questions about dumpster rentals in Lancaster, PA

No, you don’t need to be there as long as we know where to place the dumpster. To ensure everything goes smoothly, provide clear placement instructions when booking and make sure the area is easily accessible and free of obstacles.

We recommend booking at least 2 to 3 days in advance, especially during busy seasons or if you need a specific delivery time. Same-day or next-day service may be available depending on your local Dudez schedule, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

There’s no standard schedule for our dumpster rentals. It depends on your project timeline and how long you booked the dumpster for.

If your project runs longer than expected, let us know before your original rental period ends. We may be able to extend your rental as long as the dumpster is available. The more notice you give, the easier it is for us to accommodate.

Yes, but available rental periods vary by location. Common rental lengths include 7-day, 14-day, and 30-day rentals.

If you’re unsure when scheduling, contact us and explain your project scope. We’ll help you choose the best rental length for your needs, and we can usually adjust the schedule later if things change.

When you’re done, just call or text us to schedule your pickup. You don’t need to be there when we arrive, but there are a few things to double-check before we get there:

• Make sure everything is level with or below the top edge of the dumpster
• Remove any prohibited items that may have accidentally been tossed in
• Ensure the pickup area is clear of vehicles, gates, or other obstacles

Dumpster Dudez handles the rest. We’ll secure the contents with a tarp and clean the area before hauling everything away.

Sometimes, yes! Same-day delivery is available for many locations, but it depends on dumpster availability and the timing of your request.

The best way to find out is to contact your local Dumpster Dudez. We’ll do our best to fit you into our schedule and deliver a dumpster to you as soon as possible.

If your dumpster is full but the job isn’t done, you’ve got two main options:

• Schedule a pickup and swap: We’ll remove the full dumpster and drop off a new, empty one.
• Rent an additional dumpster: If your site has space, you can pay for an additional dumpster to be dropped off.

Both options are subject to availability and scheduling, so contact us as soon as you notice you’re running out of room.

Dumpsters can be placed wherever you need them, as long as you have the space and the necessary approvals. Common spots include driveways, parking lots, construction sites, and curbsides.

If you don’t know where to put it, Dumpster Dudez pros can help you find a placement that’s convenient, safe, accessible, and compliant.

Most likely, yes! Our smallest dumpster has a footprint similar to a standard car, and our largest is about the size of an enclosed landscape trailer. Since most driveways are at least 10 feet wide, there’s usually plenty of room.

If your driveway has limited space, steep angles, gates, or tight turns, let us know when booking so we can plan accordingly.

At Dumpster Dudez, we take every precaution to protect your property. Our professional drivers will:

• Lay down wooden boards to prevent direct contact with your driveway or surface
• Keep the dumpster on those protective boards at all times, during both drop-off and pick-up
• Carefully navigate your property to avoid damage to landscaping, yards, and surrounding areas

That said, dumpsters are heavy, especially when full. If you’re placing it on asphalt, gravel, soft ground, or grass, there’s always a risk of dents, ruts, or surface marks. Dumpster Dudez will do everything possible to help, including recommending alternate placement options and taking extra care to minimize any impact.

Getting ready for your dumpster delivery is simple:

1. Ensure The Area is Clear: Make sure the delivery path and placement spot are free of obstacles—this includes vehicles, equipment, low-hanging branches, wires, or anything that could get in the way above, around, or beneath the dumpster.
2. Open Gates or Access Points: If your rental will be placed behind a fence or in a construction zone, make sure it’s unlocked and accessible so our team can get in and out.
3. Special Requirements or Site Conditions: If there’s limited space, a steep slope, uneven ground, or tight turns, let us know in advance. The more we know, the better we can plan your delivery and place the dumpster exactly where you need it.

There can be, yes. Some neighborhoods, HOAs, or municipalities have rules about where dumpsters can be placed, how long they can stay, or whether a permit is required.

Restrictions may include:

• Limited rental durations
• No street or curbside placement
• Specific days/times for delivery and pickup
• Required notice or approval before delivery

Great question—safety is the most important part of any project. Here are a few safety tips you can follow:

• Load evenly: Distribute weight across the dumpster to prevent tipping or unsafe hauling conditions.
• Keep debris level with the top: Don’t overfill. Items sticking out or piled too high can’t be transported safely and may result in extra fees.
• Break down large items: This helps maximize space and reduces the risk of injury from awkward or heavy pieces.
• Wear proper gear: Gloves, closed-toe shoes, and eye protection help prevent cuts, scrapes, and splinters.
• Don’t toss prohibited items: Avoid throwing out hazardous materials, liquids, or anything restricted. View our full prohibited items list here.
• Watch for sharp or heavy debris: Examine items before lifting to check for sharp edges, and don’t be afraid to ask for help with heavier items.

