The Ultimate Guide to Residential Junk Removal and Disposal
Getting rid of household junk calls for more planning than some may think. The key to a smooth, no-surprises experience is setting the expectations from the beginning. This way should the scope of the project or its costs creep up, there’s a reference to keep you on track.
Do a volume audit before you book anything
Many people make the wrong assumption about container size. They think about their pile of items, underestimate, and then have to rent a second one – which is more costly than if they had just upgraded to a larger container in the first place.
Conducting a volume audit is pretty easy. Just walk through the areas you’re cleaning out and loosely calculate how many cubic feet of junk you’re going to toss. An average couch is about 40 cubic feet. A queen mattress is roughly 60. Reams of paper and yard clippings are thicker than they look as a tall, rectangular shape doesn’t spread out flat. The same goes for twisted and broken metal or wood. They won’t stack well. Empty space is a thing.
Full-service hauling vs. self-service rental
People often mix up self-service dumpster rental and full-service hauling. They are not the same. They are best suited to different types of projects. Full-service is more expensive because you’re paying for the labor. But it might be what you need. For large quantities of household items, a multi-room cleanup, or when you can’t physically load junk yourself, this is the solution. A crew comes with a truck and they haul away everything. The costs of labor and disposal are included in what you pay.
If you’re not in a hurry and expect to be loading it over some time, you can rent a dumpster instead. You’re only paying for the rental of the equipment and the disposal. You can rent a roll-off dumpster for a day, a weekend, or for as long as it takes you to pile in the junk. If your project will generate more junk over time (like during a renovation), or if you need it dropped off in different locations, this is the more suitable service. When comparing equipment and service options for that kind of project, companies like containersourceinc.com offer roll-off containers sized for residential work without the complexity of commercial contracts.
The three-pile system cuts disposal costs before you spend them
This is where most people lose money. You’re paying for every pound of debris that is thrown away – whether it is included in a flat fee, or added as extra cost because it exceeds the maximum weight allowed. The easiest way to manage costs is to reduce the weight before the dumpster arrives at your location.
Go through all rooms and areas with three categories ready: Donate, Recycle, Trash.
Local charities usually offer free pickup for furniture, clothes, and working appliances. This reduces the amount of waste you pay to dispose of. E-waste regulations in most states also prohibit electronics such as TVs, computers, and monitors from being disposed of as regular trash. Many retailers and local programs collect them separately. Cardboard, metal, and clean plastic recycling can help reduce landfill waste when you are charged for excess weight.
The EPA estimates that the average person generates about 4.9 pounds of municipal solid waste per day – a number that can triple during a renovation or move-out. Establishing the three-pile system in advance of a big cleanout can reduce your actual waste weight by 20 to 30 percent.
Know what you can’t throw in
This is an unwelcome surprise for some. Prohibited and hard-to-handle items have an additional charge per item that appears on your bill whether or not you meet the weight threshold.
Mattresses are the most common example. Haulers typically charge a set rate per mattress – usually between $20 and $50 a pop – because recycling or disposing of them necessitates a separate process. Tires work in much the same way. Meanwhile, paint, motor oil, cleaning supplies, and aerosol cans are all part of hazardous household waste programs, and none of it is supposed to go into a standard rollout anyway. Most municipalities either put on scheduled HHW drop-off days or route residents to transfer stations where this stuff is handled properly.
If you’re doing any demo – pulling up old, dirty carpet or ripping out drywall – these construction and demolition materials fall under a different C&D debris category and might be quoted differently than regular household waste. Make sure to inquire if you’re planning on mixing the two.
Protect your property during the process
A filled dumpster weighs a lot, and the truck that brings it weighs a lot more. Yet, people still try to set one down directly on a residential driveway.
Ask the hauler to put plywood boards or rubber pads underneath the contact points. This spreads the load and prevents cracking concrete or asphalt. Especially on grass or soil; compaction, ruts and interrupted drainage can occur.
If your driveway can’t be used and a street spot is feasible, you might need a right-of-way permit from the local town or city. They will likely come look at the site. "Might" and "likely" aren’t sureties – they’ll fine you or make you move the box if you don’t get one.
Plan for where you want the box set before the truck is in the driveway. Once it’s down and you don’t like it, moving costs extra.