The vast majority of people are not dumpster rental experts. Unless you’re a contractor, or you’ve rented dumpsters in the past, you’re probably not an expert on dumpster rental terms.

Fortunately, we are dumpster rental experts here at Eagle Dumpster Rental. With that in mind, here’s an overview of some of the terms we use while providing superior-quality waste management services and dumpster rentals in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Roll-Off Dumpster: We use terms like “roll-off dumpster” interchangeably with “rental dumpster”. We’ll also use terms like “roll-off container” or “roll-off bin”. All of these refer to the same thing: they’re all rental dumpsters.

Roll-Away Bin: Some people call rental dumpsters roll-away bins, roll-away containers, or roll-away dumpsters. Just like with “roll-off dumpster”, it all refers to the same thing.

C&D: C&D refers to Construction and Demolition. If you’re doing C&D work, then you’re either building something or destroying something. Generally speaking, C&D projects are larger projects than smaller renovations or cleanups.

Overage: Overage refers to the amount you’re over the allotted limit. All dumpster rentals come with an allotted amount of space. Some dumpster rental companies measure space by physical area – you can take up so much space in the dumpster, for example. Most dumpster rental companies, however, measure dumpster rentals by weigh. If you’re over these space or weight limits, then this is your “overage”.

Haul or Hauling: When a waste management company talks about haul or hauling, it typically refers to waste hauling or junk removal services. If you want to pay someone to remove junk from your property, then you need to find a junk hauler.

Recyclable Material: Recyclable material typically includes materials made of plastic, paper, cardboard, and similar materials. These materials can be recycled and reused. They’re not intended for the general landfill with the rest of the waste. Some dumpster rental customers are surprised to learn that asphalt and concrete are also considered recyclable materials. Talk to your dumpster rental company to check.

Tonnage: Tonnage refers to the number of tons allowed in your rental dumpster. You might be allowed 2 tons of waste, for example, on top of the weight of the dumpster itself. This is your tonnage.

20 Yard Dumpster: A 20 yard dumpster is a dumpster with 20 cubic yards of space inside. In the waste management industry, we shorten these sizes to “20 yards.” No, your dumpster isn’t going to be 20 yards long. Instead, a typical measurement is something like 22 feet long, 7.5 feet wide, and 4.5 feet deep. 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 cubic yard dumpsters are all popular sizes. If you rent a 30 or 40 yard dumpster, then they’re often the same length – just deeper than a 20 yard dumpster.

10Y/15Y/20Y Dumpsters: Some companies list their dumpster rental sizes as “10Y dumpsters” or “20Y dumpsters”. This simply refers to the number of cubic yards in the dumpster.

60-40 Dumpster: Some dumpster rental companies offer what’s called a “60-40” rental. With these dumpster rentals, you’re expected to place a mixed load of approximately 60% recyclable material and 40% waste inside.

Flat Rate: If a dumpster rental company charges you a flat rate, then it means you’re paying a fixed price for the rental, assuming you stay within the rules of the rental. If you rent a 20 yard dumpster with a 2 ton weight limit, for example, then you might pay a flat rate of $500. Some dumpster rental companies charge variable rates based on your tonnage.

Skip: In some parts of the world, people refer to rental dumpsters as “skips”. This term is particularly popular in England, although it can also be heard in other Commonwealth countries – like Australia or New Zealand.

Bin Hire: Just like the term “skip”, “bin hire” is the preferred English term for renting a dumpster. If you need to rent a dumpster in Australia or England, for example, you’d be better off typing “bin hire” into Google.

Tipping Fees: Also known as landfill fees, tipping fees are the cost of dumping waste at a local landfill. In the United States, we typically pay a tipping fee of around $50 per ton. Some dumpster rental companies include the tipping fee in the cost of your rental, while others do not. Make sure you understand all fees and charges upfront when you get your estimate.

Clean Load: A dumpster with a “clean load” is a dumpster filled with one type of recyclable material – like concrete, asphalt, plastics, or cardboard. You might fill up the dumpster with a clean load, then take it to a recycling center, before filling up the dumpster with remaining materials.

Mixed Loads: Most rental dumpsters are filled with mixed loads. Mixed loads contain multiple types of recyclables, like wood, cardboard, and plastics. These dumpsters will need to be processed at a sorting facility to separate the different types of recyclables.

MRF: MRFs are materials recovery facilities. It’s the place where mixed loads go to be separated into recyclables and trash.

Contamination: Contamination is any material or substance that makes an item unrecyclable. Food waste on a cardboard box – like pizza on a pizza box, for example – can make it unrecyclable.

E-Waste: E-waste is electronic waste, including computers, cell phones, TVs, printers, etc.

MSW: Municipal solid waste, or MSW, is everyday trash or garbage that is thrown away and taken to a landfill.

Waste Management: Waste management refers to the collective industry of dealing with junk – including trash, recyclables, and other unwanted materials. Many waste management companies – including Eagle Dumpster Rental – offer dumpster rentals, full-service junk hauling, and other waste management services.

Dumpster Bag: A dumpster bag is made from a heavy-duty fabric material instead of steel. They’re suited for smaller renovation and construction projects but may not be ideal for larger projects with heavier junk.

Roll Off Truck: The roll off truck is the vehicle that delivers your roll-off dumpster. Typically, this truck is a heavy duty vehicle capable of fitting a single dumpster on the rear bed.

Waste Corral: The waste corral is the area where dumpsters are stored outside of a business. Many businesses have a special fenced-in area behind their business, for example, where the dumpsters are stored.

OCC: OCC is old corrugated cardboard.

Prohibited Items: Most dumpster rental companies have prohibited items. These prohibited items cannot be placed in your dumpster. Common prohibited items include hazardous materials, toxic waste, appliances, electronics, paint, tires, lead-acid batteries, and motor oil. These items are prohibited in landfills, which means your dumpster rental company is unlikely to accept them. Talk to your dumpster rental company to avoid any potential problems.

Landfill Diversion Rates: The amount of waste that is diverted from a landfill because of effective recycling or waste reduction. The higher the landfill diversion rate, the better.

Compost: A growing number of municipalities are issuing special compost bins – just like your waste or recycling bins. These compost bins contain organic materials – like food scraps and yard waste – that can create a nutrient-rich soil. Compost waste is often separated from recyclables and trash.

Dumpster Rental Permit: Some municipalities require you to apply for a permit when renting a dumpster. Typically, you won’t require a permit when leaving the dumpster on your own private land – like your driveway or front or backyard. However, you may require a permit when leaving your dumpster on the curb in front of your home. If you fail to secure a permit for your rental dumpster, then you may face penalties.

The next time you need to rent a dumpster in southeastern Pennsylvania or elsewhere, you can depend on Eagle Dumpster Rental to provide the best rates and the easiest service. Refer to the glossary of dumpster rental terms above to expedite your rental.

Since January, Much of America’s Recycling Has Ended Up in Landfills

When you put recyclables in your recycling bin, you assume they’re being recycled responsibly. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. New research shows that much of your recycling is actually ending up in landfills – or worse, in oceans.

As reported by the Huffington Post, America is “in the midst of what one official calls an ‘unprecedented’ recycling crisis.”

“Americans recycle millions of tons of trash every year,” explains the Huffington Post. “We trust that the items we toss in the blue bin won’t end up in a landfill. We hope this stuff is repurposed and turned into reusable goods ― but a lot of it isn’t getting recycled at all.”

