Know Before You Toss
One of the most common questions we get is: "Can I put this in the dumpster?" It's a fair question. Renting a dumpster feels like getting a free pass to throw everything away — and mostly, you can. But there are real restrictions on certain materials, and knowing them upfront saves you from potential fees, delays, or headaches down the road.
What Can Go In
The good news: the vast majority of household and construction debris is perfectly fine. Here's what you can toss without any hesitation:
- Furniture — couches, tables, chairs, bed frames, mattresses
- General household junk and clutter
- Cardboard and paper (break it down to save space)
- Clothing and textiles
- Construction debris — drywall, lumber, flooring, tiles, cabinets
- Roofing materials — shingles, underlayment, gutters
- Concrete, brick, and masonry (watch the weight — these are heavy)
- Dirt, sod, and clean fill
- Yard waste — branches, leaves, brush
- Appliances (most of them — see exceptions below)
- Metal and scrap
- Carpet and padding
Weight tip: Concrete, dirt, and brick are extremely heavy. A small pile can push you over your included weight limit fast. If your project involves significant amounts of these materials, plan for potential overage fees or call us to discuss your options.
What Cannot Go In
These materials are prohibited by law, regulation, or our rental agreement. This isn't just our policy — it's how waste disposal works at the state and federal level:
Hazardous Household Waste
- Paint — latex and oil-based paint. Dried, empty paint cans are usually fine.
- Solvents and thinners — mineral spirits, acetone, turpentine
- Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
- Cleaning chemicals — bleach, ammonia, pool chemicals
- Motor oil and automotive fluids
- Propane tanks — even empty ones
Electronics and Batteries
- Televisions and computer monitors
- Computers and laptops
- Car batteries and lithium batteries
Appliances with Refrigerant
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Air conditioners and window units
- Dehumidifiers
These contain Freon or similar refrigerants that require special handling. Many scrap metal dealers and appliance retailers will haul these away. Your local county waste facility may also have a program.
Other Prohibited Items
- Tires — most landfills refuse them; check with local tire shops for disposal
- Asbestos-containing materials — requires licensed abatement and disposal
- Medical and biohazardous waste
- Railroad ties and treated lumber in large quantities
- Wet concrete or liquid waste
What To Do With Items That Can't Go In
Just because something can't go in your dumpster doesn't mean you're stuck with it. Here are a few options:
- Walton County Solid Waste: The county operates a household hazardous waste program. Check their schedule for drop-off events.
- Retailer take-back: Many paint stores, hardware stores, and auto parts stores accept old paint, oil, and batteries.
- Scrap metal dealers: Appliances, metal, and certain electronics can often be sold or dropped off at local scrap yards.
- Donation: Furniture, appliances, and clothing in decent condition can go to local thrift stores or Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
When in doubt, call us. We'd rather spend two minutes on the phone helping you figure out what's okay than have you deal with a prohibited item fee. (770) 207-6041.
Need a Dumpster in Walton County?
We offer 20 and 30 yard roll-off dumpsters with flat-rate pricing. Give us a call to schedule delivery.
See Dumpster Pricing