Roll-Off Dumpster FAQs

What is NOT allowed in a Dumpster?

Any type of hazardous material such as paints, oil, car batteries, pesticides, propane tanks, gas cans, any flammable liquids, asbestos, tires, major appliances, and electronics.

How do I know what size dumpster to get?

If you are cleaning out a house and have furniture items, you may want to go with a 20yd or 30yd dumpster as the furniture will take up room in the container. Always remember going to the next size container is never a bad thing as you want all the room you can get rather than coming up with no room at all and you still have items to put in the container. Example = a 12yd roll off can hold the equivalent to the size of a mid-size car.

Can I have the roll off dumpster placed in an alley?

No, but there may be exceptions. Most alleys are not wide enough for trucks loading and unloading dumpsters to back into them, and with low hanging wires they would not be able to deliver the container in a safe manner. The exception is if you are on a corner lot and the alley is wide enough for the truck and container to back into. You may still have to get a permit just in case to place it in the street. Contact Milwaukee Dumpster Rental if you want to know more.

Can I place the roll off on my lawn?

No, but there may be exceptions. The weight of the truck would leave ruts in the yard, causing it to sink into the lawn and damaging the grass. An exception may be made if the area you need to use is dry and you place plywood down for the container to sit on. Contact Milwaukee Dumpster Rental if you want to know more. 

Can I place the dumpster on the street?

Yes, in most cases. For many renovation and construction projects, the driveway is usually not an option. By obtaining a street permit from your municipality, you can then place the container in the street. Some municipalities will only give street permits for a certain amount of days and they do charge to issue the permit as well, and they may require barricades. In some areas it is the responsibility of the hauler to get the permit and the barricades.

Do I need a permit to order a dumpster?

If the container is going in your driveway you do not need a permit to order a container. The only time you need a permit is if it is going in the street. Always check with you municipality just to make sure you are following all local statutes.

Do dumpsters have backdoors?

Roll off containers have a swing door on the end which can be opened to walk items into the container. The roll off door needs a 9-foot area to swing open.

Will a dumpster damage my driveway?

To avoid any type of damage to a driveway, you can place plywood down so the driver can place the container on top of it. Concrete driveways may crack under the weight of the container and the truck, and in the hot summer months the weight of the container and the truck may leave indentations in the asphalt. Laying plywood down is your best defense at mitigating damage to your driveway.

How long can I keep the dumpster?

This usually depends on the dumpster company. Some companies will rent them out for 5 to 7 days, and others may rent them for a longer period of time. We rent for up to 14 days.

Do I need to be present during the delivery or removal, and what should I do to prepare for the container?

It’s up to you if you wish to be present during the delivery or removal. If you do not want to be there, here are a few helpful tips to remember:

1. Make sure all vehicles and any other objects are out of the way of the delivery or removal area.

2. Make sure all wires and overhead obstructions have been cleared from the delivery area.

3. Make sure the area for the delivery has been marked for the driver, and any plywood is placed on the driveway for the container to be set down on. 

How much can I place in the dumpster?

All containers have a load level sticker which will indicated that the material should not go above or sticking out above the load level sign.