Yes, furniture can go in a rented dumpster, along with most household and job-site debris, and dense material like concrete or dirt goes in the 7-yard. A room's furniture goes in the 13, 17 or 22 with the rest of the household debris.
We're a family business on James Island offering roll-off container rental in Charleston, SC, and Tony does every delivery and pickup himself. When you book, he asks about the project, so you don't need to know the rules ahead of time. This post walks through what goes in by type of job, how to load furniture so more fits, and which dumpster the heavy material needs.
What household items go in a dumpster?
Household cleanout debris goes in the 13, 17 or 22. Think of it as the contents of the rooms: furniture, bedding, boxes and bagged trash from a move-out, an estate cleanout or a spring cleanout.
Household debris is bulky and light, so space fills before weight does. The 13-yard dumpster fits one or two rooms or a garage, and includes 1 ton and 5 days. Clearing out a full house calls for the 17 or the 22, depending on how big the house is and how much is leaving.
What renovation debris goes in?
Remodel debris goes in the same three sizes. That means what comes out of a room during demo, plus the packaging from the new materials going in. Roll carpet and pad tight before they go in.
Tile goes in too, and it's heavy. The thinset, mortar bed and backer board under it add more weight, so give us the square footage when you book. A small bathroom or small kitchen fits the 13. A full kitchen or flooring across a few rooms goes in the 17-yard dumpster, which includes 1.5 tons and 5 days.
What yard debris goes in?
Yard debris from trimming and clearing goes in the 13, 17 or 22. Cut long limbs so they lie flat. Bag loose leaves or spread them over the branches so they fill the gaps.
Clean dirt from a garden bed goes in the 7-yard instead. If the job includes sod, mention it on the booking call and Tony will tell you which dumpster to use for it.
Which dumpster does heavy material go in?
Clean concrete, dirt, brick and block go in the 7-yard dumpster, the size for heavy clean loads. It includes 1 ton and 5 days, and it stands about 2 feet tall, so you can tip a wheelbarrow over the side.
A load of clean concrete or dirt goes to a recycle plant, so it carries no overweight charge and you can fill it to the rim. Mix wood or household trash into it, and the load goes to the landfill and is charged by weight. Tony explains this when he drops the 7-yard off. Our concrete and dirt dumpster page covers patio, slab and walkway jobs.
Where do shingles go?
Shingles go in the 13 for a small roof, and in the 17 or 22 for a bigger roof. They're heavy, so give us the size of the roof and the number of layers coming off. They never go in the 7-yard.
What about paint and oil?
Paint goes in with the rest of the debris. Oil goes in sealed in a wrapped container: tighten the lid, wrap the container and stand it upright.
For anything else from the garage shelf, the shed or under the sink, tell us what's going in when you book and Tony will talk it through. Charleston County also runs a household hazardous waste program for homes, worth a look if you'd rather drop some items off yourself.
How do you load furniture so more fits?
Take furniture apart before it goes in. Pull the drawers out of dressers and desks and load them separately. Unscrew table legs. Take the cushions off a couch, then stand the frame on end against a wall of the dumpster. A dresser in pieces takes far less space than a dresser in one piece.
Lay mattresses and box springs flat along the bottom or stand them against the walls. Fill the space inside and around them with bags and small items. Cut cardboard boxes flat before they go in.
Put the heavy, flat pieces in first along the floor, then build up in layers. Keep the load level with the top edge. If you're getting close to the top and still have more, call and ask for a swap-out.
Can you mix different kinds of debris?
In the 13, 17 and 22, yes. Household, remodel and yard debris can share one dumpster, with no sorting inside those three sizes.
The 7-yard is the one to keep clean. If a job makes both kinds of debris, such as a patio coming out during a garage cleanout, Tony can bring a 7-yard and a 13 at the same time, or one after the other. Keep the concrete pile and the household pile apart while you work.
Where does the load go after pickup?
Mixed loads from the 13, 17 and 22 go to the landfill. Clean concrete and dirt from the 7-yard go to a recycle plant. Our waste management page has more on planning a dumpster around different kinds of waste.
How do you pick the right size?
Match the size to the amount and the material. A loose rule of thumb is that a pickup bed holds about 2 to 3 cubic yards, so the 13-yard holds roughly four to six pickup loads and the 22 holds roughly seven to eleven. The dumpster size guide compares all four sizes. Our acceptable items page gives the general overview of what goes in.
Questions about what goes in a rented dumpster
Can a couch, a mattress and a box spring all go in one dumpster?
Yes. They can all go in the same 13, 17 or 22. Breaking the furniture down flat gets you more room.
What should I tell you about an old fridge or washer?
Mention each appliance when Tony calls to confirm your order. It helps him plan the size and the pickup.
Can I put paint cans in the dumpster?
Yes. Paint goes in with the rest of the debris.
What if I find something unusual halfway through loading?
Call or text (843) 800-0689 before pickup and describe it. Tony will tell you how to handle it.
Does mixing concrete with other debris change the price?
It can. A clean load of concrete or dirt goes to a recycle plant with no overweight charge. Mixed with wood or trash, it goes to the landfill and is charged by weight.
Not sure about a specific item? Text or call Tony at (843) 800-0689 and describe it.
Need a dumpster in Charleston? Call or text Tony at (843) 800-0689, or order online.
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