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Your motivation to declutter your house and get rid of things you have been meaning to for a while has finally lined up with some free time that you have. Now, you are on a roll, throwing away things left, right, and center.
Unfortunately, you can’t just toss it all in a big garbage bin and do away with it once and for all. Although that would be much easier, it is necessary to sort through such items because there are certain things you should never put in a dumpster.
The reality is that when it comes to garbage disposal, there are rules you have to follow. In most cases, certain items need to be handled separately from other debris at a landfill for environmental or safety reasons.
If you do not follow these waste-management rules closely, you may even be subjected to fees. Thus, it is better to be aware of these regulations ahead of time and do what you can to make sure you adhere to them as you are getting rid of stuff.
What are some things that you should definitely never discard in a dumpster?
It is important to keep in mind that what you may be prohibited from tossing in a dumpster could vary according to your location and container type. However, there are a number of items that are typically forbidden to be discarded in this way, such as the following:
1. Electronics
If you want to get rid of an old television, computer, monitor, game console, or DVD player, never throw it out in the regular trash. When going to a landfill, electronic devices can break apart, causing components within them to leak and become hazardous.
Even smaller electronics, such as MP3 players, clocks, and flashlights, contain dangerous chemicals within them and should thus never be sent to a landfill with the rest of your trash.
2. Appliances
You may have a microwave, a toaster oven, or a refrigerator that is broken or that you have no use for anymore. Still, appliances like these should never be disposed of in a dumpster.
Appliances generally contain electronic components or batteries. Consequently, discarding them in a landfill can be hazardous because it is dangerous to discard electronics in this way.
3. Paints and solvents
When getting rid of an old can of paint (whether oil or lead-based), such as paint thinner or solvent, never discard it in a dumpster. It is easy for these items to leak out, seep into the ground, and contaminate groundwater and septic tanks. Spilled paint can also injure sanitation workers if it gets onto their skin.
The only time that it is acceptable to throw away paint in the regular garbage is if you are disposing of latex-based paint and it has already hardened. You can allow the paint to harden by leaving the lid off the can for a while, or you can speed up this process by adding cat litter.
4. Pesticides
Whether it is a chemical, liquid, spray, or granule, pesticides should never be discarded in a dumpster, as they can harm plants, wildlife, and people if disposed of incorrectly.
Rather than putting them in a garbage can or dumping them in a sink, toilet, or sewer drain, it is best to contact waste management professionals to handle the disposal of pesticides. This is because they require specialized disposal techniques suited for the strong chemicals within.
5. Oil and gas
Oil or gas products, such as lubricants, gasoline, and petroleum, should never be thrown out in a dumpster. These products are toxic, corrosive, and flammable and can thus be hazardous to anyone handling them. In most places, it is illegal to dispose of such items in a normal garbage dumpster.
6. Light bulbs
Certain types of light bulbs should never be thrown out in a normal dumpster with the rest of your trash. Fluorescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs have small amounts of mercury in them, which could contaminate the soil and water if they end up in a landfill.
In addition, since lightbulbs are generally made of glass and break easily, if a sanitation worker handles this broken glass, they can cut themselves.
7. Tires
If you have recently changed your car’s tires and want to get rid of the old ones, think twice before adding them to your dumpster, as most landfills do not accept them. Not only do tires take a long time to decompose, but they also trap gasses (like methane gas) at landfills and damage the proactive barrier separating the landfill from the environment, leading to severe environmental damage.
Instead, you may want to take your old tires to a recycling center or a tire shop or have them hauled away by a junk removal service.
How Scarborough Disposal Ltd. Can Help With Your Garbage Disposal
Although the items mentioned above generally cannot be disposed of in a dumpster, most other things are acceptable to discard in this way. However, if you are getting rid of many things all at once, you may need somewhere to put it all.
If you require a dumpster rental in Toronto, Scarborough, Beaches, Leaside, Pickering, or Ajax, Scarborough Disposal Ltd. can help you manage your waste disposal needs. Through our services, dumpsters and disposal bins of every size and type are at your fingertips, so no matter how much you have to throw away, you will never run out of space.
If you are unsure what kind or size of bin might be right for you, our knowledgeable and friendly staff would be happy to offer guidance. Once you have decided on your bin, the rental process is incredibly simple, and we will deliver your desired bin to your doorstep promptly.
If you are uncertain about what kinds of items we can or cannot take in our dumpsters, you can consult our website or speak to someone from our team about these restrictions.
For more information about our dumpster rental options or to learn more about the rental periods that we offer, call Scarborough Disposal Ltd. at +1 (416) 265-7979 or contact us here.