There are many times and events in your life where a good dumpster could be very useful. From parties to moving to spring cleaning, a dumpster can make cleanup much easier. However, there’s a lot you need to prepare and learn about when renting and using a dumpster. Here’s a deeper look at what some of that essential knowledge is.

Before the Rental

Before you rent a dumpster, there are quite a few things you’ll need to determine to rent the proper dumpster. Here’s a brief look at the things you should do before you order the dumpster and it arrives at your door.

Look at Your Event

The first thing you should do is look at why you’re renting the dumpster, as it’ll inform most of your decisions. There are many different dumpster rentals you can choose from, which is why your event matters. A construction project will require a different dumpster than throwing a small party or cleaning out your garage will.

Determine the Size

Once you have the event chosen, the next step is determining the size of the dumpster you need. Dumpsters typically come in a range of 10, 20, 30, and 40 yards. A small 10-yard dumpster can handle cleaning out small rooms or parties, while a 40-yard dumpster rental is great for large-scale construction work.

Figure Out Arrival and Returns

The next things you should determine are the rules of the company you want to rent from. Each company will have its own regulations and policies for use. Additionally, learning more about the delivery and retrieval methods of the company allows you to plan how to get the dumpster and return it once you finish.

Check Local Regulations

The last thing you should do before ordering the dumpster is to determine the local regulations on what you can do with your dumpster. Every town and city will have different laws on dumpster usage, like where you can set it up and when you can use it. Once you confirm you can follow these rules, it’s safe to rent a dumpster.

How To Load Your Dumpster

Now that you’ve ordered your dumpster and have a date set, the next step is figuring out how to best use your dumpster. Learning how to load a dumpster properly ensures the process goes smoothly and you get the most out of your rental. Here’s a list of what you need to know.

Break It Down

When you start loading things into the dumpster, your best bet is to break any garbage down into the smallest size possible. This means pulling apart shelving and removing the cushions from your couches. Breaking items down will help maximize the room you have in your dumpster.

Flatten What You Can

Just like with breaking down your items, flattening objects like boxes and cans is a fantastic way to make your things take up less space. Flattening smaller items ensures stacking items inside the dumpster is easier later on.

Work in From the Walls

You should never start stacking items in the center of the dumpster or just throw them in from outside. This will waste a lot of space as items pile up inefficiently and create large gaps, preventing proper space utilization. Stack items carefully from one wall and work your way back to the exit of the dumpster, utilizing the most space possible.

Put Large Things at the Bottom

Any large items you have, whether heavy or not, should go toward the bottom of the dumpster. This will help keep everything stable as you load the dumpster, and you can fill in spaces and organize a lot easier by doing this.

Fill In Empty Spots With Smaller Items

Once you’ve all the large items on the bottom, you can move on to the smaller items. Start by filling in any space you can around the larger items, shoving things between the gaps the larger items leave. This will prevent you from wasting space in your dumpster.

Layer as Evenly as Possible

Weight distribution across your dumpster does matter, as a lopsided dumpster is difficult to use and dangerous to move. You should try distributing weight as evenly as possible, with weighted items spread across the dumpster and small, heavy items like gravel or sand lining the bottom of the dumpster to spread that weight.

Don’t Pile High

One thing you should never do when using a dumpster is pile items high. Piling items too high in the dumpster can be very dangerous, both as you continue to load items and as the company picks up the dumpster. Items shouldn’t extend over the top rail of the dumpster. This practice keeps everyone safe and lowers the risks of accidents.

Small and Heavy Layer on Top

Once you’ve loaded most of the garbage into the dumpster, you should try loading small and heavy things on top of it as the final layer. This will help keep all the trash inside the dumpster as it moves around during the pickup process. However, these final items should still not pile above the top rail of the dumpster.

Figure Out What You Can’t Load

One very important part of loading a dumpster is knowing what you can and can’t put into it. Not all trash is safe to put in a dumpster, as some items can hurt people and the environment. Your local regulations should inform you about any unique items you can’t toss, and the dumpster rental company should alert you to any of its own waste policies. For example, most regions and businesses will have a policy that anything that might qualify as hazardous waste shouldn’t go inside the dumpster.

Protect Yourself While Loading

The last thing you should consider when loading a dumpster is that the process can be dangerous, especially when it comes to heavier and harder waste like what you will find at a construction site. Be sure to wear protective gear when you’re loading things into a dumpster. This way, you can help protect yourself from any sharp or dangerous materials that you’re throwing away.

These are all important parts of loading a dumpster and what you should determine even before you rent one. Understanding the process can help you figure out the necessity of the dumpster and which dumpster you’ll need to safely store and dispose of all your trash.