This recycling crisis is relatively new. For years, most states in America efficiently recycled their paper, plastic, and other goods.

Unfortunately, things have changed over the last few months.

“For months, mountains of plastic, paper and other materials have been piling up at recycling facilities across the nation.”

In response, entire cities have been forced to scrap their recycling programs. Sacramento, California, for example, has significantly reduced its recycling program, forcing residents to throw recyclable items in the trash.

In other states, waste management companies have resorted to dumping recyclable materials into landfills.

America’s Recycling Crisis Started in January When China Stopped Buying Our Recyclables

America’s recycling crisis began in January when China stopped accepting imports of recyclable waste.

Yes, much of America’s recyclables ended up in China. China had been buying America’s recyclable goods for decades. Every year, we – along with other countries around the world – were shipping massive amounts of recyclable plastics, paper, cardboard, and other materials to China.

China needed a steady supply of recyclable materials to feed its manufacturing sector, while countries like the United States, Canada, Germany, the UK, and Japan lacked the recycling facilities and manpower needed to process large amounts of recyclable goods. That’s why China would actually pay these countries for their old recyclables.

Last summer, China suddenly announced plans to stop buying waste and recyclables from other countries. Starting in 2018, China would no longer import 24 categories of solid waste and recyclable materials.

Today, the only recyclable materials China accepts are cardboard and scrap metal with 0.5% contamination from food and other sources. American recyclers claim this standard is “impossible” to meet.

The end result is a problem that needs to be solved: nobody has the recycling capacity that China has, but now China isn’t sharing that capacity with the world.

Local Counties Have No Choice But to Allow Recyclables in Local Landfills

Every state in America is being negatively affected by the Chinese recycling ban. Certain states, however, have been more heavily affected by the Chinese ban than others. Pacific coast states like Hawaii, California, Alaska and Oregon, for example, have all been “heavily” affected by the recycling ban.

However, the effects have also been felt in other states – North Carolina and Massachusetts, for example, have been heavily hit by the recycling ban.

Since January, these states have watched recyclable materials pile upin local facilities. Unable to sell to China, waste management firms are stuck with mountains of recyclable materials – and the problem continues to get worse.

The big problem is that many states have laws forbidding companies from dumping recyclables into landfills.

However, these states have been forced to grant waivers allowing firms to dispose of recyclable materials – even if they have to dump them in landfills.

That’s why a growing number of waste management companies across the United States have been dumping recyclables in landfills. Thousands of tons of paper, cardboard, and plastic has been ending up in America’s landfills from Oregon to New Hampshire.

Recycle Responsibly with a Good Waste Management Company

A good waste management company helps you recycle responsibly. Make sure your recyclable items end up being recycled.

Work with a waste management company like Eagle Dumpster Rental. You can trust that your items are being recycled efficiently. In addition to offering dumpster rentals, Eagle Dumpster Rental offers full-service waste management solutions across southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.

So you’ve rented a dumpster and it’s time to load that dumpster. You might assume loading a dumpster is straightforward, but that’s not always the case.

Loading a dumpster can be tricky depending on the weight, size, and type of material you’re loading.

Today, we’re explaining the best tips, tricks, and strategies you can use to load any rental dumpster correctly.

Break Down Big and Bulky Items

First and most importantly, you’ll want to break down big and bulky items.

If you want to maximize space in your dumpster, then you don’t want to throw empty cardboard boxes into it. Items like book cases, shelves, and dressers can take up significantly less space when broken down. Break bigger items into smaller pieces to maximize space.

Load the Dumpster from Front to Back

Our rental dumpsters have one or two rear doors, allowing you to easily walk in and drop off your items. These doors make it easy to distribute your waste efficiently. If you want to maximize space in your dumpster, then we don’t recommend throwing items over the side walls. Instead, open the doors, walk into the dumpster, and neatly arrange your items at the front of the bin, then work your way back.

Avoid Overfilling a Dumpster

One of the most frequent problems we see is overfilling. Customers will stack dumpsters far beyond the side walls.

Never fill the dumpster over the top of the unit. When we pick up a dumpster, we need to securely tarp the dumpster to ensure items don’t fly out when driving to the landfill or recycling center. Your load needs to be level for this tarp to fit over the bin.

For the safety of those on the road, and for the safety of our personnel, avoid overfilling your dumpster beyond the sides of the walls.

Remember that Dumpster Rentals Can Save You Time and Money

A good dumpster rental saves time. A great dumpster rental saves time and money.

Dumpster rentals save time and money by helping you avoid endless trips to the dump. Our 20 yard bin, for example, can help you avoid approximately 10 trips to the dump. That’s 10 fewer trips where you’re wasting gas and being away from your project.

Let us take care of the dirty work while you focus on your project. Dumpster rentals aren’t free, but they can save time and money when used correctly.

Remember that Some Materials Cannot Go In Your Dumpster

All dumpster rental companies have certain prohibited materials. Typically, these rules are set by local landfills and recycling centers – not by the dumpster rental company.

Generally speaking, you will not be able to throw toxic chemicals or other hazardous materials into your roll-off dumpster. Appliances, explosives, and flammable liquids are also generally prohibited.

If you’re unsure of whether or not you can dispose of certain materials, contact your dumpster rental company before tossing things in the bin.

Choose an Ideal Loading Spot

You might rent the perfect dumpster – but your dumpster rental process becomes inefficient when you choose a subpar loading spot. You might be renovating your kitchen, for example, but place your rental dumpster on the front curb instead of your backyard. Instead of tossing things out your kitchen window into the dumpster, you need to walk to the front curb.

Our experienced crews can help you find the perfect dumpster rental location on your property. We know the best place to drop your dumpster for the most efficient waste removal experience possible.

Rent a Dumpster in Southeastern Pennsylvania or Delaware Today

Eagle Dumpster Rental is the leading waste management company and dumpster rental service based in southeastern Pennsylvania. With multiple locations throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, Eagle Dumpster Rental makes it easy to rent an affordable dumpster from Philadelphia to Lehigh Valley to Wilmington, DE.

Check prices on local dumpster rentals online today just by entering your ZIP code.

Unless you’ve renovated your house or worked in construction, you’re probably not a dumpster rental expert.

Are you a total beginner with dumpster rentals? Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about renting a dumpster – even if you’ve never done it before.

Step 1) Request an Estimate

Virtually all dumpster rental companies offer free estimates or quotes upfront. You can request a quote online or over the phone.

The dumpster rental quote should outline the full costs of the rental. You should see the tonnage fees, pickup/delivery fees, and rental fees all clearly listed on the estimate. In some cases, all of these fees are bundled into one flat rate. Check with the company to make sure the estimate outlines the full costs of the rental – so you’re not left with a surprise at the end of your rental period.

Step 2) Pick Your Dumpster Size

The dumpster rental company likely recommended one or two different sizes in their estimate. Typically, a dumpster rental company offers the following sizes:

-Small Dumpsters: 6 to 12 cubic yards

-Medium Dumpsters: 13 to 19 cubic yards

-Large Dumpsters: 20 to 30 cubic yards

Small dumpsters are good for small spring cleaning projects, like when you’re getting rid of boxes of junk in your home or cleaning up your yard. Medium dumpsters are suited for small renovation projects, like a bathroom renovation. Large dumpsters are suited for larger construction projects and home renovations.

