Dumpster Rental vs. Junk Removal: Which Service Is the Best For Your Project? (Comparison Guide)
The best waste disposal method differs per situation, but most home improvement projects benefit from choosing a dumpster rental or a junk removal service. In fact, these are often choice #1 and #2 for the vast majority of those involved in getting rid of waste. For people perfectly capable of doing the lifting and have the time, renting a dumpster might be the best option. For those who don’t have the time or perhaps the ability to lift the waste into a dumpster, they will take on the extra expense of hiring a junk removal company to do the work.
Whether it’s an extensive clean out, renovation, new construction or just a decluttering project, either renting a dumpster or hiring a junk removal service can be appropriate. It’s not always an easy decision, so we’ve developed this resource to help.
Arguably the most popular way to get rid of waste is via dumpster rental services. It is a self-reliant way of getting rid of waste at your own pace with the last expense. All you have to do is research the various roll-off dumpster rental companies in your area, investigate the different size dumpsters and estimate the amount of waste you will remove.
Once you’ve identified which size dumpster will work for your project, you can schedule to have one dropped off at your job site. Most renters will have it placed in their driveway, but for those without a driveway, they might prefer the yard or curbside. The dumpster company will arrive at the set date and time, dropping off your dumpster and giving you five days (on average) to fill it.
On the scheduled date, the company will come back to retrieve their dumpster and carry it and your junk away. That will conclude your dumpster experience. There are situations where you can arrange to have it picked up earlier if you’re done using it or if it has been filled up and you need a fresh new unit to replace it.
Junk removal services take a bit more planning, as you’ll have a crew coming into your job site, physically removing your waste for you, and most companies will require you to be there as they work. This is often considered, despite the planning, as the “hassle-free” method of having waste removed. The biggest perk with this method is that you do none of the lifting – all of that is left to the laborers who will carry your waste from your property to their disposal unit.
This process involves communicating your needs to a company representative, with whom you’ll go over the details of your project, including the amount and type of waste involved and when you need it removed. Once the scope of the project is established, the representative can give you an estimate of what their services will cost.
After the price is agreed upon, you can discuss the logistics, including the time/date they will do the work. They will schedule the appropriate number of people to get the job done in the specified amount of time, the type of vehicle and/or trailer they will use to deposit your waste and where they will take it from there.
Those are your options, so what do you think? Will it be the dumpster rental or will you hire a service to move your junk for you? If you need more information to make a decision, read on.
You’ve got a load of stuff that you want to get rid of and it’s more than your truck or your friend’s truck is capable of handling. It’s obvious that you need something that can handle all of your junk, or a company that comes in, loads it up and hauls it all away for you. No matter what the project is, whether it’s rehabbing a house, decluttering or managing debris from new construction – you’ve got waste that can go to the landfill and just need a way to get it out of your spaces.
The question now becomes – should you hire a junk removal company or a dumpster rental company to help you out? What will definitely help you make that decision is spelling out the differences between these two options. The following guide is the quick and easy way to separate one from the other.
| Dumpster rental | Junk removal | |
|---|---|---|
Responsibility for loading | You fill the dumpster, but at your pace. | The junk removal company employees will carry away all the junk for you. |
Type and volume of waste | Choose the dumpster size based on your amount of waste, but toxic/hazardous waste is not allowed. | You pay the junk removal company based on the amount of waste you have, but could require multiple trips and added costs for larger projects. |
Time flexibility | You can schedule when you want your dumpster picked up, but you can also extend your contract if you need it longer than the standard period. | There is no flexibility, as the company will schedule the exact date and time for their services, which need to align with your project timeline. |
Cost structure | There is one flat fee based on the size of dumpster you choose and the amount of time you keep it. | The cost is based on the volume of waste you have, which is estimated at the onset of the project but can change should it involve more material than originally estimated. The type of junk can also impact cost. |
Cost-effective | You will pay the same amount for your dumpster regardless of how full it is, and you do not pay for labor, as you do the work. | When you only have a few items, so few that it doesn’t warrant renting even the smallest dumpster, this option will be less costly. |
Convenience | Dumpsters can be placed as close to the job site as possible, offering nearby containment services. | Having someone else do all the lifting means there is no effort required of the customer. |
Environmental impact | Because there is usually only one trip involved per dumpster rental, this method is considered more eco-friendly. | Junk removal services create a larger carbon footprint with their multiple trips to unload waste. |
It’s obvious that the junk removal company and the dumpster rental company offer great services, but one will be better for some than it will be for others and vice versa. In either situation, by the time you’re done with either, your junk/waste/debris/trash will be gone.
