Two Kinds of Storm Debris
Storm cleanup usually involves two kinds of debris. The first is vegetation: limbs, downed trees, and brush. The second is building material: fence panels, torn shingles, carport roofing, and damaged sheds.
Both go in a roll-off dumpster. Cut limbs into lengths one person can lift. Load the brush first and compress it, then put flat material on top. Brush takes up more space than its weight suggests, so most storm cleanups start at the 20-yard, and heavy tree damage usually takes the 30.
Check the County Collection Schedule First
After a declared storm, counties around Columbia often run curbside debris collection. It is worth using for loose vegetation if your schedule allows. The drawbacks are timing and restrictions. Collection can be weeks out, and most counties limit pile size and where it can sit.
A dumpster makes more sense when you cannot leave debris at the curb that long, or when the pile includes building material. County vegetation collection does not take fence panels, shingles, or roofing.
Refrigerators and Spoiled Food
A refrigerator or freezer that stopped working during an outage cannot go in the dumpster, and neither can the food inside it. Refrigerant has to be recovered by a licensed handler, and food waste is not accepted. Bag the food for regular trash collection and arrange separate disposal for the appliance.
Wet carpet, soaked drywall, and water-damaged furniture are all accepted. Waterlogged material is heavy, so tell us the debris came from flooding when you book and we will size the weight allowance for it.
How to Load a Storm Dumpster
Load the brush first. Cut the limbs short, and walk the pile down every few layers to compress it, which takes the volume down by roughly a third. Save flat material like fence panels, roofing, and plywood for the top layers, where the weight holds the brush down.
Keep the load level with the walls. A load mounded above the rails cannot be tarped or hauled legally, and it has to be re-handled in the driveway before the truck can take it. If the cleanup fills more than one dumpster, which is common with mature oaks and pines in the older Columbia and Camden neighborhoods, schedule a swap instead of waiting on a second delivery.
Booking After a Storm
Demand across the area goes up in the week after a storm. Delivery is still guaranteed within 24 to 48 hours, and booking earlier gives you more choice of delivery day. The yard is in Lugoff and the trucks run these towns daily. Check whether we cover your town on the service areas page, or call and we will size the dumpster with you.
Need a dumpster in the Midlands? See your exact price on the booking page, or call and talk to Zack at (803) 408-9990.