Tips for Loading a Dumpster Efficiently

Start with a plan

Before you toss the first item, stage your debris in categories: flat items such as doors, plywood and drywall; bulky items such as furniture and cabinets; loose material such as bagged trash and small debris. Loading in the right order can increase your effective capacity by 20 to 30 percent.

Load flat and heavy items first

Lay plywood, doors, countertops and drywall flat on the floor of the container to create a level base. Then place heavy items such as appliances and dense debris low and toward the center to keep the load balanced for transport.

Break things down

Disassemble furniture, cut lumber to shorter lengths, flatten boxes and remove legs from tables. Air is the enemy of an efficient load. A sofa that takes up a quarter of a 10 yard container as-is can be reduced to a fraction of that space in ten minutes with a saw.

Fill gaps with loose material

Use bagged trash, insulation, clothing and small debris to fill voids between larger items. Work in layers rather than piling everything in one corner.

Stay below the rail and stay safe

Nothing may stick up above the top edge of the container; drivers must be able to tarp the load legally. Wear gloves and closed-toe shoes, use the rear door for heavy items rather than lifting over the side, and never climb inside a container that has loose debris shifting around.

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