A business sizes its dumpster by weight: concrete and brick go in the 7-yard, and lighter debris goes in the 13, 17 or 22-yard. Family Trash is a family-owned James Island company with roll-off dumpsters across the Charleston area, and this guide covers what a business needs, how big it should be and where to put it.
Which Charleston businesses and trades use a roll-off?
The size usually comes down to the trade and the kind of debris it produces.
Remodelers and general contractors. Kitchen, bath and interior tear-outs produce cabinets, old drywall, flooring, framing lumber and fixtures. That material takes up more room than it weighs, so it goes in one of the bigger sizes. The 22-yard comes with 2 tons and 7 days, and contractors use the 17 or the 22. A full kitchen goes in the 17, and a full renovation or new build goes in the 22.
Roofers. Shingles are heavy, so plan the size around the roof. A small shingle roof goes in the 13-yard, and bigger roofs go in the 17 or the 22. The roofing dumpster rental page covers tear-offs in more detail. Tell us the roof size and the number of layers when you book.
Concrete, masonry and hardscape contractors. Driveways, sidewalks, patios and old footings produce the densest debris on any job. Concrete, brick, block and dirt go in the 7-yard, the size for heavy clean loads. The concrete and dirt dumpster page covers that container on its own.
Landscapers and tree services. Brush, branches and yard debris are bulky and light, so they go in the 13 for a big trim and the 17 or 22 for storm-scale debris. Dirt from a regrade goes in the 7-yard. Keep the two kinds of debris in separate containers.
Property managers and landlords. A unit turnover produces old furniture, mattresses, household junk and whatever is left in a garage. A one- or two-room cleanout fits the 13, and a unit with several rooms of furniture fits the 17.
Retail, restaurant and office build-outs. Tenant improvements produce the same mix as a remodel: old fixtures, shelving, drywall, ceiling tile and cardboard. Flatten the cardboard as it comes off the delivery pallets, since it fills a container fast when it goes in folded.
How does weight decide the container?
Each size comes with included weight: 1 ton in the 7 and 13, 1.5 tons in the 17 and 2 tons in the 22. Your booking terms cover weight over the included tons.
Clean concrete or dirt in the 7-yard has no overweight charge and can go to the rim, because Tony takes it to a recycle plant. If wood or trash ends up in that load, it goes to the landfill and is charged by weight, and Tony goes over this at drop-off. Brick and block go in the 7-yard too; tell us about them when you book. The rest of the debris, shingles included, goes in the 13, 17 or 22. On a tile job, tell us the square footage when you book, since tile is heavy for its size. If a job produces both kinds of debris, rent one of each.
Where does it go on a commercial site?
A roll-off needs a clear, straight run for the truck to line up and set the dumpster down, and the same run again at pickup. Look overhead as well as on the ground: low branches, canopies, gutter overhangs and power lines all matter when the truck sets the dumpster down. Walk the truck's path before you book and tell us what's there.
Set the dumpster close to the work. On a tear-off, put it near the side of the building you're stripping. On a gut, set it near the door your crew uses. A short carry means fewer wheelbarrow trips.
A dumpster on your own lot needs no permit. A commercial dumpster that has to sit in a City of Charleston street needs a city permit, which the business pulls. The City's Traffic Operations Division says it monitors "the placement of storage devices and dumpsters in the public right-of-way," and the page links the construction parking permit procedure. The dumpster permit page covers the steps.
How do you keep the dumpster area tidy?
A customer who pulls into your lot sees the dumpster area before the front door. Keep debris inside the walls of the dumpster, flatten cardboard and pick up loose trash around the base at the end of each day. If you share a strip center or an alley, pick a spot that stays clear of another tenant's loading area and the fire lane. Check your lease or ask the property manager about placement rules before delivery.
Where can contractors take debris themselves?
Some contractors haul their own debris on small jobs. Check where it can go first. Charleston County's landfill and garbage page says Bees Ferry Landfill "does not accept construction and demolition waste from private or commercial haulers." SC DES keeps a page for builders and contractors on construction and demolition debris, and Charleston County has a business recycling page for a shop's cardboard and other recycling.
With a roll-off on site, delivery, pickup and disposal are part of the rental. Mixed loads go to the landfill, and clean concrete and dirt go to a recycle plant.
How do swap-outs work on a long job?
When a dumpster is full, call or text and ask for a swap. Tony takes the full one and sets an empty one in the same spot, so the crew can keep working. If the job runs past 30 days, call and Tony works out the timing. Plan each phase by its debris: the demo phase produces the heavy and bulky material, and the finish phase produces packaging, offcuts and cardboard.
How should a crew split the loads?
Brief the crew before the first load. Mark which container is for concrete and dirt and which is for the rest, and put the 7-yard next to the slab or the hardscape work so nobody walks concrete past the wrong container. Load heavy pieces low and spread them across the floor. Lay long boards and pipe flat along the length. Break down cabinets and crates so they stack. Keep the load level with the top so it travels safely on the truck.
How do you book one for a business?
Book online, or call or text with the trade, the material and the address, and Tony will match the size to it. Family Trash has rented dumpsters since 2023 and is licensed and insured. Payment is by card. The commercial dumpster rental page covers sizes for contractors and businesses.
Common questions from business owners
Can I call in a dumpster each time a new job starts?
Yes. Each rental is booked on its own. Send the address, the size and the date by text, online or by phone.
Can a dumpster stay on a job site past 30 days?
Yes. Call, and Tony will work out the timing with you. When it fills, call for a swap.
What if the job has a heavy demo stage and a build-out stage?
Use two dumpsters. The concrete and dirt from the demo go in the 7-yard, and the build-out debris goes in a 17 or 22. That way the heavy load stays clean for the recycle plant.
Can I pay by card for each rental?
Yes. Payment is by card, either in the online booking or over the phone.
Can my crew lead call in Spanish?
Yes. Tony speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.
To set up a dumpster for your business, call or text (843) 800-0689 and tell Tony what you are working on.
Need a dumpster in Charleston? Call or text Tony at (843) 800-0689, or order online.
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