With dumpster rentals, you should err on the side of caution. Are you struggling to choose between two sizes? Think about this: you might pay $20 more for a larger dumpster, but you’re going to pay a lot more if you rent a smaller dumpster, then need to have it picked up and dropped off twice.

Are you totally clueless about which size of dumpster you need? That’s okay! At Eagle Dumpster Rental, we can help you pick the perfect size. Just tell us what kind of project we’re working with, and we’ll recommend what we think is best. We have decades of experience picking dumpster sizes.

Step 3) Schedule a Delivery Time

We’ll contact you to setup a delivery date and time. We’ll also help you decide where to place the dumpster on your property.

We know all of the municipal regulations in our service area. We know whether or not you can place a dumpster on your street, or if it needs to be placed on your driveway (some cities require permits for on-street dumpsters).

We’ll help you pick the best place to put the dumpster for maximum convenience and minimal damage, then use special padding and wooden slats to ensure we leave no trace of the dumpster’s presence behind.

Step 4) Fill Your Bin

Fill up your bin with all the waste that needs to be removed from your property.

Step 5) We Pick It Up

We’ll pick up your dumpster at a pre-arranged date and time. Or, you can call us whenever the dumpster is full.

Once we’ve disposed of everything safely, we’ll send you the invoice.

Renting a dumpster is that simple!

Dumpster rental is like any service industry: there are good and bad companies.

Want to avoid feeling scammed by your next dumpster rental? Do you want to avoid hidden fees? Do you want the company to arrive on-time and professionally-dressed? Today, we’re explaining all the things that separate bad dumpster companies from the good ones.

1) Unclear Dumpster Rental Pricing

Most dumpster rental companies offer a free price request and estimate. You request a price through their website, and they respond with an estimate.

This is where some dumpster rental companies can get a little shady. Does the price estimate seem vague to you? Is the price suspiciously low? Make sure the estimate includes all fees and charges, including the tonnage costs, pickup/delivery fees, and other charges.

At Eagle Dumpster Rental, we take pride in the fact that the only surprise on your final bill is the low price.

2) Bad Reviews or No Online Reviews

This one’s obvious: good dumpster rental companies will have good reviews online. Bad ones will either have bad reviews, no reviews, or a small number of suspiciously good reviews.

Unless the dumpster rental company is brand new, you should expect to see good reviews online.

3) Lack of Dumpster Sizes or Availability

Some low-quality dumpster rental companies will give you misleading information about their dumpster rental sizes. They might claim they only have larger models available – simply because they want you to rent the most expensive dumpster.

In other cases, smaller, local dumpster rental companies might not have the sizes you need. They might only have 15 and 20 yard dumpsters, for example, when you really need a smaller (10 yard) or a larger (30 yard) dumpster.

The best dumpster rental companies have multiple sizes to perfectly match your junk removal needs.

4) Lack of Disposal Information

Every once in a while, junk removal companies get caught doing something they shouldn’t be doing: like disposing of waste in an unsafe manner. One of the advantages of hiring a dumpster rental company is that you know your waste is going to the right place.

Ask your company how they dispose of waste. If they don’t give you specific disposal information, or mention the transfers and landfills they use, then that’s a red flag.

5) No Driveway Protection

Good dumpster rental companies leave no trace of the dumpster after it’s picked up. Bad dumpster rental companies leave your driveway covered with scratches, or your lawn with a massive gouge.
Ask your dumpster rental service if they use rubber rollers, wooden slats, or other tools to help protect your property. You don’t want your dumpster rental to leave a lasting mark. You’re trying to clean up your property – not make things worse.

6) Slow Delivery Times

Most dumpster rental companies pride themselves on fast deliveries. Some of the best can deliver dumpsters within 24 hours.

When you’re doing construction or renovation work, you have deadlines to meet: you can’t wait a week to get a dumpster when you need it tomorrow. Good dumpster rental companies deliver dumpsters on-time. It’s that simple.

Dumpster rentals play a crucial role in renovation and construction projects. Unfortunately, many people are scared away from dumpster rentals when they hear about “hidden fees” in the industry.

At all Eagle Dumpster Rental locations, we have a strict policy on hidden fees: our contracts are specifically designed to be easy-to-understand. We’ll walk you through everything to ensure you’re left with no surprises at the end of your bill. We do not charge hidden fees.

Unfortunately, not all dumpster rental companies work that way. Today, we’re going to explain how you can avoid fees when renting a dumpster.

Ask The Dumpster Rental Company Four Simple Questions

Most dumpster rental companies offer free estimates. When you receive this estimate, you’ll want to make sure it answers specific questions about your rental agreement, including:

1) What is the pickup and delivery fee?

2) What will tonnage cost?

3) What is the price of the dumpster rental?

In some cases, dumpster rental companies will just tell you one price upfront. You might inquire about the cost of renting a 20 yard dumpster, and they’ll respond by saying, “$200 for one week”. Once you get your bill, however, you’ll learn that this price only covered the dumpster rental – and the delivery and pickup were an extra $50 each way.

To avoid this problem, ask your dumpster rental company just one more question:

4) Are there any other fees or charges that will be added onto my invoice?
Ideally, you’ll be asking all of these questions through email – which means you’ll have a written record of your agreement.

Alternatively, some dumpster rental companies will outline all of this information in their contract, and then you sign the contract when the dumpster arrives at your doorstep.

The important thing is to have the pricing information in writing, including an agreement from the company that you won’t be charged any additional fees.

Ask About Any Extra Fees for Certain Waste Disposal

From recyclables to hazardous materials, the waste from your renovation project doesn’t always end up in the landfill. You might have unique waste that requires special treatment.
Your dumpster rental company will try to warn you about these fees upfront, but it’s not always possible until they see what they’re dealing with.

It’s bad business for dumpster rental companies to dump hazardous waste in the wrong section of the landfill. Make sure you understand your bin rental company’s fees for any special waste.

Ask Your Company to Show You the Weight Ticket at the Dump

Many dumpster rental companies have started doing this automatically.

However, if you’re suspicious about your dumpster rental company overcharging you, or if you don’t believe your junk weighed that much, then simply ask for the weight ticket from the landfill.

Understand that Not All Estimates Are 100% Accurate

In a perfect world, every dumpster rental company would always provide 100% accurate quotes.
Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world. Dumpster rental companies can’t predict everything you’re going to throw in your dumpster. They can’t guess exactly how much weight is going to be created from your kitchen renovation.

With that in mind, understand that there will often be small changes between your initial estimate and your final invoice.

So you’ve paid a waste management company to haul away your garbage. What do they do with it now? How do they safely, efficiently, and affordably dispose of your waste?

Waste management companies all work in slightly different ways. Different state regulations mean waste management varies widely from state to state.

In general, however, waste management companies will dispose of your trash in the safest, most efficient way possible according to local regulations.

There Are Three Different Waste Streams

Waste management companies will typically deliver your trash to three different waste streams, including:

-Recycle: Any recyclable materials follow this stream.

-Waste-to-Energy Facility: These facilities use extremely high-temperature furnaces to combust your trash, converting it into clean and renewable energy which is used to power local homes and businesses.

