What Can You Put in a Dumpster?
Knowing what you can put in a dumpster keeps your load safe to haul and your bill predictable. Most household and construction debris is fine; a short list of items is not, and a few carry a per-item fee.
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Items that are welcome in your roll-off
The short answer to what can you put in a dumpster: almost anything solid and non-hazardous that comes out of a house, yard or job site. If it would go to the curb on bulk day or comes off a wall, roof or floor, it is very likely fine.
Planning a bigger job? Our residential dumpster rental page walks through household projects, and the dumpster sizes guide shows which container fits the volume you expect.
- Furniture, couches, tables, dressers and recliners
- Household junk, boxes, toys, clothing and décor
- Drywall, lumber, trim, doors and cabinets
- Flooring: carpet, pad, vinyl, laminate and hardwood
- Roofing shingles and underlayment
- Yard debris: branches, brush, leaves and stumps
- Concrete, brick, dirt and rock (weight limits apply)
- Dried-out paint cans with no liquid left inside
Prohibited items we cannot accept
These dumpster prohibited items create safety and environmental problems for our drivers and for disposal facilities, so they have to stay out of every container we deliver, residential or commercial.
- Hazardous waste of any kind
- Chemicals and liquids, including fuel, oil, solvents and pool chemicals
- Wet paint (fully dried cans are acceptable)
- Batteries, including car, lithium and household batteries
- Asbestos or materials suspected of containing it
- Medical waste, sharps and medications
- Freon appliances that have not been tagged as evacuated
Mattresses, tires and other items with a fee
Can you put a mattress in a dumpster? Yes, at $100 per item, and that applies to each mattress and each box spring. A queen set is two items, so $200. Bedding needs separate handling at disposal, which is where the fee comes from. If a mattress or two is all you need gone, our mattress disposal service may be the simpler route.
Tires are accepted at $75 each. Rims, wheels and tires from a trailer or riding mower count too, so mention them when you book and tell us roughly how many.
Appliances and the Freon rule
Washers, dryers, stoves and water heaters can go in like any other heavy item. Refrigerators, freezers, window units, dehumidifiers and anything else with a sealed refrigerant system are different: they need to be tagged as evacuated by a certified technician before they can be loaded.
If you do not have the paperwork or would rather not deal with it, our appliance removal crew can haul old units separately. That is common on kitchen remodel jobs, where the fridge comes out along with the cabinets.
Heavy materials and weight limits
Concrete, soil, brick, gravel, tile and plaster are allowed but dense. A box full of broken concrete weighs far more than one full of furniture, and the 10-yard and 20-yard each include 2 tons, with $110 per ton beyond that.
Keep heavy debris in a 10-yard dumpster when you can, spread it evenly and do not load above the rails. A load that cannot be legally transported can carry a $125 per ton overweight penalty. Our concrete and dirt dumpster rental page covers this in more depth.
Where prohibited items should go instead
Many localities offer some form of household hazardous waste collection for residents. Whether you live in Virginia Beach, Norfolk or Chesapeake, check your city's public works or waste management website for current drop-off options for paint, chemicals, batteries and similar items.
Auto parts stores often take back car batteries and used motor oil. Pharmacies and law enforcement agencies may host medication take-back events. Asbestos needs a licensed abatement contractor, not a dumpster. When in doubt, call 757-250-7985 and describe the item; we would rather answer the question before delivery than find it in the load.
Questions We Hear Most
What can't you put in a dumpster?
Hazardous waste, chemicals and liquids, wet paint, batteries, asbestos and medical waste are not allowed. Freon appliances are only accepted once they are tagged as evacuated. Mattresses and tires are accepted with per-item fees of $100 and $75. Everything else solid and non-hazardous is generally fine.
Can I throw paint cans in a dumpster?
Dried paint cans are fine. Liquid paint is not. To dry out latex paint, leave the lid off in a ventilated spot or mix in a paint hardener or cat litter until it is solid. Oil-based paint and stains should go to your city's household hazardous waste program instead.
Can I put a refrigerator in a dumpster?
Only if it has been tagged as evacuated, meaning a certified technician has removed the refrigerant. Without that tag, it has to stay out of the container. Our appliance removal crew can take old refrigerators and freezers separately if you do not have the tag.
How much does it cost to put a mattress in a dumpster?
Each mattress and each box spring is $100. A full bed set with a mattress and box spring is two items, or $200. Let us know how many you have when booking so the charge is not a surprise on your final bill.
Can I put yard waste and dirt in my dumpster?
Yes. Branches, brush, leaves, stumps and soil are all allowed. Dirt and wet yard debris are heavy, so watch the included tonnage. For large amounts of soil or sod, a 10-yard is the better choice. Bagged leaves and light brush fit well in a 20-yard.
What happens if a prohibited item is found in my dumpster?
Our driver may need to leave it out of the load before hauling, or the item may need to be handled separately, which can delay pickup. The easiest fix is to ask before you load anything questionable. Call or text 757-250-7985 with a photo and we will tell you.
Get It Scheduled
Call or text 757-250-7985 — a real person answers Mon–Sat, 7 AM to 6 PM.