To prepare for dumpster delivery, measure the spot, clear a straight path for the truck, check for low branches and wires, and plan where it will sit. Spend a few minutes on this the day before delivery at a Charleston home or job site.
Tony Gentile delivers and picks up every one of our Charleston, SC roll-off dumpsters himself. Toni and Tracy answer the phone, and Tony calls every online order to confirm it. You don't need to be home for delivery or pickup, so the prep below lets the drop go smoothly while you're at work.
How do you pick the drop spot?
The truck backs in and sets the dumpster down behind it, so the spot needs a straight, fairly level approach with nothing overhead. A driveway is a good spot. Pick the spot closest to the work: in front of the garage door for a garage cleanout, or on the side of the house where the shingles come down for a roof job.
Then measure it. Each of our roll-offs is 7 feet wide. The 13-yard dumpster is 12 feet long, the 7-yard and the 17-yard are 14 feet long, and the 22-yard is 16 feet long. Measure the length and width of your spot, add room in front for the truck to back in, and tell us the numbers when you book. We'll tell you if the spot works or suggest another one. A photo by text helps too.
What if your lot is tight, like downtown?
Downtown Charleston houses sit close together, and Tony angles the dumpster to fit narrow lots. Between downtown houses the usual sizes are the 13 and the 17, and it helps to give us the street name when you book.
If the dumpster has to sit in a City of Charleston street, the city requires a permit, and you pull it before delivery. The city's Traffic Operations Division says it monitors "the placement of storage devices and dumpsters in the public right-of-way." A dumpster on your own driveway or property needs no permit. Street permits have come up only twice since Tony started the company. Our dumpster permit page covers the details.
How do you clear the path and the landing spot?
The day before delivery, move cars, trailers, boats and anything else parked in the driveway. Roll trash carts away from the end of the driveway, and move basketball hoops, planters and kids' toys out of the approach. Open any gate the truck has to pass through, and check that it's wide enough for the truck.
On delivery day, leave the driveway clear until the dumpster is down. If you won't be home, mark the spot you want with chalk or tell Tony exactly where it goes, such as "left side of the driveway, 10 feet from the garage door."
What should you check overhead?
Look up as well as down. The dumpster comes off the back of the truck, so the drop spot needs clearance above it. Check for low tree limbs, power and cable lines, porch roofs and gutters along the approach. If a branch hangs over the only spot that works, trim it before delivery or pick a different spot.
How do you plan where it sits on the driveway?
Tell us about any part of the driveway you're worried about, such as a newer section, a soft edge or a spot that has cracked before. We'll go over placement with you before Tony sets the dumpster down. If you'd rather have the dumpster on another part of the property, ask when you book.
What should you know about the load before you order?
Decide whether your debris is heavy or bulky. Clean concrete, dirt and brick go in the 7-yard dumpster for concrete and dirt, and that page explains the clean-load rule.
Household items, furniture, wood, drywall, yard brush and remodeling debris go in the 13, 17 or 22. A small shingle roof fits the 13, and bigger roofs go in the 17 or the 22. Tell us what's going in when you book, and our dumpster size guide compares the four sizes if you're still deciding.
What happens on delivery day?
Tony sets the dumpster in the spot you agreed on. Before the first load goes in, walk around it and check that it sits where you want it and that the path from the work to the dumpster is clear. Keep cars and kids away from the truck while it's backing in.
How do you plan the loading and the pickup?
Your rental includes 5 days on the 7, 13 or 17, and 7 days on the 22. Load heavy items flat across the floor, break bulky pieces down and fill the corners. Keep everything level with the top edge, since the dumpster has to be picked up and carried on the truck.
If you fill it sooner than you planned, call for a swap-out or an early pickup. Before pickup day, clear the path the same way you did for delivery: cars out of the driveway, carts moved and the gate open.
What if it's a yard job?
Put the dumpster close to the work, so you carry limbs a short distance. That can mean a side yard or the edge of the lawn, so describe the spot when you book. Lay long branches flat along the floor so they stay below the top edge.
Questions about getting your spot ready
How do I know the truck can reach my spot?
Describe it or text Tony a photo when you book. He'll look at the approach, the overhead clearance and anything in the way.
Can the dumpster go on grass or in the backyard?
Sometimes. Tell us what you have in mind, and we'll tell you what works.
What if my lot is tight, like downtown?
Tony angles the dumpster to fit tight lots, and the 13 or 17 is the usual downtown size. If it has to sit in the street, pull the city permit before delivery.
Should I be there when the truck arrives?
You don't need to be. Clear the spot, mark it or describe it, and Tony will set the dumpster there.
Ready to set it up, or want to talk through the spot? Text or call (843) 800-0689.
Need a dumpster in Charleston? Call or text Tony at (843) 800-0689, or order online.
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