-Landfill: Any trash that cannot be recycled or converted to energy is brought to a local landfill. Landfills may be called “dumps”, but they’re high-tech facilities designed to isolate waste from the environment while minimizing damage to the surrounding area.

Obviously, the goal is to maximize the number of recyclables and waste-to-energy products while minimizing the amount of trash headed to the landfill.

Recyclables Trash

Your recyclable trash will be reduced and reused without heading to the landfill. Recyclables include all of the following:

-Paper: Paper recycles include corrugated boxes, old newsprint, mixed paper, and office mix (these are four distinct categories, and they’ll be separated after your dumpster is picked up). Paper recyclables are baled and sold mostly to paper mills.

-Plastics: Mixed plastic containers are sorted by type and color. Recycling facilities actually use blown air to separate heavy and light plastics from one another. These recyclables are optically scanned to see if they fit into different plastic categories (like HSPE) before being shipped to plastic plants.

-Glass: Glass recyclables are crushed into a new product called cullet. Cullet is then cleansed of debris and contaminants. Some facilities sort the glass by color before crushing. These recyclables are shipped to glass plants.

-Metals: Facilities typically use magnets to separate steel from the rest of the recycled metals. That steel is removed to a storage bin for baling, while other metals – like aluminum – are sent to places like aluminum plants. Metals are melted down, then reused.

Waste-to-Energy

Today, many environmentally-conscious countries and regions operate waste-to-energy facilities. Certain types of waste are brought to these facilities, then burned to release energy.

Waste management companies will deliver waste to the facility’s refuse pit. Then, the facility loads trash from the pit into its hoppers, then uses hydraulic rams to shove that trash into the boiler units. The boiler units use trash as fuel. The heat from the combustion of the trash converts waster in the boiler into steam, and that steam is sent to the utility infrastructure as a clean source of energy.

Landfills and Gas-to-Energy Systems

Most additional waste gets buried at a landfill.

However, some landfill waste gets turned into energy. Certain types of waste – especially organic waste – will produce methane gas and carbon dioxide as it decomposes. Eco-friendly landfills will recover this gas using a series of wells drilled into the landfill. This gas is fed through a piping system, then gets sent to power-generating equipment as a type of pressurized gas-based fuel.

The next time an Eagle Dumpster Rental truck drives off with your dumpster full of trash, you’ll know exactly where that trash is going to end up!

Landfills, also known as dumps, are something few people understand. You drop off your garbage at the landfill, or you pay a waste management company like Eagle Dumpster Rental to do it for you.

But what happens to your trash in the landfill after you drop it off? Does it get absorbed into the ground? Do they burn it? Do they recycle it?

To help you answer those questions, we’re giving you all of the secrets about how landfills work – and where your trash goes after your rental dumpster is picked up.

There’s More Engineering than You Think

You might call it a “dump”. Sanitation engineers, however, may get insulted. There’s a surprising amount of science behind your local landfill.

Typically, the place you call a “dump” is known as a Class 3 landfill that accepts municipal solid waste (MSW). It’s where most of your household garbage ends up when you live in a city.

Class 3 landfills are scientifically-engineered facilities built into or on the ground. They’re designed for one specific purpose: to hold and isolate waste from the environment.

Today, federal and state regulations strictly govern the way landfills work. Federal and state laws, for example, dictate the location, design, operation, and closure of Class 3 landfills. Without these laws, human health – and the environment – could be at risk.

How Trash Gets to the Landfill

Today, most states – including Pennsylvania and Delaware – are reducing the number of landfills. Instead of having many smaller landfills located across the state, governments are choosing to have a smaller number of larger landfills.

Typically, your trash gets from your home to your nearest landfill by a garbage truck. If you rented a dumpster from Eagle Dumpster Rental, then we’ll take it to the landfill for you.

An average garbage truck can hold 12 to 14 tons of waste. To put that number in perspective, an average mid-sized car weighs about 1.5 tons, and many larger SUVs and trucks weigh 2.5 or 3 tons.

12 to 14 tons of waste is approximately the same amount of waste that comes from 800 to 850 homes. Once your local garbage truck is full, the truck heads to the landfill. The landfill weighs the truck, the truck dumps the waste (usually, just by tipping its container), then the truck is weighed on the way out. The garbage truck moves on to another neighborhood to repeat the process.

How Landfills Work and Manage Trash

A well-designed landfill consists of six crucial components, including each of the following:

1) The Bottom Liner System: This liner prevents trash from seeping into the groundwater. It typically consists of two feet of clay, a plastic liner, and a two foot thick protective layer (usually sand).

2) Cells: The cells of a landfill are specific areas where trash is dumped and crushed.

3) Storm Water Drainage System: Without a drainage system, rain would wreak havoc on a landfill. The storm water drainage system collects rainwater using plastic pipes (and other equipment), then relocates the water to a pond before it comes into contact with the garbage.

4) Leachate Collection System: This system collects liquids (called leachate) that come into contact with the garbage. This water is collected and treated before being re-introduced to the environment.

5) Methane Collection Systems: When garbage decomposes, it generates methane gas (and carbon dioxide). Landfills have a capture system for this methane, which reduces the risk of explosions and burns.

6) Final Covering/Cap: The final covering or cap is placed on top of a Class 3 landfill when it’s closed. This typically consists of 18 inches of clay, a plastic liner, and two feet of soil.

Landfills are designed to last 30 to 50 years. Governments typically prepare to monitor landfills for 30 years after they close. And that’s how garbage gets from your home, into your rental dumpster, and into a landfill.

One of the most important decisions you need to make before renting a dumpster is its size. How big does your dumpster need to be? How can you avoid paying for space you don’t need? How much debris can we expect from our kitchen or complete home renovation?

At Eagle Dumpster Rental, our specialists will walk you through the dumpster rental process. We’ll ask what type of construction project you’re working on, and use our experience to help you decide the perfect size for your needs.

We’ve seen what works for other customers, and we’re pretty good at guessing dumpster sizes.

That being said, it’s always nice to know what’s out there. Here are the top 3 most popular dumpster sizes and how they’re typically used:

15 Yard Dumpsters

A 15 cubic yard dumpster is popular for homeowners and smaller commercial contractors. It’s a “jack of all trades” type dumpster, and it can easily slot into a front yard or backyard to make sure your project goes smoothly. You can even fit this little guy inside a parking stall or a small residential driveway. We’ve even seen 15 yard dumpsters used on larger projects where a larger dumpster won’t fit – like in crowded downtown neighborhoods. On larger projects, you can just empty the dumpster more frequently to keep the project running smoothly.

Ideal For:

-Renovation debris from smaller projects

-Garbage, trash, and junk removal (like spring cleaning projects)

-Homeowner garage cleanouts

-Asphalt shingle re-roofing

-Smaller commercial construction sites

-General waste collection and disposal

-Situations or properties where you can’t fit a larger dumpster

20 Yard Dumpsters

A 20 cubic yard dumpster tends to be the sweet spot for our customers. It’s plenty big enough for most renovation projects, and it holds enough junk for even the most intense spring cleanings. It holds significantly less waste than the 30 yard containers, which are used primarily on commercial construction sites. The 20 yard dumpster can be delivered to most residential locations (it will fit on one-half of a double car driveway). It’s also a popular option with contractors for construction dumpster rentals on demolition sites.

