Even though a dumpster is usually a convenient way to get rid of large amounts of trash, you can’t throw everything into one. Certain materials can create environmental or safety hazards if they aren’t disposed of properly. Let’s take a look at what can go into a dumpster and what to do the things that can’t.
What You Can Throw Into a Dumpster
As a rule, anything that you can safely throw into your trash, you can throw into a dumpster. This includes almost all the garbage you would find in a home or office, old clothes, broken toys, and just about any nonorganic trash that you have lying around. It also includes things like cardboard boxes and aluminum cans, although we strongly recommend recycling those items instead.
You can also throw most furniture into dumpsters, although there are some counties that don’t allow upholstered furniture in landfills. Some cities also charge additional fees to dispose of larger pieces of furniture.
If you’ve been renovating your home and need to get rid of any waste you produce, you’ll be happy to hear that you can throw almost all of that into a dumpster with the rest of your trash. Renovation waste tends to be very heavy, so make sure that any dumpster you use during your latest remodel can handle the load.
Finally, organic yard waste is perfectly safe to throw into a dumpster. Some counties do limit the amount of waste that you can throw away, so make sure you contact your county to know how many dead leaves and wood you can throw away at once.
What Can’t Go Into a Dumpster
Anything that contains potentially hazardous materials should never be thrown into a dumpster. For example, paints and lacquers may contain mercury or lead and can harm the environment if they end up in a landfill. There are likely to be places in your area where you can go to safely dispose of unused cans of paint, so find one near you instead of throwing your old paint in a dumpster.
Electronics such as old computers and cell phones also contain materials that can harm the environment, so don’t throw them into a dumpster. You need to recycle this “e-waste” instead. Services in your community can take care of this. This also goes for batteries, especially lithium or car batteries. You can usually throw small alkaline batteries into a dumpster, but recycle other batteries.
Finally, never throw anything containing gasoline, propane, or oil in a dumpster. They are highly combustible and pose a serious safety risk. Even hot water tanks can be dangerous. It is often illegal to dispose of any of these materials in a dumpster or landfill. Contact a hazardous material collection center instead.
To learn more about how to use a dumpster safely, or if you need to rent a dumpster in San Jose, CA, call A&A Recycling today.
