What Can (and Can't) Go in a Rental Dumpster?

A roll-off can take the overwhelming majority of what a home or jobsite produces. But a short list of items is prohibited everywhere, for good reasons — they're hazardous, hard to dispose of safely, or banned from landfills. Knowing the difference keeps your project moving and avoids extra fees.

Generally accepted

• Household junk, furniture and mattresses
• Remodel debris — drywall, lumber, cabinetry, fixtures
• Flooring, carpet and tile
• Roofing shingles (best in their own container)
• Yard waste, brush and storm debris
• Concrete, brick and dirt (in a dedicated heavy-debris container)
• General construction and demolition material

Not allowed in a dumpster

These items are prohibited for safety and legal reasons. Please keep them out of the container:

• Paint, stains, solvents and other liquids
• Automotive fluids, oil and fuel
• Batteries and propane tanks
• Tires
• Appliances containing refrigerant (fridges, freezers, AC units)
• Electronics and TVs (e-waste)
• Chemicals, pesticides and asbestos
• Medical or hazardous waste

Where restricted items should go

The good news is that Macon County makes it easy to dispose of most of these properly. Macon County Environmental Management runs collections for paint, electronics, batteries and other household hazardous waste, and the City of Decatur recycling program covers curbside recyclables. When in doubt, these are the right resources — and they'll often take these items at little or no cost.

Not sure about a specific item?

If you're staring at something and wondering whether it can go in, just ask. Call (217) 615-5135 before you load it and we'll give you a straight answer and point you to the right place if it can't go in the roll-off.