose of. Plus, junk removal is obviously the option that is going to be much less destructive to the environment.

When selecting a junk removal service, there are going to be a few companies in your area to choose from, and some will be a better fit for you than others, depending on your preferences, needs, budget, and situation.

Although we have service areas nationwide, using professional contractors who are local to the cities they serve and green disposal methods makes LoadUp the perfect junk removal company to use if you want to avoid any hassles associated with junk removal.

Choosing the Right Junk Removal Company

LoadUp’s upfront, all-inclusive prices are a huge reason that we are a great choice. With our online booking system, you’re able to find out exactly how much you would have to pay to have us haul away the items you need to get rid of, before you even schedule a pickup.

You don’t even have to wait around for someone to come out and give you a quote! LoadUp makes it easy to find out how much our junk removal services would cost online or by phone.

LoadUp also has some really cool features through a custom app that lets you track your truck, with notifications and GPS links to track your Loader in real-time. The Loader will even call or text you before they arrive so you know when to expect them, and don’t have to wait around.

You can check to see if LoadUp offers service in your area by entering your zip code on our website. You can also chat with a real, living person through the LoadUp website if you have any questions. But, of course, you can always call to speak with one of our friendly customer service representatives.

No matter how you decide to get rid of all your junk, the important thing to remember is that your main goal in this project is to make your life better, easier, and cleaner.

Related Articles from the Trash Talk blog:

• Can You Throw Furniture in a Dumpster?
• The Ultimate Guide to Moving Checklist
• 5 Ways to Dispose of Used Furniture Before Moving and Relocation
• Navigating the Curbside Cardboard Crisis with Cardboard Box Pickups

Not sure what furniture you can throw in a dumpster? Just because you can physically throw your furniture in a dumpster, it doesn’t always mean you’re allowed to or should.

Read our helpful guide before you throw furniture in a random dumpster up the street.

No matter where you live, it is usually illegal to throw furniture or other items in someone else’s dumpster. The dumpster may even be located on private property you can’t enter without permission or knowing the apartment dumpster rules.

Private property is simply that which isn’t owned by a state entity or a group of non-governmental entities. Dumpsters located at office buildings, apartment complexes and within shopping centers are technically considered to be on private property, and using them to throw away old furniture items is illegal.

🚮 If you get caught using a dumpster illegally, you’re in for a hefty fine. Although they vary on a state-by-state basis, fines for illegal dumping are generally upwards of $500.

That’s a lot to pay for getting rid of your old couch or mattress or kitchen table.

Can you leave furniture by a dumpster?

Although you may not be physically placing an old piece of furniture in a dumpster, it’s likely the dumpster you’ve scoped out is located on private property.

Even if you aren’t throwing the furniture away in the dumpster, leaving it next to the dumpster will get you in trouble for trespassing and littering and of course, potentially a fine.

Even when you are allowed to throw something in a dumpster, that still doesn’t mean you need to or that you should. Many furniture items are made of hazardous or toxic materials that have to be disposed of properly.

When you throw furniture in a dumpster, it eventually ends up in a landfill. There are better ways to get rid of used furniture than by filling up landfills and polluting the environment.

In fact, there are a lot of eco-friendly, cheap, quick, and easy ways to get rid of that old, unwanted furniture. So, let’s talk about whether or not you can throw your old furniture in a dumpster and how you can find an even easier option for furniture disposal.

Furniture and Other Items You Can’t Throw in a Dumpster

There are several types of junk and waste items that you can’t dispose of by throwing in a dumpster, due to safety concerns and local waste ordinances.

Even though every city and municipality’s disposal regulations are each a little different, there are certain things that are almost universally not allowed to be disposed of in a dumpster.

These prohibited items are generally considered hazardous or even have a potential to damage the dumpster.

Here are a few things that you CAN’T throw away in a dumpster:

If there’s ever something you’re just not sure about in terms of whether you can toss it in a dumpster, contact your local public works department or office of solid waste for a list of items you can’t throw away in a dumpster.

