To dispose of hazardous waste during a home renovation, tell us about paint, chemicals, batteries or propane when you book. Old cabinets, drywall, tile backer and broken vanities all load into a roll-off. A smaller group of items from garage shelves, sheds and the cabinet under the sink is worth a quick word on the phone first.
We run a family-owned roll-off rental business on James Island, and below is how to find the specialty items in a house before demo, how to store them safely while the work goes on, and where the county takes them.
What counts as a specialty item on a renovation?
On a renovation, specialty items are the household chemicals and fuel that tend to sit in storage spaces: cleaning products, pool and lawn products, solvents and thinners, fuel containers and anything pressurized. None of it is part of the demo itself. It comes out when you clear the shelves and closets for the work.
A short call about this group is worth it. We'll talk it through with you, and you'll have a plan for each item before delivery.
How do you find these items before demo starts?
Walk the house before the dumpster is delivered. Check the garage shelves, the shed, the cabinet under the kitchen sink, the laundry room, the bathroom vanity, the crawl space and the attic. Those spaces get cleared for a renovation, and specialty items often sit at the back of them.
Make a short list as you go: what each item is, about how much is left, and where you found it. Move the items on the list to one shelf or one plastic tote in the garage, away from the path debris will take out of the house. Then you can tell us exactly what you have, and the items stay on their shelf.
How should you store them during the job?
Store specialty items the way the label says. Keep each product in its original container with the lid on tight. Stand the containers upright, off the floor and out of direct sun, and keep them away from the water heater, the furnace and any work with a torch or a grinder.
Keep each chemical in its own container, even when two are nearly empty. Some household products react with each other. Keep the tote out of reach of children and pets, and keep the garage door open while you sort.
If a container is leaking or the label is gone, set it in a bucket by itself and ask about it on the phone.
How should paint go in?
Paint goes in with the rest of the debris. Press the lids down tight before the paint goes in so they don't spill when the dumpster is loaded onto the truck.
Sort the paint you're keeping from the paint you're tossing before demo starts. Touch-up paint for the new rooms belongs on a separate shelf, labeled with the room.
How should oil go in?
Oil goes in once the container is sealed and wrapped. If you have old motor oil, lamp oil or a can of used oil from a mower, tighten the cap, wrap the container and stand it upright in the dumpster.
What about older homes?
Older Charleston homes can have materials from decades ago in the walls, floors and ceilings. If you think an older home may have asbestos or lead paint, have the material tested before you cut, sand or break it. Mention the results when you book.
Where can specialty items go besides the dumpster?
Charleston County runs a household hazardous waste program. Its page lists what the program takes, plus the current sites and hours, so check it before you load the car.
The county's recycling and convenience center page lists drop-off sites for household recycling. For the renovation debris itself, the SC Department of Environmental Services has a page on construction and demolition debris for residents.
How do you brief a crew or helpers?
If a contractor or friends are helping, show them the specialty shelf on day one and tell them it stays put. Leave the items on the shelf until you've talked to us. A helper carrying drywall at the end of a long day may not read every label, so keep the tote off the path to the dumpster.
Which dumpster fits the rest of the renovation?
Once the specialty items are set aside, the rest of a renovation is ordinary roll-off debris: wood, drywall, cabinets, fixtures, flooring and furniture. One bathroom, one or two rooms or a small kitchen fits the 13-yard dumpster, which includes 1 ton and 5 days. A full kitchen or several rooms goes in the 17-yard dumpster, with 1.5 tons and 5 days. A full renovation goes in the 22-yard dumpster, with 2 tons and 7 days.
Tile and shingles are heavy. Both go in the 13, 17 or 22, so mention how much is coming out when you book. The dumpster size guide compares all four sizes.
What if the renovation includes a slab or a patio?
Clean concrete, brick and dirt go in the 7-yard as their own load, and our concrete and dirt dumpster page explains why.
How does booking fit in?
Online booking takes about two minutes, and Tony calls every online order to confirm. That call is a good time to read him the list from your specialty shelf. If the renovation runs past the included days, call and we'll add days.
Common questions about specialty items in a renovation
Can leftover paint go in the dumpster?
Yes. Press the lids down tight first, and set the containers upright in the load.
What should I do with old motor oil from the garage?
Tighten the cap, wrap the container and stand it upright in the dumpster.
What if I find garage chemicals halfway through the job?
Set them on the specialty shelf and call or text Tony before pickup. He'll tell you how to handle them, or you can take them to the county's household hazardous waste program.
Can the old grill go in the dumpster?
Yes, the grill can go in. Take any fuel tank off it first, set the tank on the specialty shelf, and ask us about it when you book.
What if I suspect asbestos in old floor tile?
Leave the tile in place and have a sample tested first. Then tell us what the test found before delivery.
Got a renovation coming up? Text or call (843) 800-0689 and Tony will help you plan it.
Need a dumpster in Charleston? Call or text Tony at (843) 800-0689, or order online.
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