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Adhesives like glue or epoxy, should be disposed of with regular household trash or recycling instead of a roll off dumpster. Loose adhesives can damage the container. They might also cause debris to stick together or to the container walls, making them hard to remove.

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Car & Lithium Batteries cannot go in a dumpster because they can leak harmful chemicals. Take old car batteries to a local recycler or auto shop. Lithium batteries, like those found in laptops, can be recycled at most electronics retailers. Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, D, etc.) can go in a dumpster.

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Fluorescent bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, so they cannot go in the dumpster. Many areas prohibit the disposal of these items, while other areas require them to be recycled properly. Recycling is required in California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington.

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Food waste is often prohibited from roll off dumpsters since it can attract rodents or make a mess in the container. If you have to dispose of large amounts of food waste, consider using municipal trash services or sending the waste to a local composting center.

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Refrigerators, freezers and AC units cannot be disposed of in the dumpster unless the Freon is removed by a professional. Freon-containing appliances can usually be picked up by local sanitation departments as part of their bulk debris pickup schedule. Or, some retailers will take your old appliances when you purchase a replacement.

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Hot water tanks are not accepted in any dumpster because they can contain harmful gases inside of them that have a high risk of exploding. Other hot water heater disposal options include selling, scrapping or donating.

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Chemical cleaners or solvents should not be tossed in a dumpster. However, you may throw empty containers in your dumpster as long as they are rinsed out and do not contain any residual chemicals.

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Inks and resins used in pens and printers can damage equipment and stain the interior of dumpsters. These are best disposed of through recycling centers or retailers with drop-off services.

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Propane tanks, fuels, oils, and other flammable materials are serious safety hazards when tossed in a dumpster. These substances are highly combustible, and it is illegal to dispose of them improperly in most areas.

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Full or partially full cans of wet paint cannot go in a dumpster, including paint thinners, lacquers or wood stains. However, in most municipalities, you can dispose of dry latex paint as long as you wrap the sealed can in a plastic bag. You might also consider finding a paint recycling program near you. Empty paint cans are accepted in our containers.

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Lumber materials like railroad ties and telephone poles are treated with harmful wood preservatives and aren’t allowed in our dumpsters. However, some landfills will accept intact railroad ties.

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Most landfills do not accept tires because they can trap gases and take a long time to decompose. Instead of tossing tires in a dumpster, contact your local municipality, an auto parts store or tire dealership.

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Tip: Try finding a local recycler that can use your old tires to make asphalt and other industrial applications.

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Flammable or ignitable wastes start fires easily or can quickly intensify an existing fire, so they must be thrown away properly. All it takes is a small spark from the garbage truck or a lit cigarette to trigger an explosion in just a few minutes.

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Corrosive wastes are very acidic or basic materials that can cause severe harm to human skin and even erode metal containers, like dumpsters and trash cans. This makes them not only a serious risk to waste workers, but also harmful to the environment, because they can contaminate groundwater and hurt marine life if thrown out improperly.

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Reactive wastes are unstable in normal environments and may explode under regular pressure, in normal temperatures or when exposed to water. The heat of a landfill or garbage truck compressor may increase the likelihood of these compressed gases exploding or releasing toxic fumes, which can seriously burn your eyes, nose, throat and more.

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Examples: Propane tanks, oxygen tanks, partially filled aerosol cans, ammunition, fertilizer

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Toxic materials can be dangerous or lethal if ingested or exposed to the skin. Some toxic wastes may cause severe eye or skin irritation, respiratory troubles, and even contamination of local ecosystems or watersheds if they are not handled correctly.

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Examples: Medications, antifreeze, pesticides, fluorescent lightbulbs

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Biohazardous waste consists of potentially infectious materials or substances, such as blood. Of special concern are sharp wastes such as needles, blades, glass pipettes, and other wastes that can cause injury during handling.

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Examples: Blood, needles/sharps, bodily fluids, animal waste, animal body parts

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