What You Can and Can’t Put in a Dumpster

Renting a dumpster or mini bin is a convenient, cost-efficient way to dispose of your trash, unwanted junk, and renovation material. Dumpsters can accommodate a wide range of materials bound for recycling facilities and for landfills. However, there are limits to what can be included in a dumpster, and there are even specialty dumpsters available for specific materials that cannot be mixed in with other items. Here is a breakdown of what you can and can’t put in a rented dumpster:

What can you put in a dumpster?

Most dumpster rental companies encourage recycling as much as possible. With that in mind, much of the junk disposed of in a dumpster is then transported to a sorting facility. Here, waste management professionals will sort through all of the materials in an individual dumpster, redirecting recyclable materials to the appropriate facility and ensuring as little waste as possible ends up in a local landfill. Here are some things you can put in a dumpster:

• Recyclable Materials

Many dumpster rental companies allow you to dispose of recyclable materials in the same bin as other trash and junk. While this may seem counterintuitive, this is because most bin rental companies have their own process for sorting materials. Unfortunately, for a wide variety of reasons, the average Canadian does not properly recycle their used materials. From not understanding where or how to properly recycle to being confused by complex packaging and hybrid materials, many Canadians end up throwing recyclable materials in the trash, and vice-versa. As a result, dumpster rental agencies have taken it upon themselves to sort through material that’s been disposed of. During this process, they will remove paper products, plastic, packaging, aluminum cans, cardboard, computers and other electronics, and other recyclables from the load and send these materials to the appropriate recycling facility.

• Landfill Waste

For all of the sorted material no bound for recycling plants, its final destination is often the landfill. Most bin rental companies strive to minimize the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, as it has a detrimental effect on the environment and the local economy since processing landfill waste is often more expensive than recycling. Landfill waste often includes food products, home renovation materials — used drywall, insulation, shingles, siding, and carpet, old furniture, and other household junk. Remember, many of these items do not break down in landfills, meaning they will be there for years. Whenever possible, opt to purchase sustainable products that can be recycled when their life cycle is complete.

• Specialty Materials

Beyond standard recyclable materials and landfill waste, dumpsters can also accommodate a variety of specialty materials. However, these materials can be much more difficult to process, and they must be disposed of individually. Because of this, many bin rental companies offer specialty bins for specific items, and only that material may be included in the bin. For example, asphalt, brick, concrete, and dirt all require specialty bins and must be separated into individual bins. These materials — whenever possible — will then be transported to a recycling facility where they will be broken down further, creating a new load of fill material that can be reused. This kind of sustainable practice is crucial in maintaining the environmental health of our community.

What can’t go in a dumpster?

Now that you have an idea of exactly what kinds of materials you can dispose of in your dumpster rental, it is important to understand the kinds of materials that cannot go in a dumpster. Since bin materials are sorted by waste management professionals before being recycled or sent to the landfill, they cannot be contaminated with other hazardous materials. Hazardous waste can compromise the safety of workers, tarnish the integrity of recyclable materials (which renders them useless and unavailable for recycling), and contaminate material bound for the landfill. This can cause greater health and environmental issues. With that in mind, here is a breakdown of some materials that cannot go in your bin:

• Hazardous Waste

Many toxic materials can pose significant health and safety risks if disposed of improperly. From paints and paint thinners to solvents, chemicals, fluorescent light bulbs, and cleaning products, these hazardous materials must be taken to a specific disposal site. If not, they could compromise the health and safety of line workers, recycling labourers, transporters, landfill operators, animals at the landfill, and the local environment.

• Oils and Fuels

Used motor oil, old gasoline, and empty propane tanks are just a few of the commonly-trashed materials that are not meant for dumpsters. Not only are they a significant risk to the environment, but they can also cause significant damage if they were to light on fire or explode. This puts every worker at the sorting facility, recycling plant, and landfill in danger. Like hazardous waste, these materials also require special attention.

• Batteries & Generators

From the smallest AA batteries to car batteries and large household generators, these products must also be handled with care. Leaking battery acid can harm any person or animal that comes into contact with it. For more information about how to dispose of hazardous waste, electronics, batteries, and other questionable materials, consult with your local waste management company and see if you can locate a drop-off event for those specific materials.

Why Us?

At Platinum Mini Bins, our goal is to help customers dispose of their unwanted junk and other material in the most sustainable way possible. We pride ourselves on our recycling program, which includes sorting all of the disposed of junk and ensuring recyclable products are sent to the appropriate facilities. For over a decade, we have been serving the GTA to provide sustainable, environmentally-friendly recycling and waste management services to our local community.

For more information about mini bin rentals, call Platinum Mini Bins & Disposal at 1-888-909-(BINS) or visit our website here.