According to the CRAFTSMAN© 2025 Driven to DIY Report, approximately 38% of DIY home renovators admitted they underestimated how long a project would take. Approximately 35% said they ended up taking on more work than expected, and a full 84% admitted they needed to ask family or friends for help.
Removing all the debris left behind after the work is done can take up more time than you expect. That’s where a residential dumpster rental comes in.
Having a dumpster on site makes any project run more efficiently. Even if you bring it on after the job is done, your home will get back to normal much sooner.
Read on to learn how you can maximize the convenience and efficiency of a residential dumpster rental.
Plan Your Cleanup and Rental Period
Set up a timeline before you rent a dumpster. Decide when and how long you need it.
Sort everything into categories, such as:
- Keep
- Donate
- Recycle
- Throw away
Get everything you’ll need ready. Put everything into boxes, labeled with the category it belongs in. Pick out tools for dismantling large items. Get gloves or protective gear to ensure safety.
This preplanning streamlines the process. It ensures you have the dumpsters exactly when you need them, with no delays. You also won’t have to waste time sorting items and can focus on getting them into the dumpster.
Choose the Right Dumpster Sizes
Knowing the size of your project and materials is only part of the planning process. There’s another essential step you need to take when preparing for your rental.
Perhaps the most important aspect of planning for your residential dumpster rental is selecting the right size for your needs.
There’s a wide range to choose from. Average sizes for roll-off dumpsters include:
- 10-yard
- 15-yard
- 20-yard
- 30 or 40-yard
Take stock of the size of your project and the available space in your home. Consider how much waste you’ll need to get rid of and how heavy it’ll be.
Choosing the wrong dumpster sizes can be a major problem. You could need multiple rentals or end up paying for unused space. It’s important for the success of your project and for your bottom line.
Know What You Can’t Load
The EPA estimates suggest that up to 1.5 million tons of waste are disposed of illegally every year in the US alone. Simply having a dumpster doesn’t mean you’re disposing of your waste legally.
You may want to start throwing away everything you no longer use into it. Resist the urge to purge, as there are prohibited items that can’t be disposed of in a dumpster.
What can you throw in a dumpster rental? Options include:
- Household junk
- Furniture
- Yard waste
- Debris from a home renovation cleanup
What about the other side of the coin? What can’t you throw in the dumpster? A few examples include:
- Paint
- Motor oil
- Gasoline
- Household cleaners
- Tires
- Car batteries
- Electronics
- Household appliances that use mercury or Freon™
- Dead animals
- Medical waste
Most rental companies will give you a list of what they do and don’t allow. You also need to get more specific and see what’s legal in your area.
Check your local guidelines for more information. They include additional rules about what items you can put in the dumpster and where it can be placed.
Failing to follow these guidelines turns your worksite into a safety risk. It may also force you to pay fees and penalties. Knowing this ahead of time allows you to efficiently throw away everything you can and what you’ll have to find another place for.
Plan How to Load
Loading a dumpster isn’t always as simple as placing items in it. It can be like building a tower in a cramped room. Your goal is to get as much into this small room without it falling over.
Following a few efficiency tips can help. It also makes the process of loading up the dumpster faster and easier.
Don’t try to stuff large items into the dumpster, such as:
- Furniture
- Cabinets
- Appliances
Break them down first. It maximizes the amount of available space. Remove the legs from tables and chairs. Dismantle shelves or bookcases. Flatten cardboard boxes. Take any steps you can to make your items smaller and flatter.
It’s not just the size of what you put into the dumpster that you have to be mindful of. The order in which you place items also matters. Put flat items on the bottom, then fill the spaces in between with smaller debris. Distribute the weight evenly throughout the dumpster.
These steps save space, allowing you to load up quickly and efficiently. It also keeps you from overloading the dumpster or loading it unevenly. This is a safety risk because the items within could begin to fall out. You could even face fines.
Communicate With Your Dumpster Rental Company
A quality dumpster rental company won’t just drop your rental off and leave. They’ll be ready to assist you throughout the process.
They should provide you with clear instructions on where the dumpster goes and how to access it. If there are any regulations or special instructions to be aware of, they should inform you of them long before drop-off day.
They should also be there to answer any questions you have. If an issue crops up or you need to change the original plan, there should be a support team ready to help you out.
This support is essential. It keeps everyone safe in case of an emergency. It reduces any stress you may have about the process. You’ll know what to do to ensure everything goes smoothly and according to plan.
Get a Residential Dumpster Rental Today
A residential dumpster rental is one of the most efficient ways to remove waste. All you need to do is plan ahead and find a rental company you can trust.
Underdog Dumpster is a hassle-free, affordable dumpster rental company. We’ve been providing reliable roll-off dumpsters throughout Clarksville for over a decade.
We can handle projects of any size. You can trust us for everything from minor home renovation waste disposal to cleaning up major construction projects. Our focus is on customer satisfaction, which is why we offer flexible rental periods and no hidden fees. Contact us for a dumpster rental today.