If you’re undertaking an extensive cleanup project, renting a roll off dumpster saves time and energy by giving you a nearby place to deposit waste material. However, when handling large items, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. The guide below offers tips for making the most out of your container and staying safe.

Do:

Wear protective clothing.

Protective gear is especially critical when dealing with hazardous materials often found in construction cleanup, like insulation, lead pipes, and sharp objects. For all dumpster loading projects, your skin should be covered, thick gloves and sturdy footwear worn, and your eyes protected, as items can shatter and throw sharp debris into the air.

Make sure it’s empty before loading.

Always check that your roll off dumpster is empty before loading it to prevent serious injury. Another person on site may have gotten into it to retrieve or deposit a load, and heavy debris can cause severe harm if thrown on top of them.

Load large and awkward items first.

Big, awkwardly-shaped items should be loaded into the garbage container first. They’re difficult to fit into a dumpster when it’s already been partially filled. Meanwhile, smaller objects will be able to settle around larger ones.

Don’t:

Allow fire or sparks around the garbage container.

Some of your garbage items will be flammable, and a fire can cause damage to the dumpster rental, leaving you to pay for repairs. Don’t throw cigarette butts into the container, and don’t smoke around it. You should also keep equipment like blowtorches and saws away from it to protect it from errant sparks.

Attempt to compact trash by jumping on it.

Jumping on the trash to push it down could also damage the dumpster, causing the bottom to give or dents to form. Beyond that, you could harm yourself by landing on sharp objects or causing items to shift unexpectedly.

Overfill the roll off dumpster.

Your garbage shouldn’t go above the top lip of the dumpster. Filling it beyond capacity could damage it or make it too heavy to be moved or emptied. Depending on the rental company, you could also incur hefty charges for overfilling it. If your dumpster reaches capacity but you aren’t done, have it emptied or order another container.

Lone Star Containers provides roll off dumpster rental options to residents of Kerrville, TX, and the surrounding communities. They’ll deliver the container to your location within two days and haul the load off to the landfill for you once the job is complete. Learn about their services online, or call (830) 257-0062 to place a request today.