The dumpsters we offer for rental can hold almost any type of debris, but there are specific restrictions you will want to keep in mind. There are items you are unable to throw into a dumpster due to potential safety hazards and regulations at a local level. If you find you are uncertain that you can place a particular item in your roll off container, check the list below or contact us at 866-837-5820 to find out what kind of waste is accepted near you.
Before you start your cleanup project,
learn more about items that are
Allowed in a Dumpster | Sometimes Allowed in a Dumpster | Not Allowed in a Dumpster
Household trash and debris from a home improvement or construction project are usually allowed in a roll off dumpster. This will include remodeling debris like drywall, wood/lumber, flooring material, cabinets and siding, as well as general clutter you might wish to dispose of before a move.
There are some geographic locations that have specific waste ordinances that make it impossible for us to dispose of specific items that we can accept elsewhere. Please contact Alpha Dumpsters at 866-837-5820 to learn more about the disposal guidelines for your local area.
Thinking about a roll off dumpster for a residential home cleanout? You can place most household items in a dumpster, including old decorations, clothing items, toys, pots/pans and much more. Specific household appliances and electronic items can even be placed in a rental dumpster, but not all of the time — it is always advisable to contact us before throwing these items in the dumpster.
Depending on the regulations in your local area, disposal of household appliances and electronics into a roll off dumpster might result in an additional per-item cost.
*The disposal of household junk in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
Furniture made from wood like tables, dining room chairs and shelving units are accepted most of the time, but you will always want to be certain to to ask us about any upholstered items, including sofas and reclining chairs, because they are not allowed to be hauled in a dumpster in all locations. The upholstered Furniture Section below explains more about what is and is not allow in a roll off dumpster in most locations.
Please be aware that disposal of furniture may carry additional expenses in some regions due to local regulations on the disposal of furniture.
*The disposal of furniture in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
Heavy materials like brick, concrete chunks, asphalt and cinder blocks, can be hauled in a roll off dumpster. The team of specialists from Alpha Dumpsters can offer you specific roll off containers for heavy materials in locations where we can accept them.
*The disposal of bricks, concrete chunks, asphalt and cinder blocks in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
In most situations, the debris from construction, demolition and home remodeling projects can be thrown in a construction dumpster. This can include flooring material, drywall, wall tile, old bathroom fixtures, bathroom tile, subfloor materials, old kitchen countertops and more.
*The disposal of home improvement and construction projects debris in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
In most locations, you can throw untreated lumber and any other wood from a construction project in a roll off container, including old two-by-fours and building studs. Treated lumber, like railroad ties, is rarely allowed in a roll off dumpster.
*The disposal of lumbers and wood in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
The roll off dumpsters from Alpha Dumpsters can be used to collect and haul storm debris, typically including any uncontaminated and non-hazardous waste. We often accept damaged building materials and organic yard debris as long as they fall within any restrictions placed on debris on a given area.
*The disposal of debris from a storm in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
The old shingles from your roof can be thrown in a roll off dumpster in nearly all service areas. Roll off dumpster rental is a fantastic way to dispose of all roofing materials including the underlayment, roof tiles, plywood and any additional construction debris that may create during your project.
*The disposal of shingles and roofing material in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
Empty aerosol cans can be pitched into a dumpster. Please keep in mind that full or partially full cans do have the potential to explode. This is why you will not want to throw any aerosol cans with liquid in them in the roll off dumpster.
*The disposal of aerosol cans in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
There are some items, like furniture that is upholstered, household appliances, home electronics and mattresses that are only allowed to be placed in a roll off dumpster in specific areas. This is because roll off container rules and waste disposal regulations vary from state to state and even city to city. This means you will always want to call ahead to check if your junk will be accepted in your location.
Have questions about what you can thrown in a roll off dumpster? Furniture that is upholstered like couches and reclining chairs can be put in a dumpster in a lot of areas, but not every area. For people who need to dispose of upholstered items but a roll off dumpster is not an option in your region, find a disposal alternative that will work best for you.
*The disposal of upholstered furniture in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
The waste from your yard can be placed in a dumpster in most location. In some local areas, you can throw tree limbs, shrubbery and other debris in a roll off yard waste dumpster, while some cities will limit you to just a few bags of grass clippings or leaves. There are some areas that will accept tree stumps, but not every area, so always call us before throwing these materials away. There are areas that will have additional disposal costs for each tree stump.
*The disposal of yard waste in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
The old appliances in your home can go in a roll off container, unless it has been otherwise specifically stated. Acceptable appliances like a microwave, stove or a dishwasher can generally be thrown into a dumpster, but a refrigerator is usually not accepted. A water heater is also not an allowable item in a dumpster because it can collect gases and explode when it is in the landfill. Please be aware that local disposal regulations may require that you pay separate charges for some appliances.