Ideal For:

-Demolition debris

-Garbage, trash, and junk removal

-Larger house cleanouts

-Larger residential renovations

-Commercial construction sites

-General waste collection and disposal

-Flat roof tear-offs

-General trash and garbage removal

30 Yard Dumpsters

30 yard dumpsters are almost exclusively used on commercial construction sites. Unless a home is going through a multi-room renovation project, this dumpster is larger than most homeowners need. 30 cubic yard dumpsters require a tandem axle truck for delivery and pickup, and it can be difficult to place the 30 yard dumpster on some residential spaces. Nevertheless, many of our customers are surprised by how easily the dumpster fits into a lot or property – and with no lasting damage!

Ideal For:

-Permanent placement bins for industrial or commercial companies

-High volume renovation, demolition, and construction projects

-High volume junk removal jobs

-Commercial flat roofing

-Industrialized construction and civil projects

-General waste collection and disposal

-Wood and pallet recycling

Which Size Dumpster is Right for You?

Still don’t know which size is right for your project? That’s okay! Many of our customers at Eagle Dumpster Rental are first-time dumpster renters. If you’re clueless about roll-off container rentals, you’re not alone! Fortunately, friendly staff is on-hand to assist you with your decision. We’ve seen what works for other customers, and we’ll help you pick the perfect dumpster for your needs.

Dumpster Rental

A renovation is a stressful time to be a homeowner. Whether you’re performing a renovation on your own, or you’re hiring a contractor, your house is going to look a little different for the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, homeowners often make big mistakes during renovations. These mistakes can make life significantly harder. They can extend the renovation process and send costs skyrocketing.

Which mistakes should you avoid during your renovation? Let’s take a closer look.

Using Cheap Materials

Unless you’re planning to dump your home on unsuspecting home buyers in the next six months or so, you should avoid using cheap materials. Just like with anything, you get what you pay for. Homeowners who use cheap materials are left with the consequences of that decision (repairs, leaks, etc.) for years.

Avoiding Prep Work

Prep work might seem dorky. It might seem unnecessary. Experienced homeowners might laugh at you. But you know what? Prep work works. It’s a little extra work today that helps you avoid a whole lot of extra work tomorrow. Let’s face it: prepping is an annoying and tedious process that nobody wants to do. However, it’s one of the easiest ways to save yourself time and money on your renovation.

Ignoring Lighting

Have you ever wondered how those before-and-after renovation pictures look so good? Take a quick peek at the lighting in the before-and-after picture. Did it change? Many homeowners ignore lighting during a renovation. However, lighting has an enormous effect on your colors, feeling, and ambiance of any room in your home. What’s the point of renovating your home if nobody can see your hard work?

Not Preparing for Chaos in the Home

Are you ready to eat pizza every night for 3 weeks? If you’re renovating your kitchen, you’re going to have to live without cooking appliances for a little while. Many homeowners fail to anticipate the chaos associated with a renovation. Renovations are messy. Make sure you’re ready to handle that mess. Don’t schedule a kitchen renovation 10 days before hosting Thanksgiving Dinner.

Ignoring Safety

We get it: you’re tough. You think safety goggles and earmuffs are for kids. You’ve used equipment like this before. It’s no big deal. Everyone does it. But you know what? These are the same things people think when they end up in hospital because they weren’t wearing property foot protection when they stepped on an upturned nail. Don’t be an idiot.

Not Renting a Dumpster

You might think: I have a truck. We can fill up that truck and make a few runs to the dump.

But just wait until you start renovating. Wait until you see how much junk you have. Even a smaller bathroom renovation can turn into 5 or 6 trips to the dump in a standard truck. On larger renovation projects, you’ll be on a first-name basis with dump employees within a week.

Roll Off rentals speed up every part of the home renovation process. For a reasonable price, you get a “magic” waste removal bin on your property. You throw waste into that bin, wait for it to pile up, and then somebody takes that waste away and makes it disappear.

Many homeowners are surprised by how cost-effective dumpster rentals can be. Request your quote today from Eagle Dumpster Rental and get ready for a smooth and efficient renovation.

One of the best parts about owning a home is that you finally have a place to store all your stuff. One of the worst parts about home ownership is that you collect way too much stuff.

Eventually, every homeowner needs to remove some junk. Today, a growing number of homeowners across America are happy to pay for full-service junk removal.

What are the advantages of full-service junk removal? Is it the right choice for you? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons.

Free Junk Removal Estimates

Most junk removal companies offer free estimates. Not sure how much it will cost to get rid of all this junk? Call a junk removal company. They’ll come take a look at it and provide an on-the-spot estimate. In many cases, that junk removal company can remove the waste right then, or schedule an appointment at a later date.

For many people, cost is a concern with junk removal. Free estimates and honest upfront pricing make this an easy concern to avoid.

Junk Removal Companies Can Donate Old Junk

Many junk removal companies actually have donation partners. They’ll spot anything of value in your junk. Instead of throwing that junk away – like old furniture, appliances, or toys – they’ll give it to charity partners in your local area. You get rid of unwanted stuff and support your local community at the same time. Many people are surprised to find how much of their “junk” can be put to good use. Junk removal companies will ask for your permission before donating.

You’re Being Environmentally Friendly

Junk removal companies deal with all types of junk. They know where to responsibly dispose old tires. They know exactly how to recycle a broken microwave. If they don’t know how to responsibly dispose of certain types of junk, then they know who to ask.

Professional junk removal isn’t just about paying someone to drag all your trash to the landfill. It’s about removing junk from your property in a responsible, environmentally-friendly manner.

Dumping Everything at a Landfill is Harder than You Think

Many people are surprised to learn that certain municipalities regulate junk removal. In certain regions, it’s illegal to send all your junk to the landfill. You can’t just throw all of your unwanted stuff into one big pile at the landfill. Instead, you need to take extra care to recycle, remove hazardous material, and avoid costly fines at the landfill.

Do you know your local junk removal regulations? Probably not. But junk removal companies do.

Make Your Property Safer

If you’ve owned a home for a few years, then you might have all sorts of junk building up. Some of those materials can be hazardous, including thinners and paints. The only thing these materials do around your house is pose a hazard. The longer you ignore these problems and put them off, the more risk they pose to you, your family, your pets, and your house.

Ultimately, junk removal is a convenient service. You’re paying someone to remove junk from your property. That person is a professional junk remover. They know how to dispose of your junk. They know where to dispose of it. And, they know how to do all of it in the cheapest way possible.
Request a free junk removal quote from Eagle Dumpster Rental today!

Eagle Dumpster Rental not only provides the leading service for roll-off container rentals in Pennsylvania and Northern Delaware, but also often is often to assist with full-service junk removal. This is common in the dumpster rental industry, where many companies offer both dumpster rentals and junk removal. Kindly read our glossary to know more about these terms.

How does junk removal work? How much can you expect to spend? Do you really need junk removal – or should you save money by just doing it yourself? Today, we’re answering all your questions about junk removal.

What’s Included with Junk Removal

When you order junk removal, you’re essentially paying two or more people to arrive at your house with a truck and then safely dispose of your waste. With that in mind, here’s what is included with your junk removal:

• Two professionally-dressed and insured crew members
• Junk removal from anywhere on your property
• Loading, lifting, and sorting
• Disposing of items in the best and safest way, including recycling, donating, or disposing items
• Transfer station or dump tariffs and fees
• Gas and travel

Based on all that’s included with junk removal, most of our customers agree that pricing is very competitive. However, always make sure you get multiple quotes before you order junk removal.

