How to Rent a Dumpster in Washington

Renting a large metal object for the first time can be a somewhat intimidating experience, but it doesn't take much expertise to rent dumpsters. With this short guide of tips and things to keep in mind, you'll find just the dumpster you need.

What Affects Dumpster Rental Fees in Washington?

1. Size and Volume of Dumpsters – A larger dumpster, in terms of length width and height, will cost more.
2. Delivery Address – The dumpster hauler will consider the distance they'll drive to deliver and haul the container to a landfill.
3. Landfill fees – Dump sites charge differently, based on weight and the materials being discarded. Regulations specific to Washington may also apply.

When Should I Look For Dumpsters to Rent?

A roll off dumpster is your best friend when it comes to large household cleanups. Moving house, spring cleaning, or clearing out a foreclosed residence typically results in large amounts of garbage that needs to be hauled off. A rental dumpster is also indispensable when doing construction or renovation, such as roof repair.

How Do Dumpster Rentals Work?

The first thing you need to decide on is the size of the roll off dumpster, based on the amount of debris you will need to have removed. Your local dumpsters rental company will help you out with this. Keep in mind that it's better to err on the side of too big – most of the time, you won't be allowed to overfill a roll off dumpster, and will have to pay extra for a second one.

When you call up a dumpster rental company, ask them for a price quote for your residence, their standard rental period, maximum weight allowed, restrictions on hazardous materials or other types of waste, and any other special rental policies they may have.

When renting dumpsters, it's a good idea to make a reservation and schedule the drop-off in advance, over the phone. When the container is full, call the company back and they will pick it up for you. Dumpster rental companies typically take care of disposal and recycling.

When Renting Dumpster, Avoid These Pitfalls

There are many large national dumpster rental brokers; you may be tempted to go to them and not a local company, thinking they're more reliable, but this is generally not the case. First and foremost, these companies typically take a 10-15 percent cut of the price and market the job off to a local company anyway, so you end up paying more for the same service.

As a matter of fact, renting from a national broker may result in even worse service, since they need to coordinate large numbers of jobs between many small companies, and frequently get orders wrong. You may get the wrong dumpster, on the wrong day, for the wrong price.

You are much better off contacting a locally-owned, Washington-licensed and well-regarded waste management service and getting the job done quickly, cheaply and responsibly.

Making Sense of Dumpster Sizes

When looking at dumpsters, you will commonly hear their size measured in yards. This refers not to their length, but their capacity in cubic yards. A 10-yard dumpster, therefore, has a capacity of 10 cubic yards, or 270 cubic feet (since one cubic yard measures 3x3x3 feet). Roll off dumpsters typically come in sizes of 10, 20, 30 and 40 yards.

What Prices Can You Expect for Rental Dumpsters

Dumpster rental quotes in Washington depend on the company that provides the service. Most companies have one flat rate per dumpster size that includes delivery, a standard rental period, and disposal (although some companies charge separately for delivery, so be sure to ask). Typically, the rental period will be a week, and the price includes a cap on maximum weight. Just like a library book, a dumpster that you keep past the standard rental period will be charged an extra per day fee (generally, in the range of $5-10). The same goes if your trash weighs more than the maximum allowed for in the standard rental policy. Every dumpster gets weight before disposal, and you will be charged a fee for every ton over the limit (depending on landfill fees).

The typical home owner seldom has to worry about this, though, since home clean-out debris is relatively light; people doing construction and discarding materials such as brick and cement are running a more likely chance of going over.

When shopping for prices, don't forget to compare all of these factors: rental time, maximum weight, delivery charges and additional fees for various exigencies.

What Does the Name Roll Off Dumpster Mean?

It's a very literal naming convention – these dumpsters have metal wheels that allow them to roll on and off flatbed trucks, which makes shipping and drop-off quick and easy. These dumpsters go by many names – they may be referred to as construction dumpsters, driveway dumpsters, open-top dumpsters, roll off containers, trash dumpsters and other names.