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Get the most out of your dumpster rental

By Chris Picciano

Every big landscaping job needs a big dumpster . Here are a few tips to help maximize your dumpster rentals , avoid fines and clean up your work processes , literally .

Know what size dumpster you need

Most landscaping companies learn how big a dumpster they need the hard way by renting the least-expensive one , hoping they can fit everything inside . It is better to know how big a dumpster you need beforehand , because it is going to cost you more money to make a mistake and have to order a second one later .

Many dumpster rentals offer 15-yard and 40-yard dumpsters . A 15-yard dumpster can hold up to four tons of trash , and is good for smaller landscape design jobs . A 40-yard dumpster can hold up to eight tons of trash , and is the best option if you ’ re working on a large property or are disposing of rocks and larger trees .

Things that do not burn — such as concrete blocks , bricks and concrete asphalt — should be separated into a different dumpster . If you let the rental company know ahead of time and keep the in-earth materials separate , you will most likely just be charged to load the materials instead of being charged by weight .

Many states have in-earth landfills that charge by load and not by weight . It is better to overestimate . The cost of getting a bigger dumpster is always going to be less than the fines and fees you incur by overloading . If you aren ’ t sure what size you need , have a conversation with a few dumpster rental companies and see what they recommend . An honest dumpster rental company will be happy to have this conversation .

Know your weight limitations and stick to them

The most common reason landscapers overpay for dumpster rentals is that they don ’ t follow the weight limitations of the dumpster they rent . Landscaping crews consistently overfill the dumpsters they rent , which leads to being billed for the extra time and effort it takes to properly dispose of excess materials .

Tracking and managing weight limits is the best way to save money . Managing the weight of your dumpster is dependent on how you put waste in and estimating how much waste a certain job will produce . For example , instead of just throwing waste into the dumpster , take your time to put it in with purpose . Cut trees

into smaller pieces . This will keep the dumpster from overfilling too quickly . If you are disposing of trees and plants , allow them to dry . A dry and dead tree weighs less than a living tree .

You can also estimate the amount of waste certain jobs will create . For example , if you are removing grass or pavers , you can remove one paver or one square foot of grass and weigh it . Multiply that weight by the total square footage of the yard for a decent weight estimate . This is also important when putting together a bid for your project since you need to estimate dumping costs .

Always ask for official documents

Before you rent a dumpster , have the company guarantee they will give you the certified landfill ticket for your job to ensure they aren ’ t charging you an overage fee . Every dumpster is disposed of in a landfill , and every truck is officially weighed on a scale . If your dumpster is overweight and the rental company was charged an overage fee , then it will show up on the certified landfill ticket . Any dumpster rental company that is not willing to give you this landfill ticket should not be hired by your landscaping company .

Dumpster rentals are an essential service for any landscaping company that does anything more than simple lawn maintenance on small properties . Renting a dumpster is a simple process , but it will cost you extra money if you don ’ t properly estimate and dispose of waste on a job site . Knowing how big your job is will allow you to rent the proper-sized dumpster and avoid going over the weight limitations that lead to costly overage fees .

Chris Picciano is the owner of Area Disposal Inc ., a dumpster rental service in Phoenix , Arizona .

28 OPE + May 2024 www . OPE-Plus . com