What can you put in a dumpster rental? Most non-hazardous junk and remodel debris. Furniture, household junk, yard waste, drywall, wood and lumber, cabinets, flooring and general cleanout items all go in an Action Roll-Offs dumpster. Hazardous waste, heavy fill like dirt and concrete, tires and refrigerators don’t.
Action has rented roll off dumpsters across Greater Houston since 2007, to residential customers and contractors alike, and these are the lists we work from every day. If an item is not on either one, ask when you call. We’d rather answer a quick question than have you guess.
What can you put in a dumpster rental?
Roll off dumpsters are built for household junk and construction debris. Non-hazardous material from a home cleanout or a remodel is usually acceptable. Rules differ between dumpster rental companies, so this is what can go in a dumpster rental from Action.
- Furniture. Couches, chairs, tables, dressers and other larger items from a move or a cleanout.
- Household junk. Boxes, cardboard, toys, clothing, books and the general clutter from garages, attics and closets.
- General cleanout items. The mixed contents of home cleanouts, estate cleanouts and move-outs.
- Yard waste. Branches, brush, leaves and shrubs from a yard cleanup.
- Drywall. Sheetrock from a remodel or a repair.
- Wood and lumber. Framing lumber, trim and wood scraps.
- Cabinets. Kitchen and bath cabinets from a tear-out.
- Flooring. Old flooring pulled up during a remodel.
- Construction debris. Non-hazardous construction and renovation debris from remodeling and construction projects, as long as no roofing or masonry is mixed in.
Weight matters as much as space. Wet drywall and solid wood get heavy fast, so they can hit the weight limit before the box looks full. More on that in the rules below.
Planning a home project? Our page on residential dumpster rentals covers the usual jobs, and this rundown of types of debris sorts them by project. Hauling renovation waste? See how construction debris disposal in Houston works.
What can’t you put in a dumpster rental?
These are the roll off dumpster prohibited items at Action. If you’re wondering what you can’t throw in a dumpster, this is the list.
- Roofing shingles and roof tear-off debris
- Concrete, brick and asphalt
- Dirt, rock and fill
- Tires
- Refrigerators and freezers, drained or not
- Paint, including empty or dried paint cans
- Solvents, chemicals and motor oil
- Batteries
- Hazardous waste and medical waste
None of these materials go in a rented container from us. Not everything fits neatly on a list, though. For appliances, electronics or any item not listed here, ask when you call.
Roll off dumpster prohibited items, one by one
Most of these items require special handling. Each one gets its reason below, plus where it can go instead.
Can you put tires in a roll off dumpster?
No. Tires aren’t accepted in an Action roll-off. Texas regulates how scrap tires are transported, stored and recycled, and TCEQ says they belong in a permitted landfill only after they are split, quartered or shredded.
City of Houston residents can drop off up to five tires per residence at an Environmental Service Center. Commercial vehicle tires are not taken there. The TCEQ page on tire disposal covers other options in Texas.
Can you put dirt in a dumpster?
Not in ours. Dirt, rock and fill aren’t accepted. Neither are concrete, brick or asphalt, even in a small amount mixed into a remodel load.
Roofing shingles
Roofing shingles and roof tear-off debris are not accepted either. That includes a few bundles from a small patch job.
Refrigerators, freezers and other appliances
Refrigerators and freezers can’t go in an Action dumpster, drained or not. They hold refrigerant, and EPA rules put the final disposer on the hook for making sure it’s recovered before disposal.
Inside Houston city limits, heavy trash pickup takes a refrigerator or freezer only with a certified technician’s tag showing the refrigerant was removed. For other appliances and for electronics, ask when you call.
Can I put a mattress in a dumpster?
Ask when you call. Mattresses and box springs are not on either of our lists, so we answer that one load by load.
Paint, chemicals and flammable liquids
Paint isn’t accepted, and that includes empty or dried paint cans. Solvents, chemicals, motor oil, fuel and propane tanks stay out too.
The EPA counts leftover household products that can catch fire, react, explode, corrode or poison as household hazardous waste. That covers flammable liquids and toxic materials alike. It also notes that even empty containers can hold residue that is still hazardous, and that improper disposal can pollute the environment and threaten human health.
Batteries and automotive fluids
Batteries are off the list, car batteries included. So is motor oil. City drop-off centers take used motor oil along with other automotive fluids like antifreeze and brake fluid.
Medical waste and other hazardous waste
Medical waste, including needles and sharps, can’t go in a dumpster from us. Neither can pesticides, pool chemicals or any other hazardous materials. TCEQ publishes a separate guide for disposing of household syringes.