Just Point at What Needs to Be Removed

How does junk removal work? We can best sum it up with one single sentence:

Just point at whatever you want us to remove!

That’s it! When Eagle Dumpster Rental arrives at a property for junk removal, the homeowner typically just points and explains what needs to be removed.

Sometimes, all of the junk is gathered in the driveway or in the yard, just waiting to be hauled away. In other cases, the junk is inside the house or needs to be collected from around the property. Whatever type of junk needs to be removed, Eagle Dumpster Rental can help.

How Junk Removal Pricing Works

Some junk removal companies charge fees based on how much space items take up in the back of the truck. For junk removal, this type of pricing is often simpler than by-weight pricing, as different items need to be disposed in different ways.

Other companies might charge by weight for junk removal. For example, if you’re only disposing of one type of junk, and it’s all going to one place, then by-weight pricing might be easiest.
Finally, some companies charge hourly rates. You pay two professional junk removal specialists for their time, and that’s it.

Pricing varies across the junk removal industry. Make sure you talk to your company before they arrive to understand their full pricing structure, including any additional pickup, removal, or disposal fees.

Self Service Versus Junk Removal

Should you rent your own dumpster and fill it up? Or should you pay a little extra for junk removal?

Self-service dumpster rentals are ideal for those who don’t mind getting their hands dirty. It’s also a good choice for households undergoing longer renovation projects, where you might need to continuously throw away junk over a long period of time.

Full-service junk removal, on the other hand, is ideal for those who just want junk removed from their property without the hassle of sorting it or handling it themselves.

If you’re researching dumpster rentals near Chester County, Pennsylvania and Downingtown, then you may have encountered companies that offer both dumpster rental and junk removal.
Which option is best for your project? Let’s compare the pros and cons of dumpster rental versus junk removal.

Pros and Cons of Junk Removal

Junk removal companies promise to do all of the work for you. If you have, say, a freezer in your basement, then junk removal companies will take that freezer out of your basement and haul it away.

It’s a hassle-free solution that gets junk off your property and safely disposes of it. Safe Disposal

Obviously, with junk removal services, you’re paying more money: it’s a convenience thing, and you may have multiple employees making multiple trips to your home.

With junk removal, multiple trips are often required. The company may not have trucks large enough to haul away all of your junk in one visit. The cost of these trips can add up over time.

Nevertheless, junk removal is a popular solution if you have junk that needs to be removed and you cannot move it yourself – like if you live alone or if you just don’t want to deal with the hassle of removing the junk.

Pros:

-Convenient

-You don’t have to load the junk yourself

Cons:

-May require multiple trips

-Typically more expensive

-May not be available in remote parts of Chester County PA

Pros and Cons of Dumpster Rental

Dumpster rental, on the other hand, requires renters to fill up the container themselves.

Employees don’t haul out junk for you and put it in the dumpster: they just deliver the dumpster, and you fill it up on your own.

Dumpsters are typically rented by the week and are ideal for projects that last for more than 1 or 2 days.

Dumpster rental can be a more convenient solution: you can fill up the dumpster at your own pace. You can fill it up gradually over the week without feeling the need to rush the project. Once the dumpster is full, or your project is complete, you wait for the dumpster rental company to pick it up.

Dumpster rentals are almost always cheaper than full-service junk removal companies – but make sure you understand the weight limits, overage charges, and other fees included as part of your dumpster rental. Otherwise, you could end up paying significantly more than you first thought.

Pros:

-Convenient

-Easy dropoff and pickup

-Fill up the dumpster throughout the week

Cons:

-You have to manually load your junk into the dumpster

-May cost extra to deliver a dumpster to remote parts of Chester County, PA

Some Local Companies Offer Both

Today, many dumpster rental companies offer both junk removal and dumpster rental services.
These companies make it easy to decide between the two: you may receive an estimate on both types of services from the company, for example, and decide that the slightly higher cost of junk removal is worth it.

In other cases, you might realize halfway through your project that you have more junk than you can handle on your own, in which case you may be able to bundle your Downingtown PA dumpster rental with junk removal services.

With a number of popular dumpster rental companies serving Chester County, PA, it’s easy to choose between dumpster rental and junk removal.

Whether you’ve rented a dumpster before or this is your first time, the dumpster rental process can be a bit more complicated than you think.

Do you need a 10, 20, or 30 yard dumpster? Should you go for the full junk removal service or just basic dumpster rental?

Whether you’re renting a dumpster in Philadelphia or any other big city in America, here are some tips that will help the process go as smoothly as possible.

5) Understand How Dumpster Rental Works

If this is your first dumpster rental, then you may not understand the basic process of renting a dumpster and hauling away the trash. Here’s how the process works:

-You pay for the dumpster rental

-You pay for the weight of the junk you put in the dumpster on top of the dumpster rental cost (some companies have low overage fees and high weight limits, while others don’t have any weight limits and you pay for every ounce of junk in the container).

-You have to check local regulations to ensure you can place the dumpster onto your street or property without breaking local bylaws

-You load your junk into the dumpster

-The dumpster rental company picks up the dumpster and safely and responsibly removes all trash inside that dumpster

That’s it! Whether you’re doing a home renovation or a major construction project, a good dumpster rental helps everything move forward as smoothly as possible.

4) Price Goes Up with Size

The bigger the dumpster, the more you’re going to pay.

This is where dumpster rentals get tricky: you may have no idea how much junk you have, and what your dumpster rental needs may be.

Do you need a 15 yard dumpster for your bathroom renovation? Or should you splurge on the 20 yard dumpster just to be safe?

Dumpsters are always sold and measured in “yards”. Yards simply refers to cubic yards.

If you’re unsure, err on the side of caution and go for the bigger size. No matter which size you choose, you’ll be filling it up with the same junk by weight – so the price difference is marginal.

3) Waste Management Prices Vary by Region

How much does it cost to dispose of waste in your region?

If you live in a big city, then your waste may need to go to a waste transfer station before being shipped outside city limits to a landfill. Certain regions have stricter standards on junk removal – like what can and cannot be recycled.

In general, those who live in a big city like Philadelphia will pay more.

Disposal companies pay anywhere from $35 to $100 per ton to dispose of your waste. In Philadelphia and other big cities, cheap dumpster rentals can be harder to find than you might expect. Remember: this is an unavoidable cost of junk removal that gets passed on to you.

2) Expect to Pay More for Remote Delivery Locations

Remote delivery locations will inevitably cost more. Remember: the dumpster rental company has to drag a big dumpster to your location and then come pick it up later. These travel costs can add up.

If you’re outside Philadelphia in a rural area, then consider working with a local company that services your area instead of a dumpster rental based in Philly.

1) Work with a Company that Provides Free Estimates and Honest Prices

One of the best tips you can get is to work with a company that’s honest about its rates and efficient with its customer service.

There are plenty of nationwide dumpster rental companies, but your best bet is often to work with a local dumpster rental company.

These companies typically provide better rates (or are willing to undercut the bigger brands). They also understand your local area – and its regulations – better than anyone.

Working with local dumpster rental companies in Philadelphia isn’t always a sure thing. But typically, customers find that they offer a higher level of service for approximately the same price.

Of course, you also benefit because your money stays in the local area – so everybody wins!

Need to get the answers to some important questions about dumpster rentals? We’ve put together our top 10 most frequently asked questions about dumpster rentals:

1) How Do I Rent A Dumpster?

Call us or fill out the Eagle Dumpster Rental online form. We give you a quote, then you tell us the date and time you need your dumpster delivered and picked up.

2) How Much Does Dumpster Rental Cost?

Dumpster rental prices vary widely depending on your location, dump fees, the types of material being discarded, and other factors.

Expect to pay somewhere between $100 and $1,000 to rent a dumpster for average residential or construction purposes. Obviously, bigger dumpsters with bigger weight limits cost more.

You may have to pay more than $1,000 when renting a dumpster for major construction and demolition projects.

3) How Big Are Rental Dumpsters?

Rental dumpster dimensions are always measured in cubic yards (most rental companies just say “yards”). Typical sizes include 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 yard dumpsters. Dumpster rental companies – including Eagle Dumpster Rental – offer a varying combination of dumpster sizes to meet the unique needs of any project.

4) For How Long Can I Rent A Dumpster?

Dumpster rentals can be as short as one day or as long as four weeks. Sometimes, customers will order a morning dumpster delivery and then the dumpster will be removed that night. Some customers also require daily, weekly, or bi-weekly dumpster removals, where the dumpster is removed, emptied, and returned on a regular basis until the project is complete.

5) What Items Can I Not Put in a Dumpster?

Rental dumpsters should never be loaded with hazardous items. Talk to your dumpster rental company for a specific list. Basic no-go items include flammable and toxic materials. Some companies also forbid recyclable materials (or at least, they forbid mixing recyclable and non-recyclable materials inside the same dumpster). As a general rule of thumb, anything that can go in a curbside bin can most likely go into a dumpster.

6) Do I Need to Load the Dumpster in a Specific Way?

Try to load your dumpster evenly, distributing the debris as evenly as possible throughout the container. Avoid overloading the dumpster. If you overload your dumpster, you may be charged extra fees by your rental company.

7) Do I Need to Rent a Roll-Off Dumpster?

In addition to roll-off dumpsters, many dumpster rental companies offer smaller containers ranging from 1 yard to 8 yards in size, which is useful for minor projects like yard cleanups or garage cleanups.

8) Do I Need to Be At Home When the Dumpster is Delivered and Picked Up?

You typically don’t have to be at home for dumpster deliveries and pick-ups. As long as you provide clear instructions as to where the dumpster is going, the crew should be able to figure things out.

9) Can You Pick Up the Dumpster the Same Day It’s Delivered?

Many customers fill up their dumpsters quickly and are ready to have their dumpsters picked up before the end of the day. In many situations, dumpster rental companies like Eagle Dumpster Rental can provide same-day service.

10) Can I Order Dumpster Bags?

Dumpster bags are smaller and hold less waste than traditional dumpsters, but are perfectly suited to smaller construction projects and cleanups. Many junk removal companies offer dumpster bag rentals in addition to dumpster rentals. Plastic Trash

Never rented a dumpster before? That’s okay. Few people describe themselves as “dumpster experts”. Many people will only rent a dumpster once or twice in their lives.

With that in mind, let’s teach you some of the most important things to know about renting a dumpster.

Local Companies Versus the Big Guys

There are two broad types of dumpster rental companies: local haulers versus some of the biggest, nationwide companies.

While you may be tempted by the flashy websites of some of the bigger companies, local haulers are typically the better option. Local haulers will typically help you save a lot of money: they just don’t have the overhead costs of some of the larger companies.

Plus, if you care about your local economy, then you know that the money you spend on a local hauler will typically stay within your region.

Of course, that’s not to mention things like personalized level of service – something the local guys typically do better than nationwide companies.

How to Rent a Dumpster

Renting a dumpster is straightforward. Here’s the basic process.

First, there are multiple sizes of dumpsters. These dumpsters are all different, but they have one important thing in common: they’re measured in square yardage.

When someone says they’re renting out a “10 yard” dumpster, it means that dumpster can hold up to 10 cubic yards of debris. The exact dimensions of that dumpster could change, but the total amount of waste it can hold remains the same. Measuring cubic yards is as easy as going 3ft x 3ft x 3ft.

The dumpster company will deliver a dumpster to your address, then you fill it up with material. The dumpster rental company come and picks up the dumpster, then takes it to the dump. You pay a “tipping charge” based on the amount of material the dumpster company left at the dump.

The dumpster delivery truck will drive over a weight scale going into the dump, dump out the material inside the dumpster, and pass over the same scale on the way back out, paying an amount based on the difference between the entry and exit weights.

If you have unique materials that require more complex disposals, then you may need to pay special overage fees to the dumpster company, because they’ll pay these fees to the dump.

How Do Overage Fees Work?

Dumpster rental companies will sometimes charge overage fees. These overage fees are based on your estimated usage of the dumpster.

For example, a company may rent out a 10 yard dumpster for $250, estimating that it will be filled with 1,000 pounds of material. If you go over that limit – say, by placing really heavy stuff in your dumpster, then you may need to pay an overage fee.

Be careful with overage fees: some dumpster companies will intentionally set their dumpster limits low, knowing that you’ll probably go over the limit. Then, they can charge more lucrative overage fees. Always ask for weight limits and overage fee information upfront.

How to Avoid Damaging your Driveway

One of the biggest hazards in the dumpster rental industry is damage to the customer’s property.

In most cases, this damage comes in the form of scratches on the driveway: the metal dumpster container and the metal wheels on the rear of the container can make contact with the concrete, scratching it and leaving visible damage. This is particularly problematic with older driveways.

Fortunately, the scratches always look a lot worse than they actually are: many customers are surprised to find they can pressure wash these scratches away in just a few seconds.

Talk to the dumpster professionals at Eagle Dumpster Rental and we’ll help you find the best place to put a dumpster on your property.

Big projects need big solutions. Don’t be caught unprepared when you have large amounts of trash, junk, or debris to move. Contact us the leading professional roll off rental and junk-removal company in Philadelphia. Whether you are in need of small-scale junk removal from a personal home, 20 yard bin rental for a home renovation, or seeking full-service trash hauling for a commercial construction project, We are the go-to company for dumpster rentals in Philadelphia PA.

With main offices conveniently located in downtown Philly, Eagle Dumpster Rental can quickly dispatch crew members for all trash removal and debris hauling needs in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas.

Quick and Effective Tips for Proper Waste Management…

Whether you live in Philadelphia County, Delaware County, Chester County, Berks County, Lancaster County, Montgomery County, Bucks County, New Castle County, or any township/borough in surrounding areas, you may need to rent a dumpster at some point to handle the waste generated by projects such as home renovation or remodeling. We’ve put together a list of commonly used tips and methods of organization to help make your job easier, more efficient, and to help you save some money along the way.

First and foremost you’ll want to do a bit of research as to the different dumpster rental companies there are in your area. There are a few options to pick from, so feel free to call each of them up and go over the information regarding your job. This will help them to get you a price and to help judge the time frame you’re looking at for the task at hand. The information you should expect to discuss with a dumpster rental companies is: scale of the job (are you remodeling your kitchen? Demolishing your old house? Digging out a pool?), amount of experience you have (have you ever rented a dumpster before? Are you in the construction business?), some minor details about the are you’ll need it delivered to (is it easily accessible by a flat-bed truck?), as well as the type of materials you’ll need hauled off. That bit of simple information will greatly speed up the screening process when it comes to looking for a dumpster rental company to handle your job’s waste management.

This is also the best time in the process to ask as many questions as you can think of. Ask if you’ll be needing permits for your dumpster rental as certain counties will have regulations against placing dumpsters in view of the public eye or if you’ll be needing to block off a sidewalk with your dumpster for any length of time. As a general rule of thumb, the more knowledgeable the dumpster rental company is about city rules and regulations, the more experience they have and the more comfortable you should feel with doing business with them.

Finally, express your expectations over the phone. If you have a time frame for delivery or pickup, make it clear that you need it delivered by a certain time and picked up when is most convenient to you. If you need same day dumpster delivery or haul-off, make that clear as well, some companies will be over booked or unable to make the trip that same day. If the dumpster rental company seems to be hesitant to give you firm answers as to a time frame for delivery or pick up, you may want to consider another company. Proper timing is absolutely crucial to construction jobs and a residential/smaller scale rental shouldn’t be treated any differently.

Getting Ready To Call for Price Quotes

As we mentioned above you should be prepared with certain information before you call up a Philly based dumpster rental company to make sure everything goes smoothly. The more information you have readily available, the better for both you and the rental company. The first question you’ll probably be asked is what kind of materials you’re going to be dumping. If it’s a kitchen remodel you may be getting rid of some drywall, wooden 2x4s, old appliances (stove, microwave, gas range), old window fixtures etc. Redoing a bedroom may require you to rip out the old carpet padding, carpet, baseboards, etc. A big landscaping job will call for dirt, sod, gravel, grass, tree trimmings, tree trunks, etc. This kind of information will provide good insight into how much weight will be hauled off which directly effects the rental price. At the end of the day, the Pennsylvania dumps charge by the ton of weight disposed/recycled.

The size and composition of the junk you’re hauling off will also help them understand how many dumpsters you’ll need to rent. The most popular size is the 20-yard haul off dumpster rental variant for both residential and construction type job sites. These allow huge volumes of waste to be loaded up and hauled off without having to bring in the extra heavy duty delivery/pickup trucks which saves everyone involved money. Knowing the materials to be disposed of also reveals whether or not anything will be considered hazardous or toxic which requires special cases to dispose of, however, most residential homes aren’t built with these types of materials fortunately. This is more of the case with industrial clients who deal with toxic chemicals or materials.

Finally, you’ll just need to provide a time and location for drop off as well as the time frame you’ll be needing the rental for. This is one of the final factors to judge price and availability. This also allows the dumpster rental company to check inventory against the date you’ll need it to ensure you get the dumpster you ordered when you need it.

Getting Dumpster Rental Price Quotes

Once you’ve gathered all of this information, it’s time to get a list of Philadelphia dumpster rental companies to contact for a price quote. One of the easiest ways would be to talk to friends and neighbors to see if they’ve ever dealt with this kind of process. Renting a dumpster isn’t a typical daily activity so anyone you know who may have rented one in the past will most likely remember the name of the company they worked with. Alternatively, you can ask local businesses or construction contractors as these contacts will be much more likely to have dealt with a Philly dumpster rental company before. If you don’t know anyone who has rented a dumpster before, a quick Google search for a local dumpster rental company should provide some pretty good insight. There are plenty of review sites with people detailing their experience with various companies in the area. Cross-check your list of potential companies with the Better Business Bureau website as well!

Once your list is gathered, it’s time to call the companies. Make sure and go over all of the questions and details previously discussed to make sure you’re comfortable with the answers they’re providing. When they provide a quote there are a few bits of information you’ll want to go over. Is any part of this price quote variable? Are you going to charge for transportation or disposal overages? Do you charge by the day, the week, the hour? The most common pricing scale is to charge a flat rate for the length of time and size of the dumpster up to a maximum weight limit. Any weight over that (called overages) will be tacked on at the end; this is only because it costs the dumpster rental company more to dispose of excess weight, so if you book a job for 2 tons and end up disposing of 15 the rental company will actually be losing money by doing business with you.

Landfill disposal vs recycling drop off will also have different rates which is why it’s important to go over the materials they’ll be hauling out of your job site. The more easily disposed of or recycled materials you have, typically the less expensive it should be. Things like large volumes of plastic bags or non bio degradable materials will cost more since they are worse for the environment and have slower and more unwieldy disposal procedures. Other than that, the pricing should be pretty straight forward. The only other standard additional fee that could be assessed is if your job runs longer than your scheduled time frame, but that’s the case with any type of equipment rental – dumpster or not.

After you’ve gone over your requirements with a few different companies and have some price quotes, you’re in a position to make a choice. A few things to consider in your mind when narrowing your list down is how the company treated you and responded to your questions. Were they quick to reply and confident of their answers, or did it seem like they were struggling to answer? Were they telling you what you wanted to hear, or how the process actually goes? The rules and regulations set throughout Pennsylvania are very solid and by-the-book, so there isn’t really any variance when it comes to waste disposal and the dumpster rental company’s answer should reflect that. Keeping all of this in mind, you should have a solid basis to make your informed decision as to who you are going to be renting a dumpster from.

When Your Dumpster Rental Arrives

You’ve made the call and scheduled your dumpster. Maybe you’ve placed a deposit on the bin (some companies require this as you are renting expensive equipment from them), and the day comes where you’ll be getting your dumpster delivered. If you plan on being on-site during the delivery, you can guide the driver to drop it off in the specific location you’d like, otherwise, they will go off the information you provided when booking the appointment in the first place. Easy access for both you and the driver is important for the safety and convenience of all parties involved at this point. Keep in mind if you change your decision as to where it goes last minute, if the bin is obstructing ANY public place (street, sidewalk etc) you will need a permit to do so which requires at least 10 business days to process. You can find more information regarding the required permits from the https://www.phila.gov/.

Also keep in mind that this is a very heavy, flat bottomed piece of equipment that will be sitting in one spot for a length of time. Avoid grassy or landscaped areas as it will likely kill off any vegetation underneath it for it’s duration. Also avoid soft, squishy or moist areas as well to prevent it from sinking in to the land and causing damage. We recommend a few planks of plywood under the sides of the dumpster in order to reduce the surface area contacting your property. Even cement or rock can be scuffed or damage by resting a several ton dumpster on any surface.

Finally, it’s recommended that you stop filling the dumpster around 75% of the height of the dumpster. This helps avoid spillage during haul off and transportation as well as leaves room for the cover that will be placed over it prior to pick up. This also helps avoid overage charges as most dumpsters begin reaching weight capacity around 75% as far as the Philly dump is concerned.

The above information should be enough to help you make an informed decision as to which Philadelphia dumpster rental company to go with, what to expect, how to get the best prices, and how to go about actually having the dumpster on your property. Asking a few questions and calling a few companies can save you a significant amount of money as well as streamline the entire procedure, leaving you with less to struggle with and less headaches to handle. Dumpster rental can be an easy and stress-free process and preparing ahead of time will make sure you go with a company who will be able to guide you along the way.

New Location

Eagle Dumpster is proud to announce that we have opened up a new location in Chester County PA. The new location is at 2014 Bondsville Rd in Downingtown PA 19335