5 Types of Construction Dumpsters You Can Use for Your Renovation Projects

Are you getting ready for a major construction or renovation project and there’s going to be plenty of trash and debris? What you need is a construction dumpster to get rid of all that stuff so it doesn’t get in the way of the project. Modern construction projects utilize several types of dumpsters that fit different specific applications.

As a homeowner looking to be more knowledgeable about the various tools and equipment that will be used during your next project, this information is quite important. Investing in the wrong construction containers for trash could result in having a container that is not suited for your project, or unnecessary costs that could have been avoided if you’d known the difference.

Basically, the more you know about the type of construction dumpster services you should lease, the easier time your construction team will have. This means you can finish the project without any extra obstacles, and with everything in its place.

1. Your Standard Dumpster

How you can use your standard dumpster during construction.

The most common dumpsters you will find around most homes are your standard residential dumpsters. These are typically made of sturdy plastic designed to hold a lot of weight and have wheels that can be rolled out to the curb where the waste collectors can empty them into their trucks.

For very small construction or DIY projects, you can throw residuals, as well as old materials into the standard dumpster. So, if you recently replaced the molding in your home or are throwing out an old piece of furniture that’s small enough to fit in the dumpster, you can easily use that instead of hiring a specialized rental. But keep in mind that there are a lot of construction materials out there that you cannot throw into a standard dumpster.

Depending on where you live, your local government may have different regulations, such as having a separate bin for glass or recyclable material. If you recently changed your window panes, for instance, you may not be able to throw the old ones into your standard dumpster. There are more specialized containers for this type of waste. However, if what you’re throwing out is non-recyclable, non-reusable, fits within the local regulations, and also physically fits into your standard dumpster, then you shouldn’t have any problems throwing it out.

2. Commercial Dumpsters

Why you should rent a commercial dumpster.

It’s important to remember that construction projects, as well as remodels, demolitions, and additions, vary in size and scope. You can have anything from destroying a whole wall of the home to tearing off old wallpaper for a remodel. Commercial dumpsters are enough for the latter type of project.

There is really no reason to rent out a huge construction dumpster just so that you can toss a few crumpled-up pieces of paper into it. It’s both a financial and resource waste as a truck will need to deliver the construction dumpster to your home. For small-scale projects, a commercial dumpster is ideal.

There are a variety of commercial dumpsters designed to suit specific needs and locations. These are not commonly placed near houses, but you will find them around businesses, residential complexes, and other buildings that accumulate a lot of trash. You can hire a commercial dumpster rental and have it delivered to your home.

Most local governments won’t allow you to throw materials such as glass, tile, masonry, and concrete in the dumpster. This is where commercial dumpsters come into play. You can store this kind of waste in the commercial dumpsters, as long as the company you’re renting it from properly disposes of them, or if you have separate third-party disposal specialists come in and empty them out. 

3. Roll-off Trash Dumpsters

Heavy-duty construction dumpsters make handling heavier material easier.

The most standard construction bin rentals you can find are those debris dumpsters you’ve likely seen many times at construction sites. Bigger projects, such as the demolition of a large building or the construction of a skyscraper, will usually have tons of these lying about, waiting to be filled with debris and residual materials.

A construction or renovation project for a standard house usually requires only one roll-off dumpster, unless you happen to live in a very large house and are doing a very extensive construction, renovation, or remodeling project. Roll-off dumpsters are delivered via trucks, which leave the dumpster near the construction site and then come pick it up when the construction is over. The construction dumpster is usually delivered via a flatbed and may require a bit of extra room for delivery.

The importance of construction dumpster placement.

It’s important to remember that these are quite cumbersome containers and they require plenty of space for the truck to deliver them and also to house them. Once they are delivered, forget about them being moved as they’re super heavy. So, you should already have a spot picked out for the dumpster’s delivery — somewhere close to the construction area and not obstructing your driveway or any entrances to your home.

Depending on how extensive your construction or renovation project is going to be, you will require corresponding construction containers for trash and debris. If, for example, you’re renovating a small bathroom, a small 10-yard construction bin should do the trick. For small to mid-size kitchen remodels, on the other hand, you’ll need a much bigger 30-yard container. As for large homes, you would require nothing smaller than a 40-yard container.

A lot of the materials that are stored in a construction trash bin are not always solid. They break into a million pieces and create a lot of dust and other tiny air particles. On a windy day, these materials can easily be blown out of the dumpster and into the surrounding area — and in the worst-case scenario, your neighbors’ property. Even if you’re on amazing terms with your neighbors, it’s still not pleasant having to do all that cleanup, especially if the materials strewn about are potentially hazardous.

This is why many construction container rental companies provide special roll-on covers that can keep whatever is inside the container properly stored. Remind your contractors to place the cover on the container before they leave, so that nothing gets blown away by the wind.

4. Front Load Construction Dumpsters

What are front-load construction dumpsters?

Construction and demolition dumpsters also come in a variety of forms. You have the standard containers delivered via flatbed. However, there are a variety of smaller ones as well. Commercial dumpsters, for example, are typically front load. This means they are slanted downwards from the back of the dumpster to the front. They usually have liftable plastic doors that keep the contents of the dumpster inside.

5. Backload Dumpsters

What are backload dumpsters?

Other construction waste dumpsters are backloaded, as the slant is to the back of the dumpster. These are typically placed right under the structure so that workers can easily throw down the trash from the upper floors. For much higher floors, however, a tube called a construction garbage chute is aimed at the dumpster so that workers don’t have to make their way down to the first floor every time they need to throw something out.