The big difference between these options is that one will cost you more than the other. Another huge issue is for people who are not able to do all that heavy lifting – one option will not require them to do any work. Some projects involve exceedingly dense and cumbersome material that can’t be easily moved even by the strongest people. Therefore, the obvious choice becomes the junk removal service, as they will bring in the muscle required.
There are also healthy doses of convenience with the dumpster rental company, as they will bring your dumpster to you and drop it off exactly where you need it. Once it’s full, they’ll return with their truck and pick up the dumpster with all of your stuff in it and haul it away.
There are also differences in respect to the amount of afforded in each method. With the junk removal service, most jobs will be completed in a day. That means they bring in their hauling equipment and their laborers, carry out all of your stuff and get it off your property in a very short window of time. The dumpster, on the other hand, will probably be on your property for days. Many dumpster rental company’s have a standard contract of five days.
For most people, the two major factors are cost and the ability to do the labor. Others might see having multiple strangers in their space as a bit intrusive, so they will opt for the dumpster
Fiscally responsible people will do what they can to keep costs down, and cost is one of the most significant factors in deciding which method to take – junk removal service or dumpster rental. But there are plenty of considerations involved in getting to the bottom of the cost factor and how it can impact a decision.
Costs will vary In either situation. For example, when you rent a dumpster, the price will differ depending on what size you choose. The smaller the dumpster, the less the expense. Furthermore the amount of time you keep the dumpster will also impact the price. However, to get a baseline for this option, consider that most people rent a 20-cubic-yard dumpster at the standard five-day rental period. If your project is larger or smaller than average, you can factor in the difference. Also, don’t forget about permitting costs, as most municipalities will require you to pull a permit for dumpsters parked on public property.
Junk removal service costs are also influenced by the size of the project. However, the bulk of those costs are related to labor involved instead of the size of the unit being used to stow the waste/junk. The reason you’ll pay more for junk removal services is because it’s an all-inclusive situation where you schedule the day and time for your waste to be removed and the company comes in and does everything for you. The more stuff you have to remove, the more the company will charge you. You can add extra fees if it’s difficult to remove, which would be the case if you are located up several flights of stairs or if you have multiple heavy pieces that are difficult to manage and move.
For small jobs where a dumpster would be overkill, it might be less expensive to hire a removal service, which would be the case if all you have is an old recliner you want to get rid of. But in general, the cost of a dumpster is going to run you $300 on the low end and $600 on the high end. A junk removal service might have a minimum fee of $50 to $150, but they ramp up quickly from there, going over $800 for a job that might only fill a 20-cubic-yard dumpster.
When the decision is to use a dumpster, contact us at A City Suburban Dumpsters. From small to large jobs, we’ve got a dumpster that will fit your needs.
For many years, customers of junk removal services as well as customers of dumpster rentals have weighed in and speak highly of each option. When it comes time to get rid of a bunch of junk, both have proven to be of value. But which one should you choose? You can answer that by first asking yourself some questions that will offer insights leading to the right decision.
These questions are invaluable in helping to calculate which method of junk removal will work best for you:
The most crucial question comes in two parts: 1. What are you getting rid of? 2. How much do you have? If you have a bunch of light but bulky items that will easily fill a small dumpster and aren’t difficult to move, this is a scenario fit for a dumpster rental. If, however, you have many heavy objects that will be either difficult or impossible for you to move, hiring someone to do the work is a better option.
Some projects take a long time because they are multi-phase in nature, occurring over several days. They might not involve a vast amount of material, but for whatever reason the waste can’t be moved in one, two or maybe even in three days. Most junk removal teams do their work in one fell swoop, which means this kind of job would be more fitting for a dumpster you can rent for a week. But for jobs that can be handled in a few hours or over the course of a day at the most, bringing in a junk removal service could be for you.