Houston waste disposal options for items we can’t take
Most hazardous waste has a proper home nearby, so you can dispose of it safely. The common items go to the places below instead, depending on where you live. Local disposal rules decide what goes where, and they vary by city. EPA notes household hazardous waste is regulated at the state and local level.
| Item | Where it can go instead |
|---|---|
| Paint, chemicals, pesticides, pool chemicals | City of Houston Environmental Service Center, or, outside city limits, the Harris County HHW facility by appointment |
| Batteries and car batteries | City of Houston Environmental Service Center |
| Motor oil, antifreeze and other automotive fluids | City of Houston Environmental Service Center |
| Fuel and small propane tanks | City of Houston Environmental Service Center (propane tanks 5 gallons or smaller) |
| Tires | City of Houston Environmental Service Center (five per residence), or a permitted landfill once split, quartered or shredded |
| Refrigerators and freezers | City heavy trash pickup, only with a certified technician’s refrigerant tag |
City of Houston residents
The City runs Environmental Service Centers for household hazardous waste and recycling that should not go in regular trash. ESC South is at 11500 S. Post Oak Rd. ESC North is at 5614 Neches St and opens the second Thursday of each month.
Bring a current Texas ID, or a City of Houston utility bill or lease. Check the City website for current hours and limits before you go. TCEQ has simple advice for the drive. Keep products in their original containers and transport them upright, never mixed together.
Harris County residents outside the City
If you live in Harris County but outside Houston city limits, use the Harris County HHW facility at 6900 Hahl Road. The facility is open by appointment only, so book first.
Elsewhere in Greater Houston, check with your city. Many Texas communities run their own HHW drop-off or collection events, and TCEQ keeps a list of local programs.
Roll-off dumpster rules that keep your pickup on schedule
Following a few roll-off dumpster rules gets your box hauled on time. They come down to weight, the fill line and what’s inside.
Why smaller dumpsters carry more weight
Every size has a weight limit, and the smallest box carries the most.
| Dumpster size | Max weight |
|---|---|
| 20 yard | 10 tons |
| 30 yard | 9 tons |
| 40 yard | 8 tons |
That isn’t a typo. The bigger boxes carry more steel, which leaves less room under the legal limit for your debris.
Picking the right size for heavy debris
For heavy loads, size by weight as well as volume. Our dumpster size guide walks through it, and we can help you pick on the phone.
How to avoid extra fees
Action doesn’t bill extra weight by the ton. A box that’s over its weight limit or loaded past the fill line can’t legally be hauled. You take out the extra so it can go.
The one fee to know about is the dry-run fee in your signed service agreement. It applies only if an overweight or overfilled box holds up a scheduled pickup.
Keep prohibited items out
Anything we don’t accept has to come out of the box before pickup. Keep hazardous waste separate from the start. Double-check the list before loading, and keep it handy for anyone helping you.
Tell us what’s going in
Debris type is part of your dumpster rental quote, so tell us about any heavy or unusual materials. We quote one flat rate before delivery, based on the size, your debris, how long you need the box and where it’s going. Not sure a dumpster beats hiring haulers? Compare junk removal and dumpster rental.
Frequently asked questions
If I rent a dumpster, can I put anything in it?
No. You can put most non-hazardous household junk, furniture, yard waste and remodel debris in an Action dumpster. Roofing shingles, concrete, brick, asphalt, dirt, rock, tires, refrigerators and freezers, paint, chemicals, batteries and hazardous waste can’t go in.
What items are not allowed in a dumpster?
At Action, the items not allowed are roofing shingles, concrete, brick, asphalt, dirt, rock, tires, refrigerators and freezers, paint (including empty or dried cans), solvents, chemicals, motor oil, batteries, and hazardous and medical waste.
What are you allowed to put in a dumpster?
Furniture, household junk, yard waste, drywall, wood and lumber, cabinets, flooring, general cleanout items and non-hazardous construction and renovation debris.
What are the roll off dumpster rules for weight?
Each size has a weight limit. A 20 yard holds up to 10 tons, a 30 yard up to 9 tons and a 40 yard up to 8 tons. Nothing can be loaded past the fill line.
Is there a fee if my dumpster is too heavy?
We don’t bill extra weight by the ton. An overweight box can’t legally be hauled, so you remove the extra weight. The dry-run fee in your service agreement applies only if that holds up a scheduled pickup.
Rent a roll off dumpster in Houston
Ready to rent a dumpster? Action Roll-Offs delivers 20, 30 and 40 yard roll off dumpster rentals across Greater Houston for home cleanouts, remodeling and construction projects. Call us at (979) 826-2815, or request a flat quote online.
