How to Load a Dumpster
Load flat items first, heavy items low and spread out, bulky items last, and stop level with the rim. Concrete and dirt stop halfway up. That's how you fit more and avoid fees.
How full can I fill a dumpster?
Fill a dumpster no higher than level with its top rim. Texas law requires haulers to secure their loads, so debris sticking up above the rim can't go on the road (Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 725). Concrete, dirt and brick stop at halfway up the walls.
If the box is overfilled at pickup, the $125 dry-run fee applies and the extra debris has to come out before the truck can haul it.
How do I load a dumpster to fit more?
Load a dumpster flat items first, heavy items low and bulky items last. Break down furniture, flatten boxes and fill gaps with small debris. A well-packed 20-yard can take noticeably more than one loaded by tossing things in, and you stay under the rim.
- Lay flat pieces like doors, drywall and plywood on the floor.
- Spread heavy debris evenly across the floor, not at one end.
- Take legs off tables and cut up couches where you can.
- Fill gaps with bags and small debris.
- Finish level with the rim. Use the rear door for walking in heavy items, then latch it.
How do I keep neighbors and rain out of my dumpster?
Keep a tarp over the dumpster when you're not loading. A tarp stops neighbors adding their junk and keeps rain from adding weight you pay for at $75 per ton. Drywall, carpet and cardboard soak up the most water.
Loading questions
Can I walk into the dumpster to load it?
Can I put a tarp over a full dumpster?
Can I put a ladder or plank in the dumpster?
How do I stop people using my dumpster?
Talk to the yard, not a call center
Load it right the first time
Ask us which size fits what you've got before the truck rolls.