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What items are banned from a roll-off dumpster?
The short list: paints and solvents, motor oil, pesticides, propane tanks, car batteries, tires, asbestos siding or tile, and anything still under pressure like aerosol cans. Electronics with mercury or lead, like older TVs and monitors, usually need a separate recycler too. Wet paint is the one people miss most often. If it applies to spraying coatings or herbicides on your job site, OSHA 1926.51(f)(1) requires washing facilities for workers exposed to those contaminants, which tells you something about how the agency treats these materials even before disposal enters the picture. Freon-bearing appliances, fluorescent tubes and medical waste round out the list. None of this is unique to Tempe, but a city inspector or hauler will flag a load that shows any of it, and that can mean a rejected pickup or a stopped truck. If you are not sure what you are dealing with, ask before the construction dumpster rental shows up so the crew is not guessing on-site.
Why does it matter what goes in the dumpster?
A contaminated load can get the whole bin rejected at the transfer station, and that means a second trip and a second charge. Weight matters too. Dumpsters get evaluated against posted dumpster weight limits, and wet debris, shingles or concrete pushes a load over fast. A mixed load with hazardous material inside also puts the driver and the transfer station crew at risk, which is exactly why haulers train for it. Tempe sees plenty of home renovation work, and the demo debris from a kitchen or bath project is almost always fine for a standard bin. But if that renovation turns up old solvent cans in the garage, set those aside. Our home renovation porta potty customers ask about this constantly because renovation and cleanout jobs tend to surface exactly the items that do not belong in a dumpster: old propane bottles, leftover deck stain, a car battery from 2009. Sort those out first and the rest of the load moves through without issue.
What can I put in a dumpster?
Everyday construction debris, drywall, wood scraps, roofing material within weight limits, packaging, furniture and general household junk are all standard. Concrete, brick and dirt are usually fine too but often need their own bin because of weight, which is worth checking against dumpster sizes and dimensions before you order. A 20 yard bin handles most single-room remodels and roof tear-offs. Larger cleanouts move up to the 30 yard dumpster rental or the 40 yard dumpster rental depending on volume, while a small yard cleanup or garage purge often fits a 10 yard dumpster rental. Every size needs the same clearance behind it: about 60 feet of straight space for the delivery truck to place and pull the bin safely. If your driveway or alley in Tempe cannot give that much room, tell us before delivery day and we will figure out placement together. Pricing runs by duration, not by what is inside the bin, as long as the load stays within the accepted categories.
| unit | duration | low | typical | high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dumpster | day | 51 | 75 | 112 |
| dumpster | weekend | 390 | 440 | 497 |
| dumpster | week | 426 | 600 | 778 |
| dumpster | month | 91 | 108 | 500 |
Full detail on how these bands work is on the dumpster rental cost page.
Are there permits or rules I need to check in Tempe?
Local permit rules for dumpster placement, especially in the street or right of way, are not something we can state generically here. Check with the City of Tempe before you place a bin on a public street or sidewalk, and see our dumpster permit requirements page for what to ask about. Placement rules can depend on the property, the neighborhood and how long the bin sits. If you are working a job that also needs temporary fence rental around the site, or a construction site services package with a toilet and a bin together, mention the dumpster placement question at the same time so nothing gets held up. Housekeeping on an active job site matters for another reason too: OSHA 1926.25 requires scrap and debris to be cleared from work areas, so a dumpster that is easy to reach and easy to load keeps a crew compliant, not just tidy. For sites in Guadalupe, 3.5 miles southwest of Tempe, or as far out as Sun Lakes, 16.9 miles south, the same sorting rules apply; distance does not change what belongs in the bin.
FAQ
Can I throw a mattress in a dumpster?
Yes, most standard roll-off bins in Tempe accept mattresses without a problem. They take up volume fast, so factor that into which size you book, whether that is a 10 yard dumpster rental or something larger for a full cleanout.
What happens if I put a banned item in the bin?
The load can get rejected at the transfer station, and you may get billed for a special pickup or re-sort. Set aside paint, batteries, tires and anything pressurized before the truck arrives, and ask us if you are unsure.
Can construction debris and household junk go in the same dumpster?
Usually yes, as long as neither pile includes hazardous material. Weight is the bigger concern; concrete and shingles are heavy and can push you past dumpster weight limits even in a large bin.
Do I need a permit to put a dumpster in my driveway?
Driveway placement on private property typically does not need a city permit, but street or sidewalk placement usually does. Confirm with the City of Tempe directly, since we cannot state a blanket rule here.
How do I know what size dumpster I need?
It depends on the job. A single-room remodel usually fits a 10 or 20 yard bin; a full house cleanout or roof tear-off often needs 30 or 40 yards. Check dumpster sizes and dimensions or ask us directly.
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Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.