Winter is coming up quick which means a lot of last second work and projects are happening right now. Especially in a place like the Lehigh Valley, people are feeling the itch to clear out their garages and homes or finish up some needed landscaping before the snow starts to fall. All of these projects can create a lot of waste though which will clog up your job site and take away from precious time you might not have. A dumpster rental from redbox+ Dumpsters of Lehigh Valley will effectively remove large amounts of trash and give you a place to store it that will be out of the way. But before you go and rent one of our dumpsters, there are a few things to bear in mind if you want to keep within the rules and sometimes the laws/
Sadly there are certain products that are banned in dumpsters. Lehigh Valley is a big area with lots of cities that have different regulations for garbage collection so that list of products may vary depending on where you live. This is why it’s so crucial to contact your Lehigh Valley dumpster rental company to discover what items are prohibited in the area. A reputable dumpster business will aid you in locating alternatives for waste that cannot go in a roll-off dumpster or into your home bin.
Some banned items are more universal. With that, here are the top 8 items that individuals frequently throw in their trash that you actually cannot put in a dumpster, as well as an explanation of how to properly dispose of them:
- Anything that is flammable, toxic, hazardous, or corrosive. These kind of things are strictly forbidden from being placed in any type of waste container, whether it’s your home rubbish bin or a roll-off dumpster you rent. Here’s some info from the EPA about how to dispose of household hazardous waste to give you some ideas to get rid of these types of items safely.
- Car, bike, or other rubber tires. Even though 250 million scrap tires are created every year, tires should never be sent to landfills in the United States. Tires need to go through a specific recycling technique in order to be disposed of as a result of environmental concerns.
- Paints, lacquers, and even their cans may contain hazardous chemicals such as mercury and lead. Latex paint will sometimes be an exception to this rule, however it should be combined with something like cat litter to be disposed of in a garbage can or construction dumpster. Stains, paints, and finishes, including those from aerosol cans, are also prohibited.
- Automobile oil or any oil typically used for industrial equipment is classified as hazardous and cannot be disposed of in garbage cans or trash bins. This includes oil used for lawn mowers, chain saws, or other motorized equipment.
- Asbestos from older houses. We all know that there is a lot of history here in Lehigh Valley. Unfortunately, some of that history includes asbestos filled homes. It was used for ceilings, roofs, flooring, insulation, fire resistance, and more in buildings built before the late 1970s. Through research we now know that asbestos is a highly dangerous material that can lead to a variety of lung diseases. Because it is hazardous to handle and cannot be disposed of in dumpsters, professional home contractors should be contacted to remove this dangerous substance.
- Any kind of battery. However, car batteries are the most frequent and serious violation. The chemicals, metals, and corrosive materials found in batteries can be quite harmful; particularly car batteries that contain a lead-acid composition.
- Petroleum and gasoline. This goes back to flammable objects but are worth mentioning a second time. These liquids are highly combustible, thus they are not permitted in landfills or, as a result, in dumpsters. Unusable fuels can be disposed of at a local hazardous waste facility.
- Appliances with Freon. Many appliances are welcomed in rental dumpsters, however, a refrigerator is not. They need to be completely rid of the Freon that produces the device’s cooling effect before being tossed in a dumpster. If that sounds like a pain then try to put some good back in the world. Consider donating old appliances to a local Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, where appliances are frequently recycled for low-income populations, instead of dumping them.
With any of these waste products, you need to keep dumpster regulations and guidelines in mind. This will not only help you protect garbage collectors from harm and avoid major headaches when dumpsters are returned, but it also promotes environmental responsibility. Let’s all do our part to protect the Lehigh Valley environment!
To learn more, please contact redbox+ Dumpsters of Lehigh Valley in at 484-559-7824.