Practical Waste Management Blog

Your dumpster rental will likely not be with you for long, but even in that short span of time, it can become a major magnet for pests of all species and sizes. From tiny crawling maggots to large bears, you don’t want your dumpster rental to be anything other than a repository for your waste. So, what can you do to prevent it from becoming something you never intended?

No food waste

First and foremost, if you don’t want to attract pests, be mindful of what you put into your dumpster rental. Never place food items into it, as it will rot and stink up your immediate area. Flies will be attracted to it, which will cause an infestation of maggots. Raccoons are notorious for finding ways into tight spaces to retrieve all types of items, and you don’t want to entice them with food odors. If you live in an area where bears are present, you should be well aware of the dangers of attracting these large beasts with improperly disposed of food waste.

A home remodeling project is generally prefaced with a good amount of planning. You do your research on various designs, get excited about the appliances or furniture you’re going to bring to the project, and choose materials that will transform your room or your entire home.

But, what about the waste associated with a remodeling project? How can you save time managing the waste and spend more time actually tackling your project?

Bags aren’t an option

Some DIY remodeling projects include purchasing heavy duty trash bags where a majority the refuse will go, either hauled to the street corner bit by bit, or into the back of a truck where it will be hauled off to the local landfill one load at a time. Unfortunately, this can be a huge waste of time. Furthermore, you won’t be able to fit large items or sharp items into those bags. The better choice is to rent a dumpster.

In many ways, a neighborhood is an extension of the home. It should serve as a safe haven where kids can roam, play and socialize with other kids in the area. Unfortunately, too many communities lack the security necessary to make parents feel okay about letting their young ones explore freely. What can you do to create a safe zone for your kids and others within your neighborhood?

Who are your neighbors?

Much of the suspicion a person feels about their community is tied to what is known and unknown about those living amongst them. They could be among the bad apples, or they could be a positive influence on the youth in the area. You’ll never know unless you reach out to them, make small talk, get a sense of how their kids behave … anything that can clue you in to whether or not they are a positive or negative influence.

Even a novice DIYer can attest to the fact that each project they take on involves more planning than they initially thought they’d have to invest. The result is multiple trips to the local big box store to pick up unexpectedly needed supplies. Similarly, with every home improvement project comes a lot of waste, perhaps more than was anticipated. At some point, you’ve got to move it out of your way and dispose of it in an efficient manner. Fortunately, a dumpster can help your home improvements.

Even small projects produce lots of material

Most trash collection agencies are not going to pick up your home improvement debris. Sure, you might be able to sneak a few bags full of it by them (not recommended), but the average project is going to take much, much more than a few trash bags full of waste. In fact, even a small room remodel can generate hundreds of pounds of material that needs to be disposed of, especially if any demolition is involved. In most cases, a dumpster is the absolute best option for a number of reasons, the first being convenience.

Just about any remodeling project or room cleanup is going to leave you with piles and piles of refuse. In fact, the amount will probably surprise you. For instance, if you’re tackling small bathroom remodel, you could see 150 pounds or more of refuse for every square foot that you demolish. So, when it comes to disposing of the debris, it becomes a bag vs. dumpster issue.

Most people are familiar with dumpsters, and less so with bags. As you might have guessed, “dumpster bag” is a term derived from dumpster due to its shape and purpose, except it’s a bag instead of a metal container. It is a waste management item that is portable and small when collapsed. It’s made of a material that will withstand waste common with household projects. You fill it and call a waste management company to pick it up and dispose of it for you. However, pickup for these items aren’t available in all communities, so you want to make sure someone nearby has the capabilities of hauling it off before you make a purchase.

Buy a bag or rent a small dumpster?

An important note here is that a bag is only an option if you have three cubic yards or less of debris. It is roughly a 600-gallon receptacle, about eight feet long and four feet wide. Most are about 2.5 feet high. The weight limitation is around 3,300 pounds, maximum, which is debris from an approximately 22-square-foot room.