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Whether you're doing a general cleaning, remodeling, or relocating, that large empty rental dumpster in your driveway can seem like the perfect spot for all of your junk. Garbage is garbage after all, right? Not quite.
There are some things that don't belong in a typical dumpster. Here are 13 items you can't throw in a dumpster and some reasons why.
1. Car batteries and other non-alkaline batteries
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Alkaline batteries are safe to throw away, but non-alkaline batteries are not. These include car batteries, computer and electronics batteries, lead-acid batteries, rechargeable batteries (like the lithium-ion battery in a cell phone), and silver oxide batteries. These types of batteries are harmful to the environment and cannot be thrown away as their final destination will be a landfill. Fortunately, there are appropriate ways to dispose of batteries of all types .
2. Grandma's couch or your old roommate's mattress
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Those lucky enough to inherit their grandmother's old couch or those unlucky enough to get a mattress from their old college roommate can't throw it away. Both items contain recyclable materials and must be dismantled before disposal. Consider calling a local furniture removal service, and be aware that there are often fees associated with removing these items.
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3. Spare wheel
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Here's a fun fact: the space where the wheel normally sits in a tire can trap methane if the tire is in a landfill. The methane gas builds up and lifts the tire to the surface, even if it's buried in the bottom of the landfill. The tire can then damage the protective barrier separating the environment from the landfill, causing serious environmental damage.
To avoid illegally dumping tires, one way is to coordinate with a disposal company representative and find out what to do with them. Other tire disposal methods include dropping them off at recycling centers, dropping them off at participating tire shops and dropping them off at a waste collection service.
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4. Old paint cans
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Old cans of oil-based paint, wet or dry, should not be disposed of in a dumpster . They can leak and leach paint chemicals into the ground. However, it is acceptable to dispose of latex-based paints in this manner after curing. You can let the paint cure with the lid open, but adding a paint hardener like kitty litter to the can will speed up the process.
5. Household appliances and electronics
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In many cases, appliances and electronics such as microwave ovens , air conditioners, televisions , computers, and refrigerators are not safe from trash cans. They often contain polluting materials or may contain recyclable parts.
Instead of throwing those items in a dumpster, schedule a device pickup. Also, some transfer stations accept devices for a fee on certain days, so check local opening hours beforehand.
RELATED: How to safely dispose of broken glass and pottery
6. Canisters of gasoline, motor oil and propane tanks
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Please do not throw the full jug of engine oil in a dumpster. The same goes for old gas cans and rusty propane tanks . The simple fact is that these materials are extremely combustible and dangerous in any landfill. Also, any liquid left in the tanks or reservoirs can spill and seep into the soil or groundwater. The best way to dispose of these materials is to call your local hazardous materials agency and ask them what to do.
7. Animal remains and medical waste
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It may seem unlikely in your home, but it's not uncommon for some homeowners to discover a dead animal in their garage or attic. While it may seem harmless to throw away long-dead remains, some companies consider cadavers to be infectious waste that requires special disposal procedures.
The same applies to medical supplies such as dialysis waste, hospital bags, blood-stained handkerchiefs, prescription drugs, needles and sharp objects. Follow EPA medical waste guidelines or your local health authority's instructions for proper disposal methods.
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8. Asbestos
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By this point, almost everyone knows that you shouldn't throw a carcinogenic material like asbestos in a dumpster, dustbin, or other trash can. However, it is still difficult to identify asbestos in all its manifestations . Some floors, insulation, shingles, siding materials, and even equipment and ducting can contain asbestos.
In cases where asbestos is present in your home, it is important to pay for professional asbestos removal .
RELATED: How to properly dispose of a fire extinguisher
9. Railway sleepers
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Don't be a caboose and throw the railroad ties in your dumpster. These pieces of wood are plentiful in the towns along the train tracks and last a long time. The reason? They are watered and treated with substances such as creosote, making them hostile to their local environment. Some landfills can accept railroad ties; Just make sure you get help transporting them as they usually can't go straight into the dumpster.
10. Your old cell phone
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While the larger electronic devices have already been covered above, the smaller electronic devices deserve their own category. Smartphones and tablets contain not only high-demand items such as microchips, but also minerals that must be mined at the surface of the earth. These include copper, tellurium, lithium, cobalt, manganese and tungsten.
Recycling is by far the most environmentally friendly option for disposing of electronics . So don't throw away your old phone even if it's broken or outdated.
11. Dirt
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Contaminated dirt is a no-no for dumpster disposal. This can be dirt that has accumulated in the basement during a flood, or dirt from some garages or barns with dirt floors depending on previous years of use.
Soil containing oil, grease, gasoline and other hazardous waste should be taken to a soil disposal facility for proper disposal. There, the chemicals are separated from the soil before the dirt is destroyed or recycled, while those chemicals would otherwise end up in a landfill.
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12. Some bulky items
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This is a gray area, but items that are too large to break down into smaller pieces, such as large items like rocks, concrete slabs, and logs , may not be allowed in a dumpster. This also applies if the item is not inherently hazardous to the environment.
This is because there may not be enough dump space, so large items can take up too much valuable dump space. Call your dumpster company to find out what they accept.
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The blown drill or the saber saw that won't come and go shouldn't be tied to the dumpster. Like electronics, these tools contain valuable chips and materials that could be reused by the manufacturer to make other tools, or recycled by a retailer .
Instead of throwing old tools and batteries in the trash , take them to a local hardware store. Most have recycling bins that accept tools.
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