☎️ Call LoadUp for a tested and trusted dumpster rental alternative and get junk removed today.

Although these items can’t be thrown away in a dumpster, they often can be disposed of by dropping them off at your local recycling center, transfer station, or landfill.

Some neighborhoods even sponsor annual cleanup events that allow you to drop your junk off at a central location, for a fee, to be disposed of properly.

Can you take a mattress to the dump?

While yes, you can dump your old mattress in a landfill but it’s a really poor decision for the environment. You should first consider cleaner, more convenient options before simply resorting to dumping your mattress or other furniture in the trash.

As we’ve mentioned, furniture has to be disposed of in a particular way, so your used furniture items, including your old mattress, are on the list of things you can’t throw in a dumpster.

This means that if you want to handle furniture disposal on your own, you’ll have to haul your old recliner or unwanted bed frame and headboard to the landfill or recycling center yourself.

Or, you could have your old furniture picked up and disposed of properly by a junk removal company, which is actually the fastest and easiest way to get rid of furniture.

A junk removal company uses junk haulers that are trained in properly disposing of bulky junk items like furniture, mattresses, appliances, and electronics.

If you don’t have the time for “on-site estimates” or strength to haul your unwanted sectional or sleeper sofa to the dump, you’ll want to book a modern removal company like LoadUp.

Through easy online booking, you can get local professionals to quickly pick up your furniture and dispose of it for you through donation, recycling, or another eco-friendly method.

Now, for furniture and other items that you are allowed to throw in dumpsters. Before you get into it, double-check your county’s regulations to avoid receiving fines when it gets picked up.

Here is a list of things that can generally be thrown away in most dumpsters:

Demolition and construction waste including things like tiles, wallpaper, asphalt, roofing, wood scraps, and other are also usually allowed.

Some areas have local waste ordinances that can prevent junk removal companies or dumpster rental services from disposing of certain items that they usually take.

To learn the official disposal regulations in your neighborhood, you’ll need to contact your local Public Works Department or Office of Solid Waste.

LoadUp is Your Roll Off Dumpster Rental Alternative

Book a more convenient disposal with LoadUp! If you’re stuck with a bunch of junk and are interested in renting a dumpster, we can help! LoadUp’s professionals can handle everything that a roll off dumpster rental can with the added bonus that you don’t have to do the work. From basement cleanouts to entire storage unit haul away, our Loaders make it easy for you.

Is junk removal better for your furniture removal & disposal needs?

Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to get rid of old furniture, no matter where you live. Many garbage removal services will haul away certain bulky waste items when you request and schedule a special pickup, but they won’t pick up furniture that’s been left on the curb.

You may be thinking about doing some good and helping others by donating your unwanted furniture to a local charity. Organizations such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and similar charities usually accept donations of gently used household items.

Where can I donate a mattress near me?

However, you can’t donate a used mattress to charity. Charities can’t legally accept a used mattress donation, even if it’s in the original packaging. You also want to make sure when donating any other used furniture items that they are still in excellent, working condition.

The truth is, you’ll probably have to haul your unwanted furniture to the landfill or recycling center yourself if you want to have it disposed of responsibly.

This means having to rent a truck, pay high disposal fees, and get someone to help you haul everything. Especially if you aren’t physically able to carry a sofa or mattress around, disposing of old furniture on your own probably isn’t your best option.

Avoid the hassle and frustration of furniture disposal by calling a trusted furniture removal service like LoadUp to haul away and responsibly dispose of your old furniture for you.

When you book a pickup with LoadUp to haul away and dispose of your old furniture, you save yourself tons of time and energy.

LoadUp provides excellent furniture and junk removal service at an honest, affordable price while using eco-friendly disposal methods, all across the United States.

LoadUp disposes of the junk they pick up by donating items to local charities or taking them to the local transfer station to be recycled, so they have less overhead disposal fees and are able to charge customers an average of 20-30% less than most other junk haulers.

