The Short List
Almost everything from a house, a yard, or a job site can go in the dumpster. Furniture, carpet, drywall, lumber, cabinets, siding, yard waste, bagged trash, the works. The no-go list is short, and every item on it is there for a reason:
- Wet paint, oils, and chemicals
- Batteries
- Tires
- Mattresses
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Food waste
Why These and Not Others
The landfill sets most of these rules, not us. Liquids leak through a load and contaminate everything they touch. Batteries start fires in the truck, and a fire in forty cubic yards of debris is as bad as it sounds. Tires trap air and float their way back up through a landfill for decades, so the state handles them separately. Fridges and freezers hold refrigerant that has to be recovered by law before disposal.
Mattresses are a landfill-fee problem, and food waste turns a dumpster into a smell you'll be apologizing to the neighbors for.
Where That Stuff Goes Instead
Dried-out paint cans are fine. Leave the lid off, let the can harden, toss it in. For the rest, Richland and Lexington counties both run drop-off sites that take oil, batteries, tires, and electronics, and most appliance retailers haul off the old fridge when they deliver the new one.
Not sure about something? Call and ask. It's a thirty-second answer and it beats finding out at pickup. The full rundown lives on our FAQ page too.
The Gray-Area Items People Ask About
A few things sit close to the line and come up on the phone every week. Treated lumber from a deck demo goes in fine. Carpet and padding go in, even soaked. Railroad ties are a judgment call because of the creosote, so ask first. Propane tanks stay out, empty or not, for the same fire risk as batteries. Electronics are technically accepted at some landfills and banned at others, so the safe move for a TV pile is the county electronics drop-off.
Yard waste surprises people in the other direction: limbs, brush, leaves, and stumps all go in a roll-off dumpster without any special arrangement. The exception is a load you want kept clean for mulching, which is a conversation to have when you book rather than a rule.
Quick Questions
Can I throw in a water heater or a washing machine?
Yes. Standard appliances without refrigerant, like water heaters, washers, dryers, and dishwashers, go in fine. It's only the fridge and freezer family that needs special handling.
What happens if a banned item ends up in the load?
The landfill can reject or surcharge the load, and that cost flows back through the rental. If you realize something slipped in, call before pickup and we'll figure it out together.
Need a dumpster in the Midlands? See your exact price on the booking page, or call and talk to Zack at (803) 408-9990.