Dumpster rentals make for the expedient disposal of a lot of debris, but not everything. Landfills have strict laws about what you can and cannot discard for environmental and safety reasons; this directly affects what you can toss. Before you start filling up a container, take a few minutes to sort through the discarded items and weed out the following.

What to Avoid Putting in a Dumpster

1. Paint

As a general rule, paints, varnishes, lacquers, and stains should stay out of dumpsters, but there are a few small exceptions. Latex paints are safe to throw out, but they must be dry. If you have wet latex paint that you need to dispose of, pour it into a container of kitty litter and allow it to dry fully before tossing it.

You can also discard empty paint cans in which the residual paint has dried. For everything else, contact your local hazardous waste drop-off facility. Paints contain harmful chemicals that can seep into and contaminate the ground, which is why they require careful disposal.

2. Tires

A few tires in a landfill wouldn’t be a big deal, but the problem with tires is that there are so many. People discard nearly 300 million tires each year. In addition to taking up a lot of space, discarded tires serve as an ideal breeding ground for disease-carrying pests like mosquitoes because their rounded shape collects rainwater. Hold onto tires and contact your local recycling agency to determine how to get rid of them properly.

3. Batteries

Small batteries like the ones in remote controls and most household items are fine, but larger batteries, such as in cellphones or cars, need to stay out of dumpsters. These big batteries contain a hazardous cocktail of chemicals like lead, cadmium, and mercury. Not only are these highly caustic, but they’re also bad for the environment. Refrain from tossing these in dumpsters and contact your local hazardous waste facility instead.

Chuck-It Containers, LLC, in Cleveland, OH, makes disposal process for your project easy. No more back-and-forth trips to the dump—just call and order, and this family-owned business will deliver the dumpster exactly where you need it. When you’re done, they’ll come and haul it away. Visit them online to check out their sizes and prices, or call (216) 441-3333 today to schedule a reservation.