Because you get your upfront, transparent price before you book your pickup, you don’t have to worry about experiencing sticker shock when the Loaders arrive to haul away your old furniture. This is rarely the case with most other junk removal companies.

Still have some questions about whether or not you can toss your furniture, mattress, chair, or other items in the dumpster? Take a look at our guides to getting rid of your bulky junk.

Whenever you need to get rid of old furniture, appliances, electronics, exercise equipment, or just about any other junk you can think of, calling LoadUp can make furniture disposal the easiest part of decluttering or moving.

You can also call our customer service team or chat with us through our website to let us know you want to book a pickup and take the guesswork out of old furniture disposal.

Related Articles from the Trash Talk Blog:

• The Real Cost of Dumpster Rental
• Home Improvements to Increase Value
• When to Hire a Professional Junk Removal Company
• Junk Removal vs. Dumpster Rental: Which Service Do I Need?

Do you have a large pile of junk to get rid of? Depending on how much work you want to do yourself and the type of waste you need to dispose of, your best options are either to hire a junk removal service or to rent a dumpster that you can load up yourself. But which option is best for your needs?

Dumpster Rental vs. Junk Removal

The two most popular solutions for getting rid of junk and debris from projects like remodeling, clean-out, decluttering, and construction are hiring a junk removal service or renting a dumpster.

When you’re faced with the dilemma between choosing junk removal services or junk dumpster rentals, we’ll help you understand the differences between the two so that you can decide which option makes the most sense for your needs.

When you rent a dumpster, you are taking the DIY approach and filling it on your own, instead of having someone else haul the items out and throw the items in the dumpster for you. Since dumpsters can be rented from 3 days to however long your project takes, dumpster rental is best for longer jobs, such as construction and remodeling projects.

If you have at least a few tons worth of debris to get rid of and have the strength and the time to do the work yourself, you should consider renting a dumpster. But, keep in mind that renting a dumpster for longer periods of time can cost you serious money.

When you get a dumpster, the company will drop it off at your property and place it where you want it, as long as the location is accessible to the truck. You then have until your scheduled pickup day to fill the dumpster with whatever you’re getting rid of, making sure to stay below the “Max Fill” line. Once you’re finished using the dumpster, the dumpster rental company should haul it away for you.

Depending on where you live or work, you may have to get a permit for your dumpster, especially if you’re having the dumpster dropped off on the side of a city street.

Standard dumpster sizes come in 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40-yard bins. When renting a dumpster, “yards” means how many cubic yards of junk and debris will fit in the dumpster.

15-Yard Dumpsters Fit Most Needs

A 15-yard dumpster is probably your best bet for the projects you’ll come across.

For a typical roofing project you would have about 1,500 square feet of old roofing shingles, which is less than the 15 holds, but if they get wet, you’ll love the additional space.

Even when replacing the windows and siding on a large house, you might initially think a 40-yard dumpster would be perfect. However, this will overcrowd your front yard and you will not be able to throw the items into the container or have a convenient walk-in door. Using this large of a dumpster is more appropriate for large-scale construction sites, and isn’t a viable option for home projects.

Granted you may need multiple pulls for larger projects. This could cost a considerable amount of money that you weren’t prepared for, so it’s important to be aware of this and fit it into your budget.

LoadUp’s dumpster rental alternative is much more convenient, and it’s also cheaper than renting a dumpster and there’s no permit required with our services.

Once filled with debris and junk, a dumpster can easily weigh several tons. A single layer of shingles torn off of a 1,500-square-foot roof can weigh around 1.5 tons. That’s 4,000 pounds! Because this amount of weight can destroy your patio, lawn, or driveway, some dumpster rental companies can put plywood or 2 x 4s under the dumpster when they drop it off.

When you rent a dumpster, the dumpster rental company will have weight restrictions for filling it. Based on local regulations and landfill fees, if your dumpster load goes over the weight restriction the dumpster rental company set, you will have to pay additional fees for the added weight.