18 Dec 2021

Renting a dumpster may not be a regular occurrence for you, so we can understand you taking the time to research this. However, from speaking to people we know, we have found that most people do not have accurate information about renting a dumpster.

Rent a dumpster in Bel Air, Maryland with EWM Dumpster Rental of Harford County.

There are rumors and myths surrounding renting a dumpster that we think may prevent potential rentals, so we wanted to clear up a few of the myths we are aware of to hopefully help you to decide if a dumpster rental is for you. 

Myth 1: Dumpster Rental Will Cost the Earth

Dumpster rental is not free, but very little in life is free. The cost of renting a dumpster is going to vary depending on a few factors; how big you want the dumpster to be, how long you want to rent it for, and what you are disposing of. 

We recommend that you get quotes before renting a dumpster, and the information you are going to need is how much you want to dispose of, what the materials are, how long you want to rent the dumpster for, and where you want it to be. Local companies may well work with your local waste disposal centers to give you better rates for disposal. 

Being open about what is being disposed of and having an idea of the volume you need to dispose of will mean you do not have to change or increase your dumpster partway through the rental. Similarly, you will not rent a dumpster that is too big for your needs and overpay for it. 

Myth 2: Dumpster Rental is Difficult to Set-up

A high number of people we have spoken to thought renting a dumpster was a difficult process. We are here to tell you it is not. When you rent a dumpster, you will be given all of the information you need when you give the details we have listed above. Meaning you are aware of all of the details before you begin filling the dumpster. 

Once you have completed the rental agreement, the dumpster will be delivered to the address you have requested, empty and in place for you to fill. All that is left for you to do is fill the dumpster with all of the materials you wish to dispose of. 

Once you have filled the dumpster, or indeed if you have disposed of everything you need to, you either wait for the agreed pick-up date, if you have agreed on this in advance, or you call to get the dumpster collected. It is best to ensure you ask all questions before the rental agreement is completed, so you are fully aware of the entire end-to-end process.

Myth 3: Extras are Fine to Add

Overfilling your rental dumpster is not acceptable. When renting the dumpster, you will be asked for the volume you require. We recommend you are as accurate as possible, and if at all unsure, over-estimate the volume you will need. 

You cannot have items overhanging the edge of the dumpster or fill it to the point where it does not close. If either of these things occurs, you face additional charges when the dumpster is collected. We also advise that you fill the dumpster evenly to ensure it can be loaded on collection and does not require digging out due to uneven filling.

By correctly filling the dumpster, you will not have additional charges to pay, meaning, if you have underestimated deliberately to keep costs down, you could end up paying more overall. 

Myth 4: Dumpsters Are a Catch-All

Dumpsters are not a receptacle for every item of garbage in your home. When filling your rental dumpster, you must still adhere to the rules of waste disposal. You are only able to dispose of materials that are suitable for landfill disposal. So please check all of your waste for any hazard warning labels and dispose of them appropriately. 

It is not just items with a hazard warning label that cannot be disposed of in a dumpster so do please check for a list of items that cannot be disposed of in a dumpster. Including prohibited items could result in additional fees, so check each rental company for what items they will not dispose of. 

Myth 5: Any Size Will Do

Size is definitely a big factor when choosing a dumpster, as the size, you rent will limit the amount of material you can dispose of. We recommend that you decide the amount you are planning to dispose of ahead of renting the dumpster. 

When booking your rental, you should also review the types of material that can be disposed of in the size of the dumpster you are renting. If you are at all unsure of the size that you need, you should review the guidelines for the company you are using, or you should contact the company to ask for guidance. 

Dumpsters are rented, usually in yards, so if this is unknown to you, visit the company website for volume conversion. Dumpster rental websites may also give examples of the types of projects that will fit in each size of the dumpster, so it is worth checking the company website, or other companies, to see if examples of projects help you decide on the required size. 

 

Top Tip: Ensure you are realistic about the project you are undertaking so you rent the dumpster of the correct size and for the correct length of time, so you pay the lowest possible amount.