Things You Can’t Put in a Dumpster
If you’re tossing everyday waste, chances are we can take it. However, to avoid additional charges, it’s important to know what is not allowed in a dumpster. Prohibited items may vary depending on your location and container type. There are different restrictions for a roll off dumpster— rented for one-time projects like a remodel—than for commercial dumpsters, which are designed for regular trash collection at a business.
For questions about a specific item, call our team at 877-814-9748.
What Is Not Allowed in a Roll Off Dumpster
While you can toss most household junk and construction debris in a roll off dumpster rental, a few restrictions apply. Usually, this is because some items must be handled separately from other debris for environmental or safety reasons. The list below shows items typically not allowed in a dumpster and explains why they’re prohibited.
Restricted Items
Adhesives, like glue or epoxy, should be disposed of with regular household trash or recycling instead of a roll off dumpster. Loose adhesives can damage the container. They might also cause debris to stick together or to the container walls, making them hard to remove.
Car batteries, as well as lithium batteries, cannot go in a dumpster because they can leak harmful chemicals. Take old car batteries to a local recycler or auto shop. Lithium batteries, like those found in laptops, can be recycled at most electronics retailers. Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, D, etc.) can go in a dumpster.
Fluorescent bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, so they cannot go in the dumpster. Many areas prohibit the disposal of these items, while other areas require them to be recycled properly. Recycling is required in California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington.
Food waste is often prohibited from roll off dumpsters since it can attract rodents or make a mess in the container. If you have to dispose of large amounts of food waste, consider using municipal trash services or sending the waste to a local composting center.
Refrigerators, freezers and AC units cannot be disposed of in the dumpster unless the Freon is removed by a professional. Freon-containing appliances can usually be picked up by local sanitation departments as part of their bulk debris pickup schedule. Or, some retailers will take your old appliances when you purchase a replacement.
Hot water tanks are not accepted in any dumpster because they can contain harmful gases inside of them that have a high risk of exploding. Other hot water heater disposal options include selling, scrapping or donating.
Chemical cleaners or solvents should not be tossed in a dumpster. However, you may throw empty containers in your dumpster as long as they are rinsed out and do not contain any residual chemicals.
Inks and resins used in pens and printers can damage equipment and stain the interior of dumpsters. These are best disposed of through recycling centers or retailers with drop-off services.
Propane tanks, fuels, oils, and other flammable materials are serious safety hazards when tossed in a dumpster. These substances are highly combustible, and it is illegal to dispose of them improperly in most areas.
Tip: Contact a propane company, your local fire department or hazardous material collection center to learn how to dispose of these items safely.
Full or partially full cans of wet paint generally cannot go in a dumpster, including paint thinners, lacquers or wood stains. However, in most municipalities, you can dispose of dry latex paint as long as you wrap the sealed can in a plastic bag. You might also consider finding a paint recycling program near you. Empty paint cans are accepted in our containers.
Tip: Mix wet paint with kitty litter to help it harden.
Lumber materials like railroad ties and telephone poles are treated with harmful wood preservatives and aren’t allowed in our dumpsters. However, some landfills will accept intact railroad ties.
Tip: To reuse railroad ties, try contacting organizations like Habitat for Humanity or even local businesses looking for landscaping supplies or parking lot bumpers.
Most landfills do not accept tires because they can trap gases and take a long time to decompose. Instead of tossing tires in a dumpster, contact your local municipality, an auto parts store or tire dealership.
Tip: Try finding a local recycler that can use your old tires to make asphalt and other industrial applications.
Hazardous Waste
Flammable or ignitable wastes start fires easily or can quickly intensify an existing fire, so they must be thrown away properly. All it takes is a small spark from the garbage truck or a lit cigarette to trigger an explosion in just a few minutes.
Examples: Kerosene, matches and flares, rubbing alcohol, diesel fuel, cleaning solvents, nail polish remover, motor oil
Corrosive wastes are very acidic or basic materials that can cause severe harm to human skin and even erode metal containers, like dumpsters and trash cans. This makes them not only a serious risk to waste workers, but also harmful to the environment, because they can contaminate groundwater and hurt marine life if thrown out improperly.
Examples: Rust remover, oven cleaner, chlorine bleach, automotive lead-acid batteries
Reactive wastes are unstable in normal environments and may explode under regular pressure, in normal temperatures or when exposed to water. The heat of a landfill or garbage truck compressor may increase the likelihood of these compressed gases exploding or releasing toxic fumes, which can seriously burn your eyes, nose, throat and more.
Examples: Propane tanks, oxygen tanks, partially filled aerosol cans, ammunition, fertilizer
Toxic materials can be dangerous or lethal if ingested or exposed to the skin. Some toxic wastes may cause severe eye or skin irritation, respiratory troubles, and even contamination of local ecosystems or watersheds if they are not handled correctly.
Examples: Medications, antifreeze, pesticides, fluorescent lightbulbs
Biohazardous waste consists of potentially infectious materials or substances, such as blood. Of special concern are sharp wastes such as needles, blades, glass pipettes, and other wastes that can cause injury during handling.
Examples: Blood, needles/sharps, bodily fluids, animal waste, animal body parts
Items You Can’t Put in a Commercial Dumpster
While your commercial bin is the right place for most of the trash your business produces, some restrictions do apply. Hazardous items, like the ones outlined above, aren’t allowed in dumpsters for safety reasons. Plus, certain bulky items are too big for regular garbage truck collection or need to be transported to a different landfill. This table shows the debris types that typically can’t go in a commercial dumpster and alternative ways to get rid of them.
Prohibited Item | Disposal Recommendation |
|---|---|
Fuels, Oils & Batteries | Contact a hazardous waste disposal service. |
Industrial Drums & Liquid Chemicals | Contact a drum disposal or chemical collection service. |
Medical Waste | Contact a medical waste collection service. |
Tires | Find a local tire recycler or auto shop. |
Appliances | Rent a temporary roll off dumpster. |
Construction, Remodeling & Roofing Materials | Rent a construction dumpster. |
Concrete, Brick, Dirt & Asphalt | Rent a demolition dumpster. |
FAQs for Prohibited Items
What happens if I toss a prohibited item?
We may not be able to pick up the dumpster until the prohibited item is removed, which will result in a failed trip fee. Or, if we do pick up the dumpster without knowing about the item, the landfill may charge an disposal fee when your load is dumped and sorted. In this case, you will receive a separate invoice for the charge.
How do I know what isn’t allowed in my container?
When you call to rent a dumpster, our team will review all of the items that are not accepted. This list will also be included with your invoice sent via email. If you have questions as you load your dumpster, you can contact us via call, text or email.
Why is it important to follow the rules?
Ignoring these dumpster rules can increase the overall cost of your dumpster rental or cause interruptions to your service. If you toss prohibited items in your bin, the landfill will charge you extra to cover the expense of safely handling those materials or transferring them to the proper facility.
Are there restricted items specific to my city or state?
Yes. Your local landfill may have restrictions depending on state or city disposal laws. We will review this information with you when you order so you know what to expect, and you can always contact us during your agreement if you have questions about a particular item.
More Disposal Resources
Use these helpful resources to guide your dumpster rental process, from selecting a dumpster to following the terms of your agreement, to avoid extra charges.
Dumpster Guides:
Disposal Guides: