Renting a rolloff dumpster for your construction project can provide a lot of convenience, but it can also cause some problems if you don't research well first. Here are some of the common mistakes to avoid with your construction dumpster.
Not Asking Permission to Get a Dumpster
First, you want to make sure you don't rent a dumpster before you have permission from the relevant authorities. First of all, if you're part of a homeowner's association, you may have signed a clause that prevents you from putting construction dumpsters and other unseemly items on your property. You should always seek the approval of your homeowner's association president before spending money on a dumpster rental.
Then, there's the issue of getting approval from local government authorities. You will likely need to get a permit for your dumpster. The permit will designate specific days that you're allowed to have the permit and may allow traffic and parking to be redirected to other areas.
Choosing the Wrong Size of Dumpster
Choosing the right size of dumpster is key. For most construction projects in your home, a twenty- or forty-yard receptacle should suffice. The size of dumpster you will need depends on whether you're doing an addition (where more materials are being added than removed) or a partial teardown and rebuild (where many materials are going in the dumpster each day). Consult your dumpster company if you're unsure of which size to pick. Getting a dumpster that's too big is a waste of money, since you're paying for both the extra size of the dumpster and the cost of hauling an extra-large load for each scheduled offload. But a dumpster that's too small can have its own problems, such as overflowing too quickly.
Not Monitoring Overflow
Once you have your dumpster and have set a good schedule for trash removal, don't make the mistake of simply letting things go from there. The dumpster still has a set amount of space, and on some major teardown weeks, you may fill the dumpster much more quickly than expected. Your construction crew won't know where to put the extra refuse, so they may pile it in front of or around the dumpster if this is the only spot. But this makes it impossible to empty the dumpster at all, since the trash-removal service needs to back directly into the rolloff dumpster in order to empty it.
You may want to instruct your construction supervisor to check the waste levels each day or simply do so yourself. If the levels are past 80% full, you may need to schedule an additional trash-removal pickup before your scheduled maintenance visit.
For more information, consult a company like Sullivan Refuse Inc.
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