Dumpster Renting 101

How do you know you are renting the right dumpster for your job or project? Read this article for some helpful tips.

For most of you, this is probably your first time renting a dumpster. You might have questions, and are unsure about how to choose the right dumpster rental for your project. Does this sound like you? If so, then read on.

First off, don't worry, renting a dumpster is not that complicated. There are a few simple tips you can follow to ensure you are renting the correct dumpster for the job.

1. Determine what type of material you are throwing away. Household junk, remodeling/construction debris, brush, concrete, etc?

• Household junk is your typical garage basement items. Old furniture, toys, clothes, books, appliances, etc. These types of clean-outs are common when moving out of or in to a new residence. 15 yard dumpsters are the average size used for projects like these.
• Construction/Remodeling debris refers to demolishing your old deck or garage, putting new windows or siding in, repairing the roof on your house, gutting a basement and getting rid of sheet rock  and wood, etc. These jobs tend to be on the heavy side, so plan accordingly.
• Brush or yard debris refers to grass clippings, leaves, small branches, some dirt, and other green material.
• Concrete, asphalt, stone or dirt jobs require you have a good amount of one material, as you can then get a dumpster rental with no weight limit, as the material can be recycled at a separate facility.

2. Try and estimate how much material you have to throw away so you choose the right pricing structure for your rental.

The last thing you want to do is spend a ton of money renting a 30 yard dumpster that includes 4 or 5 tons of material, when all you really need is a 10 or 12 yard can. Remember, dumpster prices are based on weight included with the rental. If you rent a 30 yard dumpster with 4.0 tons included for $525 (Waste Tech's price), and only put 1 ton in the dumpster, you do not receive a refund for the unused weight. This is the same with all dumpster companies, as these rates are geared towards contractors and commercial jobs, which are often heavier loads. Most companies would love to sell you a large dumpster with 4 or 5 tons of weight when they know you are cleaning out your house, as these companies know you won't even come close to that amount of weight with normal household items. Be weary of companies who steer you towards a dumpster with a lot of weight when you are only cleaning out your house.

3. When price shopping, compare apples to apples.

When you go over an allotted weight limit with a dumpster rental, you are charged for the extra weight. This is commonly referred to as the "tonnage rate". For example. Waste Tech charges $95 per ton if you exceed the limits on our dumpsters. Other companies might charge more or less. For example, if one company is offering a 30 yard dumpster with 5 tons for $650, and the other is offering the same size can for $525 with only 4 tons included, make sure you do the math and properly compare pricing.

At first glance, it may appear that Company B is a better deal, as they offer more weight. When you compare both dumpster rentals based on 5 tons each, things become more clear. If you put 5 tons of material in Company A's dumpster, the extra ton will cost you $95.00, making the dumpster total $620.00. You would actually save money versus going with company B. You also limit your up front expense, as you may not even need that extra ton.

The same principle applies with dumpster rentals geared towards household clean-outs. Take Waste Tech's $249 15 yard dumpster rental, for example. It includes 1 ton, which is usually sufficient for jobs that deal with household junk. If you know your job will be on the lighter side, why pay for a bunch of weight you will not use? Worst case scenario, you might exceed the 1 ton limit. Let's say you put 1.1 tons in. That extra .1 ton will cost you an additional $9.50. The dumpster would end up costing you $258.50(before tax, if applicable). Most people would prefer the additional $9.50 charge versus ordering a 15 yard dumpster that includes 2 tons for $355.00, and not getting any money back.

4. Be safe when ordering online.

If you decide to order a dumpster rental online, make sure the site you are using is properly secured. The last thing you want to do is submit your personal information to a website that lacks the security necessary to protect your personal information. Before entering any personal information (name, address, credit card info, etc) check to make sure the site is encrypted using an SSL certificate.

An SSL certificate, or secure certificate, is a file installed on a secure Web server that identifies a website. This digital certificate establishes the identity and authenticity of the company or merchant so that online shoppers can trust that the website is secure and reliable.

The easiest way to check for this is to look for the padlock icon on your browser and also by checking the address bar and making sure the site begins with https:// not http://

Being safe while you shop online is a necessity nowadays. These simple steps can save you a ton of headaches in the long run. You will notice that not only is Waste Tech Family Refuse's online shop protected by SSL (which is enacted during checkout), but we are also PCI certified. This means we meet the strictest standards set by the credit card processors to ensure your information is safe when shopping with us. If you decide to shop around, you will notice that no other dumpster rental company in Connecticut is PCI certified. This extra level of security can leave you confident that Waste Tech Family Refuse takes the safety of your information seriously.

5. Ask questions.

When in doubt, ask a question. Websites are very useful, but sometimes a live person is necessary to explain something. Send us an email, ask a question using our live chat, or give us a call at our office. We will be glad to answer questions. Our live chat is available during normal business hours, and is staffed by Waste Tech employees. The same employees who answer our phones, so you don't have to worry about being routed to a support center in India. Email is usually the fastest method of contact, as we are constantly monitoring our email, even when we are outside of work. Have a question at 11pm? Don't be surprised if one of us sends you a response by 11:15pm. We take customer service seriously, and pride ourselves on going the extra mile.

Even an article like this cannot explain everything. So if you still have questions, let us know. We will be glad to help you figure things out.