When you're only interested in a short-term dumpster rental for a construction project or yard cleanup, you may think it's a fixed cost rental that is easy to estimate. However, there are many different factors that add up to influence the total cost you're charged at the end of the rental. Despite the best efforts of the dumpster rental company to provide an accurate quote, you may end up with a higher bill if any of these five factors play a role in your use of the container.
Restricted Materials
The dumpster rental company is responsible for bringing the trash you load into your container to the local landfill or trash processing facility. If your local waste management system charges high fees for tires, paint, mattresses, and other specific items, you'll also pay more if you load them into your dumpster. The dumpster company has no choice but to pass on the price set by your local landfill.
Ask the dumpster company for a list of items that are prohibited or that come with an additional fee for disposal. Working with a local rental company ensures you'll get an accurate estimate based on the exact type of material you plan to use the dumpster to store. If you add items into the dumpster that the company can't accept, they'll charge you more to remove them and deal with them separately.
Compacted Garbage
Items with small size and uniform shape, such as gravel and finely broken concrete rubble, weigh more than larger objects packed into the same space. Since less air is present between these fine or compacted items, they weigh more per cubic foot filled in the dumpster. Waste disposal is primarily charged by weight, so the rental company will add a surcharge to your bill if the weight is higher than expected when the driver picks up the dumpster.
Cleanup Cost
Since dumpsters can fit a surprising amount of trash and debris into a single container, many renters end up tossing in trash bags or items that gathered water over a period of time. Liquids, small items, and even powdery residues can all increase your charges from the rental company after you return the dumpster. Using disposable dumpster liners is the best way to prevent this charge. Most dumpster rental companies are happy to provide them with your delivered container so you can save them time in the long run on cleaning.
Driveway Protection
Don't forget to factor in the cost of a few sheets of plywood to protect your driveway or yard from the dumpster. While the delivery driver will place the container as gently as possible on the surface you choose, there are still hundreds of pounds of weight pressing onto the surface after you load it up. Putting down sheets of plywood first prevents marks from marring the surface of a paved or gravel driveway. Plywood may suffocate some grass if you have the dumpster placed on the lawn, but the dumpster will have a similar effect and may get stuck from sinking into the ground without the wood.
Long Distance
Consider the distance between you and the rental company you choose for providing the dumpster. Longer delivery distances result in higher total costs for the rental. If you need a dumpster emptied in the middle of a major renovation, you'll also pay more per mile for the extra pickup and return. Look for a rental company located as close to your home or business as possible to minimize the delivery fees. If there's any concern about this particular part of the cost, use a GPS program to estimate the delivery distance as accurately as possible before requesting quotes from nearby service providers.