You can put a dumpster on grass if the ground is dry and firm with a clear path in, and a backyard spot works well for big cleanouts in Charleston. Think of a house being emptied before a move, an estate left behind by a family member, a garage nobody has opened in years, or a yard that got overgrown over a couple of wet summers. Family Trash is a family-owned company offering dumpster rental across the Charleston area, and you can tell Tony where you want it and he'll tell you if the truck can get there.
With a place to put the debris as you go, you move each load once instead of building a pile on the lawn and moving it again later.
Why put the dumpster in back instead of the driveway?
The driveway is the usual spot. It is flat, it is close to the house, and the truck can get in and out cleanly.
The backyard or side yard makes sense when the work is out there. Clearing overgrowth, taking down a shed, pulling a deck or working through a detached garage means every armload you carry to the front is time away from the job. Setting the dumpster closer to the work shortens the carry and saves a lot of walking on a long cleanout.
A backyard spot also keeps the front of the house clear, which helps if you're getting ready to list the house. A dumpster on your own lawn or driveway needs no permit.
What ground works for a backyard dumpster?
Dry, firm, level ground with a clear path in works best. A loaded dumpster is heavy, and the truck that sets it down is heavier. After heavy rain, tell Tony and he'll pick the firmer spot, which may be the driveway that day.
The path in matters as much as the spot. The truck needs a straight run in and clearance overhead. When you book, describe the way in: gate widths, fence lines, trees, low wires and any slope. Tony needs a clear path to set it in the back, and if the backyard spot is a stretch, he'll set it on the driveway as close to the work as he can.
How do you get the yard ready before delivery?
Open the gate or take down a fence panel in the path. Move vehicles, trailers, kayaks, grills and lawn furniture out of the way. Trim back low branches over the path if you can reach them safely from the ground.
Mark sprinkler heads, irrigation lines, septic lids, cleanouts and anything else in the ground near the spot with small flags or spray paint so Tony can see them. Point out soft spots you know about, like a low corner that holds water. Pick a level spot, since a dumpster on a slope is harder to load evenly.
If the only way in crosses a neighbor's yard, get their permission before delivery day.
Brush and dirt are two different loads
Yard jobs often have two kinds of debris, and it helps to sort them before you book.
Branches, brush, leaves, hedge trimmings and pulled shrubs are light and bulky. A big trim fits the 13-yard, and storm-scale debris goes in the 17 or the 22. Our yard waste dumpster rental page covers sizes for brush and limbs.
Dirt, rock and old pavers are dense. Dirt goes in the 7-yard, which is the size for heavy clean loads. A load of clean dirt has no overweight charge and can go to the rim, because it goes to a recycle plant. If brush, wood or trash ends up in it, the load goes to the landfill and is charged by weight. If you're pulling up sod or there's rock in the dirt, tell us when you book. If a regrade has both kinds of debris, use two dumpsters and keep them apart.
Which size fits a backyard cleanout?
A single room, a garage or a shed fits the 13-yard, which includes 1 ton and 5 days. Household junk is bulky for its weight, so you size by space, and breaking furniture down flat gives you more room.
A full-house or estate cleanout goes in the 17 or the 22-yard, depending on the house. The 17 includes 1.5 tons and 5 days. The 22 includes 2 tons and 7 days and is the size for a house plus the garage and the yard. For a house cleanout, tell us the house and what's going. The size comparison page lays them side by side.
Which pile do you load first on a backyard job?
Start with the bulky, light material from the yard: brush, limbs and old fencing. Limbs don't need cutting to curb size, but shorter pieces lie flatter and leave fewer gaps. Then work through the shed or detached garage, putting heavy items like old mowers and broken tools in low and lighter bags on top. Leave furniture from inside the house for last, so you can fill the gaps around it.
Keep dirt and broken pavers in their own pile for the 7-yard.
How do you stay safe on a yard cleanout?
Wear gloves, long sleeves, boots and eye protection when you cut brush or pull fencing. Old fence boards and shed walls have nails, so pull them or bend them over before you carry the boards. Watch for wasp nests in sheds and under eaves before you start pulling things apart. Lift with your legs, and get help with anything heavy or long. Keep children and pets away from the dumpster while you load.
What about storm cleanup in the backyard?
A lot of the heavy yard work here follows weather. One storm can drop limbs across a property.
A dumpster on site lets you move the debris once instead of dragging it to the curb. City of Charleston curbside yard waste has its own size rules: the city's trash and yard waste page asks for "4-foot lengths and 4-inch diameter." Limbs bigger than that can go in the dumpster as they are. Charleston County posts storm debris information on its hurricane page.
What if the job takes longer than planned?
Work a room or a section at a time and keep the donate pile and the trash pile separate. If you fill the dumpster before you're done, Tony swaps it: he takes the full one and sets an empty one in the same spot. If you need more days, call and he works it out.
What does the lawn look like after pickup?
After a few days in one spot, the grass under a dumpster may be flat and pale. Rake the spot, water it, and it usually comes back over the next few weeks. If you want the lawn left alone, the driveway is the spot.
Common questions about backyard placement
What if it rained the day before my backyard delivery?
Tell us. Tony will tell you whether the backyard spot still works or whether the driveway is better that day. Call or text and he'll tell you when he can be out.
How far back in the yard can the dumpster go?
As far as the truck has a straight run in and clearance overhead. It depends on the way in, so describe the gates and the tree line when you book.
Do I need to be there when the dumpster goes in the backyard?
No. Leave the gate open and mark the spot, or describe it when you book.
Can I put brush and dirt in the same dumpster?
You can, but then the load goes to the landfill and is charged by weight. Two dumpsters, one for dirt and one for brush, keep the dirt load clean.
Tell us the job and where you want the dumpster, and Tony will work out whether the spot works. Call or text (843) 800-0689.
Need a dumpster in Charleston? Call or text Tony at (843) 800-0689, or order online.
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