Heavy materials like concrete, brick, dirt, or soil can quickly max out a dumpster’s weight limit. Giving us advance notice helps us plan for safe transportation and ensures we stay within legal weight limits and local disposal regulations.

Most Dumpster Dudez locations accept all major credit and debit cards, and you’ll typically be charged on the day of delivery.

If any additional fees apply (such as extra weight or extended rental time), those will be calculated after pickup and charged separately.

Payment methods vary by location, so contact your local Dudez if you have any specific questions.

Yes, certain materials and overweight loads may incur extra charges, depending on your rental terms and local disposal regulations.

You should NOT put the following materials in a Dumpster Dudez dumpster:

• Hazardous waste: paints, solvents, chemicals, pesticides, batteries
• Liquids of any kind: oil, fuel, wet paint, cleaning solutions
• Flammable or explosive materials: propane tanks, gasoline, fireworks
• Biohazard or medical waste: needles, sharps, medications
• Electronics: TVs, monitors, computers, appliances
• Misc: tires, mattresses, refrigerators, large car parts

For a full list of prohibited items, view our items guide. If you have any questions or are unsure about a specific debris, contact Dumpster Dudez before tossing it in.

Due to local, state, and federal regulations, there are restrictions on what can be disposed of in a landfill. If an item is considered hazardous, unsafe to handle, or harmful to the environment, it requires special hauling and disposal methods to ensure safety and compliance.

Yes, in most cases you can.

Dumpster Dudez accepts mixed loads of household junk and construction debris unless your local regulations or disposal site have specific restrictions. In some instances, separating materials or using a second dumpster may be recommended to avoid overloading or disposal issues.

Yes, but you’ll need to let us know in advance. When booking, it’s best to give us an estimate of the type of material (or materials) you’re disposing of and how much you plan to throw away.

The more details you provide, the better we can match you with the right dumpster size and help avoid overweight charges.

If you have any questions about what’s allowed in the dumpster, call or text your Dumpster Dudez team before tossing it in.

We’re a local, family-owned business that understands the regulations and disposal requirements in our area. We’ll clearly explain your options if the item can’t be tossed, and help you figure out what to do next.

Our Dudez unload the dumpsters at the local landfill, or at a transfer station if access is available. Doing so allows for fast and accurate calculations of any applicable additional expenses to close the job and provide a detailed receipt for the order.

To figure out what dumpster size you need, consider the following:

1. Project scope: The larger your project is, the bigger the dumpster you’ll likely need.
2. Type of debris: Heavier materials like concrete, dirt, or roofing often require a dumpster with a higher weight limit. If you're tossing lighter items, such as household junk or general trash, a smaller bin will usually work.
3. Available space: All of our dumpsters are compact, but if your site has tight access, gates, or other obstacles, you may be limited to a smaller size.

All contents must be level with or below the top edge of the dumpster.

If a dumpster is overfilled, we may need to remove material before pickup, and any extra work required to make the load safe could result in additional charges or delays.

Yes. Every dumpster size has a weight limit based on its capacity and local landfill or disposal site guidelines. If your load exceeds the included weight limit, extra charges may apply.

For most home renovations or remodels, a 15-yard or 20-yard dumpster is usually the best fit. They’re large enough to handle debris like drywall, flooring, cabinets, and fixtures, but not so large that you’re paying for space you won’t use.

It depends on the type of debris you’re cleaning up. If it’s just lighter material like branches, leaves, or grass, you should have plenty of room in a 10-yard dumpster. However, if your project involves heavier materials such as sod, pavers, dirt, or decorative stone, a 15- to 20-yard dumpster is a better choice because it has more space and a higher weight limit.

Most garage or spring cleanouts involve lighter junk, so you typically won’t need a massive rental. A 10- or 15-yard dumpster will likely have plenty of space. That said, it's a good idea to make a general list of what you’re tossing. If you think some items might be bulky or heavy, sizing up can help you avoid overfilling.

For estate and foreclosure cleanouts, we recommend a 20- or 25-yard dumpster. Cleaning out an entire home is a big project, and it’s better to go bigger upfront than risk overfilling a smaller bin.

