Bottom line: Waste Management is one of our best junk removal companies because of its excellent dumpster rental program. The company has six sizes of dumpsters that can fit everything from backyard dirt to leftovers from a home remodel. Waste Management delivers the dumpsters right to your home and picks them up when you’re finished. While costs are a bit high, the quantity and quality of Waste Management dumpsters makes it an option worth considering.
2024 Waste Management Dumpster Rental Review
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Pros
Transparent pricing
Rental time extensions
Availability at most home improvement retailers 
Cons
Higher prices than some local haulers Waste Management services are available across the US, except for Montana, Hawaii, and Alaska, and in Canada.
How much does a Waste Management dumpster rental cost?
We used Waste Management's online estimator to gather pricing for four different areas codes in four separate states and found that dumpster prices range widely.
For a job in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, for example, it would cost roughly $500.00 (not including taxes) to rent a 10-yard dumpster for 10 days for trash or construction debris. In Nashville, Tennessee, that same size dumpster would cost roughly $1015.00 but for 3 tons of trash included (as opposed to 2 tons for Illinois rental) and for only 7 days included.
Materials you're putting into the dumpster matter too. Let's say you need a dumpster for a major home remodeling project and want it to hold construction debris. It would cost roughly $315.00 to rent a 20-yard dumpster to hold construction debris in Buffalo, New York for 10 days included (trash collection for the same dumpster size would be $690.00).
In summary: how much you pay depends on where you’re renting your dumpster, how many other people are renting dumpsters in your area (you may end up spending more when everyone is doing their spring cleaning), whether you need a short-term or long-term rental, and what type of materials you're putting into the dumpster and how much.
What about extra fees?
Like other dumpster rental companies, Waste Management may tack extra fees onto your rental price for any of the following: (1) ordering over the phone, (2) keeping your dumpster for more than the contracted number of days, (3) placing prohibited items in your dumpster, or (4) loading too much weight into your dumpster.
The exact fee amounts will be clearly listed when you make your reservation online. For example, dumpsters ranged from $20-$257 per additional ton and and $10-$20 per additional day.
So how do you avoid paying these additional fees?
Order your dumpster online
There is a slight price hike when you order a dumpster over the phone, so we recommend booking online.
Stay within your allotted time
You’ll pay extra for every day you keep your dumpster past your scheduled window. The time limit varies by location. Our Elk Grove Village, Illinois and Buffalo, New York rentals included 10 days, Nashville, Tennessee rental 7 days, Portland, Oregon 16 days.
Pro tip
If Waste Management’s pickup service isn’t available on the final day of your rental period, you’ll be charged extra for pickup the next day.
The secret here is to call Waste Management as soon as you know when your dumpster will be packed and ready. This way you can be sure it’s picked up on time and avoid those pesky fees.
Keep prohibited materials out
If the haulers inspect your dumpster and find any prohibited materials, they’ll drive away without the dumpster and you’ll be charged for another day. You’ll also have to get that debris out before Waste Management will pick it up.
We’ll dive into more details on this below.
Watch your debris weight
Ever heard the phrase, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”? When it comes to adding debris to your dumpster, Waste Management takes that idea seriously. You’ll be charged more if you exceed the weight limit for your dumpster.
Pro tip: not all same-sized dumpsters have the same weight limit.
Remember those 10-yard dumpster rentals we researched in Illinois and Tennessee? The dumpster in Illinois had a limit of two tons of trash waste at no extra charge, while the Tennessee dumpster was limited to five tons of trash waste.
Bulky waste and heavy waste aren’t always the same thing, so make sure to look up an estimate of how much that construction debris weighs.
Getting a Waste Management quote
To start the dumpster rental process, enter the address where you need a dumpster on Waste Management’s website. You’ll get a list of size options available in your area, and you can select your drop-off and pick-up dates and book your dumpster right away.
Waste Management’s features and services
Waste Management offers temporary dumpsters for residential renovation and remodeling projects. The company will drop off and pick up your dumpster, and you can choose a size based on how much debris you expect to have.
So how much dumpster space will you need?
Dumpster sizes
Most Waste Management locations have dumpsters ranging from 10 yards to 40 yards in size, though availability can differ between locations. For example, some locations across the US have only 20-yard and 30-yard dumpsters available—but those sizes should provide plenty of space for a residential project.
When choosing a dumpster size, it’s wise to go a little bigger than what you think you’ll need. Paying for one 40-yard dumpster is cheaper than miscalculating how much can fit in a 20-yard dumpster and then paying for two of them.
Compare Waste Management dumpsters
Data as of 1/11/22.1
Looking for a variety of dumpster sizes?
What you can (and can’t) put in your dumpster
So what does Waste Management prohibit in its dumpsters? Basically anything that might be hazardous:2
- Batteries
- Appliances and electronics
- Auto parts
- Drums, liquids, or chemicals
- Tires
- Asbestos
Have a designated spot to put all your non-dumpster-friendly materials. If most of your junk falls into this category, you can drive it to the dump yourself or hire a junk removal service to take care of it for you.
Here’s a list of things that are usually allowed in your temporary dumpster, though there are special restrictions for smaller dumpsters:
- Recyclable materials
- Scrap metal
- Shingles
- Concrete
- Construction materials
- Wood
- Landscaping materials
- Sand, dirt, etc.
What to expect when you rent a dumpster
Your Waste Management dumpster should arrive on your scheduled drop-off day between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. If you’re worried about the dumpster scratching your driveway or tearing up your lawn, you can set out pieces of plywood, and the delivery truck will put the dumpster down on top of them.
From there, you have a set number of days to get all of your debris into the dumpster and schedule a pickup without incurring extra fees. Make sure you check your rental agreement so you know how quickly to wrap up your demo or move.
But don’t rush
Remember to haul your junk to the dumpster in manageable pieces and lift with your legs. It can take several days to recover from a thrown-out back.
Do I need a permit for a temporary dumpster rental?
You may need a permit for a temporary dumpster rental depending on local requirements. Waste Management recommends checking with your homeowner association, improvement district, and local governing authorities to see if you need a permit.3 The company says you’ll likely need to provide information about the size of your dumpster, where it will sit, and how long you need it.
Our recommendation
If you’re not worried about price and if Waste Management has the size of dumpster you need on the days you need it, we think it’s one of the best junk removal companies.
If you’re on a budget, though, look at other dumpster services to compare rates. You might find a lower price with a local company. You’re already taking on your own construction, remodel, or demolition—don’t let dumpster rental add to your stress.
Ready to dump some junk?
Recommended resources
People also asked . . .
Sources
- Wm.com, "Find the Right Size for Your Project." Accessed January 11, 2022.
- Wm.com, "What Item's Can't Go in a Dumpster?". Accessed January 11, 2022.
- Wm.com, "Do You Need a Permit for Your Dumpster Placement?". Accessed January 11, 2022.