*The disposal of appliances in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
In some locations, you can dispose of electronics in a roll off dumpster. This often will include televisions, laptop/desktop computers, printers and other electronics in small quantities. There are some areas that will call for e-waste recycling, there will be an additional charge per item to pay for the costs of recycling. In other areas, we will not be able to accept electronics due to specific regulations on landfills.
Even if it is okay to throw your television in a roll off container, you might want to consider recycling or donating the unit instead. Talk to our team to learn more about the different ways to dispose of your old tech.
*The disposal of electronics in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
You can utilize a roll off dumpster for dirt disposal in specific service areas. For people who live in an area in which dirt disposal is not allowed, be sure to look into responsible dirt disposal options close to home. Topsoil that is contaminated, or dirt that is polluted with chemicals or harmful waste, cannot be put into a dumpster. All contaminated soil must be taken to a soil treatment center.
*The dirt disposal in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
The disposal of a mattress in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas. In some cases, there may even be an additional fee for each mattress to take care of the expense associate with breaking them down before they are sent to a recycling facility or a landfill.
*The disposal of box springs and mattresses in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
The disposal of stumps is permitted in a few areas, but not all of our service areas. If your local area will allow stump disposal, please be aware that there may be an additional fee charged for each stump. For people living in an area that does not allow stump disposal in a roll off container, search for a large yard waste disposal alternative that will work well for your project.
*The disposal of stumps and larger yard debris in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
People who are preparing to host a backyard event or a neighborhood festival need to realize that they might need a method by which to get rid of food waste. In certain areas, you can use a dumpster to dispose of small amounts of food waste. In other areas, disposal of food waste is completely prohibited, so always be sure to talk to us be throwing away food in your dumpster.
*The disposal of event waste in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
While the rules will vary for some junk and debris, there are certain items that you are unable to throw into a dumpster in any location. This includes waste like refrigerators, old/new tires, hazardous/dangerous chemicals, car batteries, railroad ties and any other toxic materials that pose a significant risk to the public or could damage the roll off container.
The disposal of a refrigerator cannot be accomplished with a dumpster rental because the refrigerant in the unit is toxic. The unit will be eligible for disposal through your local sanitation department’s bulk item/debris pickup program. To potentially use a dumpster for refrigerator removal, if it is allowed in your area, you will need to hire an HVAC professional to drain the coolant.
*The disposal of refrigerators in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
In general, hot water tanks are not allowed in an Alpha Dumpsters rental because the face no longer filled with water can collect dangerous gases.
*The disposal of hot water tanks in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
Tires can float to the top of a landfill as methane gas builds within the walls of the tire. This process can result in damage to the landfill equipment and structures.
*The disposal of tires in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
The cans that contain or have contained paints and lacquers are prohibited because they can hold mercury, this is especially true if the product was manufactured before the 1990s. This includes lacquer, wood stain and paint thinner.
*The disposal of paint cans and lacquer cans in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
The adhesives, epoxy and glue used in a variety projects should not go into a rental dumpster. These adhesives can bind debris to the inside of the roll off container.
*The disposal of adhesives in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
Old car batteries, as well as newer lithium batteries, are not eligible to be placed in a roll off dumpster because they can leak caustic chemicals that are dangerous to the environment.
*The disposal of car batteries in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
Infectious medical waste consists of materials used in medical treatment or materials that have come into contact with bodily fluids like blood.
*The disposal of infectious medical waste in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
Materials and liquids that are considered hazardous cannot be placed in a dumpster. This category includes pesticides, asbestos, soil that is contaminated, absorbents, used motor oil and additional automotive fluids.
Household chemical cleaners or solvents should not be thrown into any rental dumpster. However, it is okay to dispose the bottles that do not contain any residual materials.
*The disposal of household cleaning supplies in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
The disposal of fuel, propane, used oil, flammable materials and industrial drums using a roll off rental dumpster poses a serious danger to the public.
This toxic material is a flame retardant that is still found in older buildings and some industrial products. Asbestos is considered a carcinogen in most U.S. states and banned from landfills.
The fact that most railroad ties are treated with dangerous wood preservatives means that we are not allowed to haul them in our roll off dumpsters.
*The disposal of railroad ties in a dumpster is only allowable in specific service areas.
The ink found in printers and pens, as well as some resins, can damage hauling equipment and the interior of rental dumpsters. These materials are best handled by recycling centers.
Have additional questions about what you can throw in a roll off dumpster? The team from Alpha Dumpsters is here to help. You can always call to talk to one of our roll off dumpster rental experts at 866-837-5820 to ask questions about specific items you want to throw away and learn more about renting a roll off container for your cleanup project.