It’s a smart idea to toss bulky furniture or household junk—like couches, dressers, and tables—into a 20- or 25-yard dumpster. Their odd shapes and large sizes can make them difficult to load efficiently into a smaller dumpster.

Small garden or tool shed removals can fit in a 10- to 15-yard dumpster, depending on the structure size and whether you’re also tossing items from inside. Other partial demos and remodels (single bathroom reno, closet tear-out, cabinet upgrades, etc.) are also a great match for our smaller sizes.

Concrete has special regulations due to its density, weight, recyclability, and potential for contamination. Here’s what that means:

• Density & Weight: Concrete is extremely heavy; even a small load can max out legal road weight limits and put significant strain on hauling trucks.
• Recyclable: Clean concrete (with no trash, wood, metal, or other debris) can be crushed and reused in road base, foundations, and other building projects. To keep it recyclable, facilities often require it to be kept separate from other waste and limit how much can be hauled at one time.
• Possible Contamination: If concrete is mixed with paint, chemicals, soil, or asbestos, it may leach contaminants into the environment and violate local or state disposal laws. Many facilities have strict guidelines on what qualifies as “clean” concrete and what must be treated as hazardous or contaminated waste.

To stay compliant and ensure safe transport, we limit concrete loads to a 5-yard dumpster (only at select locations) or a 10-yard dumpster (with approval) that must be filled no more than halfway.

In most cases, it’s best to keep concrete waste separate from other debris. Mixing can make it unacceptable at recycling facilities and may cause extra disposal fees or rejected loads.

If you have more than just concrete to toss, Dumpster Dudez can offer additional rental options.

Clean concrete means it’s free of contaminants or mixed debris and is eligible for recycling at approved facilities.

To qualify as clean concrete, your load should:

• Be free of trash, wood, metal, plastic, or drywall
• Have no rebar (some locations allow small amounts–ask your local Dudez)
• Not include soil, paint, sealers, chemicals of any kind, or hazardous materials

If you’re worried your load won’t qualify, contact us as soon as possible. We’ll help you determine whether it meets clean requirements, offer suggestions for separating the waste, and recommend the best dumpster setup to avoid fees and rejection.

If your load exceeds the dumpster's weight limit, a few things can happen:

1. Your Load Will Be Adjusted On-Site

Your Dumpster Dudez haulers may need to remove material to bring the load within legal limits. This can result in additional fees and delays in pickup.

2. Rejection at Disposal Facility

If your load is still too heavy after adjustments, the disposal or recycling facility may reject it entirely or charge extra handling fees. In some cases, you may need to reload the materials into a new dumpster and schedule another pickup.

As long as all the debris stays within the dumpster’s weight limit and doesn’t include any prohibited materials, you’re free to use it for as many home projects as you’d like.

If it’s a simple yard cleanup with just a few leaves, grass clippings, or twigs, you’ll likely save more money by using your home trash bin or purchasing a few waste bags. However, if your project involves heavier debris, large volumes of waste, or bulky items, you’ll quickly exceed your bin’s capacity—usually in the 30–35 gallon range.¹

At that point, a dumpster rental becomes more cost-effective and far more convenient than trying to cram multiple bags into pickups or special collections. Pricing and availability for local pickup also vary by area, and many municipalities charge extra for bulk or limit how much you can put out at once.

¹https://trashcansunlimited.com/blog/how-do-i-find-the-right-outdoor-garbage-can

Dumpster rentals are a game-changer for any home project that creates more waste than your regular trash service can handle, including:

• Home renovations and remodels
• Garage, attic, or basement cleanouts
• Estate or foreclosure cleanouts
• Large yard and landscaping projects
• Moving or downsizing your home
• Roof replacements
• Deck or shed removals

Pickup frequency depends on your project needs. At Dumpster Dudez, we understand that timelines shift, which is why we offer flexible scheduling to our customers.

If your original pickup date needs to change, contact our team. We can help you extend your rental period or add extra pickups, so you can continue your project without the stress of delays or overflowing debris.

Yes, there are both. Each dumpster has a weight and fill limit based on its size to ensure safe hauling for our Dudez. Additionally, certain items, like hazardous materials, liquids, batteries, and electronics, are restricted and shouldn’t be placed in the dumpster.

For a full list of acceptable and prohibited items, contact us or view our online guide.

Just about any business with a project on their hands can benefit, including:

• Construction and renovation companies
• Property management firms
• Retail stores and restaurants
• Schools and universities
• Warehouses and manufacturers
• Event venues and planners