Oh to rent a dumpster. These ominous looking beasts, often found on the roadside, can seem like a daunting undertaking to use, rent, etc. Fear not. Here are six steps that should help.
- Make certain that the dumpster company is fully licensed by the Business Integrity Commission. These companies are very well regulated by New York City and must comply with all Department of Sanitation, Department of Transportation, and Department of Consumer Affairs rules. If you were to go with a company that is not actually licensed, you could be found liable for illegal dumping and face outrageous fines.
- Shopping for price: 95+% of dumpster companies operate with the following fee structure:
- Base container rental price. By the way, be sure to ask how long that base price is valid. If you go over the time allotted, the fees could be substantially higher.
- Tonnage fee: Dumpsters have a weight limit of X tons. This depends on the policy of individual companies. Beware of the following heavy materials: Dirt, Concrete, Brick, Plaster/Sheetrock. These items mixed in with other items can increase the weight of a box substantially. Caveat Emptor. If you do go over the limit, there is typically a per ton fee. If your container is overweight, tell them that you want to see the dump ticket when you are mailed the invoice. The dump ticket has the weight of the container on it.
- Dumpster Delivery Day: OK. You’re dumpster is scheduled to arrive. The truck rolls around, only to find no available space. Oops! Here are some rules for space. Dumpster companies are allowed to drop dumpsters when none of the other cars are allowed to park. This means you want to coordinate the delivery of your dumpster with street sweeping times. You can also try to block the street with garbage pails, etc. but this can get ugly in the city with impatient drivers. Bear in mind the following space requirements: 10 yard containers are 12 feet long & most 20 & 30 yard containers are 22 feet long. You must leave 4 to 5 feet in front of the container so the driver can properly manipulate the dumpster into place. Incidentally, when the dumpster is dropped, the size of the dumpster, company name, BIC number and phone number are all required to be on the container. Make sure they are there or it’s a big red flag to any Sanitation Officer who should happen to pass by.
- Where to put the dumpster: Here are some rules of thumb that will hopefully save you some aggravation.
- Never place your dumpster anywhere other than directly in front of your or your client’s premises..
- Many buildings have separate service entrances. Make sure the loadout procedure is known in advance.
- Check-in advance with building supers, etc.
- Your dumpster cannot be placed next to a fire hydrant.
- Loading the Dumpster. Basically one simple rule. Don’t load the container over the top. The Department of Sanitation will fine the person who overloaded the container $150.00 to $450.00
- Finishing the Container: The dumpster is now loaded to the brim and you want the dumpster to go away. Here are the rules: Call the dumpster company the minute you are done. Don’t wait. They can’t possibly know when you finished. It may take a day or so before the container company returns, so buy a tarp. You can get a ticket for not covering the container and drive-by dumpers love to dump extra stuff on unsuspecting dumpsters without covers. Imagine someone else’s truckload of brick putting you over your weight limit. Sadly, it happens a lot! Good luck dumping.
