Dumpster Rental 101
Post date: Jan 24, 2013 11:36:43 PM
Renting a dumpster isn't something that a typical person does on a regular basis, so, when faced with the need, here are few pointers that will save you some time and money.
1. Size Matters
Dumpsters come in a variety of sizes and are measured in cubic yards. At the smallest, a single cubic yard is 3 feet long x 3 feet wide x 3 feet high, or 1 yard x 1 yard x 1 yard. A single yard container can hold about 5-7 large garbage bags, and to get a visual of this, think of the standard Roll-away Bin (96-gallon, 26" x 35" x 46") offered by local curbside waste service. From there, you can find containers ranging from one(1) to ten(10), then 12, 14, 20, and 30 yards. When considering the size of bin for your project, it is important to know what you plan to put in it, but also understand the following factors:
a. Where will the bin be placed?
b. Is the space viable for the delivery method?
c. Can the truck / trailer fit in the space?
d. Is it too long, too wide, or too tall?
e. Will the truck get stuck in wet grass or mud?
f. Will the neighbors need to move their vehicles?
g. Will the container block the road or hinder fire and rescue efforts?
h. What is the weight of the container both empty and full?
i. How long will it be there?
The size of the container is only half the battle, as the bin has a starting weight proportional to the size. From there, as the bin gets filled, the weight can cause damage to the lawn, driveway, or street. If you leave a fully loaded dumpster on an asphalt driveway in the heat of the summer, then the dumpster may sink causing an expensive repair. On concrete, it could cause the pads to sink or crack.
Dumpsters have different wall heights, so be sure that if you plan to toss items over the side, that the walls are not too tall. Some bins have a fold-down, or fold-out doors. Consider the positioning of the doors, and the use of tools like compact loaders, wheel barrows, and/or foot traffic.
2. A Dumpster is a Material Girl
Unless pre-arranged with the Dumpster Rental company, it is not recommended that you place any of the following materials into the bin. Failure to do so may require the items to be removed by you, and you may be charged for any time the driver is required to wait. In a worst-case scenario, the bin may need to be dumped and re-loaded at the time and expense of the customer.
DO NOT DISCARD: Asbestos, Chemicals, Fluorescent Bulbs, Food Waste, Liquids: Paint, Fuel, Oil, Medical Waste, Propane Canisters, Railroad Ties, Toxic or Hazardous Waste, Tires
3. Finding a Dumpster Rental Company
Using any search engine to find a dumpster rental company will return thousands of hits. There are companies that specialize in making websites who over-saturate the results, based on the known algorithms implemented by the Search Engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.) These companies charge a significant fee for this service, thus the cost of the dumpster will include the cost of the Search Results service. So, when you see a toll-free number, you can expect to pay a 10-15% premium for that dumpster. Further, there are dumpster rental services that are based in foreign countries that are simply the order takers for a local company. Many times, the "National" rental company you select will be a local company, but you paid extra for the website and toll-free number.
Shop local. Use a local advertising medium (newspaper, website, referral, etc.) to find the best deal. A local dumpster rental company knows the area including important factors like roads, traffic patterns, landfill locations, and/or weather, and can provide a better level of service at a more accurate cheaper price.
Easy Bins Dumpster Rentals
571-357-3279
Serving Northern VA, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, and Fauquier county.