What happens when the stuff we once loved becomes junk? Broken, outdated, or unwanted items can quickly build up and take over our homes. Around one-quarter or 25% of Americans may have a clutter problem.
Renting a 10-yard roll-off dumpster may be the answer to help you solve your common clutter issues. However, there are some things you need to know about filling a dumpster properly. Following these tips will save you from frustration and allow you to make the most of your dumpster rental.
To learn more information about junk removal and dumpster rentals, keep reading below for 5 important tips.
1. Break Large Items Down
You may be tempted to just toss everything into your 10-yard roll-off dumpster and be done with it. But the truth is, there is an art to filling a dumpster properly. You’ll want to break any large items down to utilize as much space as possible.
When it comes to dumpster sizes, one yard in a 10-yard roll-off dumpster equals one cubic yard. In general, a 10-yard dumpster measures 12 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 4 feet tall.
To put this into perspective, the average size of a home sofa usually measures between 72 to 84 inches long and seats between 3-4 people. This means you can easily fit a 7 ft long sofa in your dumpster with some room to spare.
If you are able to, breaking down your large items further will allow you to fit more items into this space. This can include taking the legs off of old dining room chairs or tables before you put the items into your dumpster. If you’re using a 10-yard roll-off dumpster for home renovation projects, you will also need to break up elements like drywall and concrete slabs for better fit.
2. Put Bulkier Items in First
Filling a dumpster is a little bit like real-life Tetris. You need to have a fairly reasonable sense of spatial perception for placing your items inside the dumpster. This means loading your bulkier items in first.
Bulkier items that may be put into a dumpster first include household items like:
- Sofas
- Recliners
- Desks
- Mattresses
- Boxsprings
A good rule of thumb is to measure these larger items and compare these measurements to the overall size of your 10-yard roll-off dumpster first. Take into account any awkwardly sized or shaped items that may not have a perfect square or rectangular shape to them.
Proper measurements and placement ensure there will be fewer unpleasant surprises when you find out something you originally thought would fit doesn’t end up fitting as intended.
A little advanced preparation and planning can go a long way. It can prevent the frustration of trying to move items around multiple or trying to cram them in and make them fit.
3. Fill in the Gaps Around Larger Items
With the biggest and bulkiest items in your 10-yard roll-off dumpster first, you will then be able to plan the rest of your items accordingly. Examine the size and shape of your remaining items and see where they may fit the best.
Look for any obvious gaps between your large items and utilize the space as much as you can. If you’re in the midst of a clean-up or renovation project, you may just want to toss everything in as fast as possible and be done with it. However, if you rush too much, you might miss out on leveraging the full benefits of your dumpster’s space capabilities.
Filling a dumpster is like a game of strategy. Tucking other items into these open spaces will allow you to get the most for your money on your 10-yard roll-off dumpster investment. Whereas, improper space utilization may require you to schedule multiple pickups or cause you to change dumpster sizes to fulfill your needs.
4. Ensure Your Dumpster Weight is Distributed Evenly
Proper loading of your 10-yard roll-off dumpster is also essential in regard to overall weight and distribution. Placing too many heavy items on one side can make the dumpster unevenly balanced and prone to swaying and tipping on the road. If you have too many heavy items on the top, this can make your dumpster too top-heavy and it may tip over in transit as well.
In some instances, you may also be required to pay more for hauling if the items inside your dumpster exceed the maximum tonnage specifications. This is because the company that hauls your dumpster away may need to bring a larger truck if it is over the weight limit.
A heavier dumpster may also not be allowed on certain roads and areas as it is over the limit for public roads and highways. Dumpster rental companies can face stiff fines for breaking these rules.
5. Never Overload Your Dumpster Too High
You may think the sky’s the limit when it comes to your 10-yard roll-off dumpster, but this isn’t the case. Your dumpster has specific size requirements for a reason. Just like its weight distribution and tonnage requirements, you need to follow the height requirements as well.
Stacking your dumpster too high with your junk removal items is also a big safety hazard. If an item flies off of the top of your dumpster in transit, it could hit a car and cause an accident or hit an unsuspecting bystander and severely injure or kill them. Loose debris from an overloaded and overstacked dumpster is a very serious issue.
If your 10-yard roll-off dumpster is overflowing to the point where items could fall off, a dumpster rental company may refuse to haul your dumpster away until you either unload some of the excess debris or upgrade your dumpster size to the appropriate hauling specifications.
Order Your 10-Yard Roll-Off Dumpster from LWS Dumpsters Today
A 10-yard roll-off dumpster can be beneficial to use for many smaller-scale projects like home renovations, commercial applications, and general junk removal. By following these helpful tips, you can ensure that your dumpster rental process will be as smooth as possible.
LWS Dumpsters offers prompt same-day, reliable dumpster rentals. We are a family-owned and operated business, fully licensed and insured in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Our company serves the Chester County, PA, Delaware County, PA, and New Castle County, DE areas.
If you’re ready to ready to rent a commercial dumpster or residential project dumpster, contact us today to request a quote.