When space is tight – too tight for a dumpster – you will need to inquire with a junk removal service about their ability to remove your junk without the luxury of a large and nearby receptacle to put it in. Many of these services will have box vans that can get in and out of fairly tight spaces, or at the very least a standard truck for removing material one load at a time.
Almost everyone has a budget they need to consider before they can make a decision. For the budget-conscious who have a lot of junk to get rid of, the go-to choice is a dumpster rental, as it will almost certainly be less expensive than a junk removal service. Also, if you need a solid estimate that you can count on, dumpster services offer a fixed rate that won’t fluctuate.
On the other hand, when you have only a few items to remove, it could be less expensive to bring in a junk removal service. It’s important to remember that if you decide to have more items removed once they get there, expect more fees for each item added.
There’s no denying the convenience of dumpsters and junk removal services, but one will most likely be preferential over the other after you account for all your variables. If you have questions about how a dumpster rental will benefit your project, contact us at A City Suburban Dumpsters.
A dumpster rental company is the best option for anyone who has the time, energy and the desire to handle junk removal on their own and for a flat fee that is less expensive than hiring a removal service. Getting the dumpster rental process started is fairly straightforward and many rental companies have online tools that allow you to do everything from the convenience of your device.
You might think you don’t have enough waste to warrant renting a dumpster, but keep in mind that they come in several sizes, which means the big ones you have seen behind businesses and apartment buildings aren’t the only ones available – there are also smaller sizes that are appropriate for small cleanouts, landscaping projects and other smaller jobs that don’t require a big dumpster.
And for jobs that are quite large in scope, you can have the largest dumpster, which is a 30-cubic-yard unit, brought to your property and it will handle up to 11,000 pounds of waste. And the key convenience is that no matter how large or small your project might be, you have multiple days to fill your dumpster, so there is no need to rush and exert yourself.
Scenarios where the dumpster rental is the best choice:
- There is no set-in-stone completion date for your project.
- The project lasts multiple days with each day introducing new waste that needs to be disposed of.
- The project involves a substantial amount of waste that cannot be managed through normal trash hauling or a pickup truck.
There are many conveniences involved in using a dumpster, including the fact that affordable dumpster rental terms are attractive to customers of all types. Ranging in size from a 6-cubic-yard unit to a 30-cubic-yard unit, you can rent the one that best suits your project.
The best decisions regarding waste removal begin with considering exactly what will be disposed of and the overall weight of the items. Size is also a consideration, as multiple bulky items will require a larger roll-off dumpster rental. Just about any item in a house can be disposed of in a dumpster as long as it is not hazardous.
Items you can put in a roll off dumpster:
- Household junk
- Construction & home improvement debris
- Storm debris
- Shingles
- Wooden and upholstered furniture
- Yard waste
- Box springs
- Lumber and wooden materials
- Multiple appliances
If you have questions about what can and cannot go into your dumpster, contact us at A City Suburban Dumpsters.
While dumpster rental services are a perfect option for some users, they might not be the preferred method for another. There are pros and cons that you need to consider prior to making a decision, so consider the following information before you rent a dumpster.
Among the most talked about dumpster rental pros is the fact that you can rent one for several days or even long term if the project calls for it. This means you can take your time and fill the dumpster as you see fit. For others, the primary benefit is cost, as renting a dumpster is generally less expensive than hiring a service to remove your junk.
The flexibility to have your dumpster dropped off close to where your junk is located is also a huge perk. For many renters, it’s the driveway. For others, it’s a spot in the yard, but for those without a driveway or yard space, they can have the dumpster rental company place it curbside. Also, when you rent a dumpster, the company picks it up for you when you’re finished with it.
The process of removing stuff might be considered a hassle for those who take no pleasure in doing the lifting and moving. This might include having to ask for help from friends, family or neighbors if there are particularly heavy and/or bulky items that require more than one person to move.
Some municipalities have restrictions on where dumpsters can be placed, for how long they can be on private or public property, and they some have limitations regarding the size of them. The permitting process for dumpsters that are placed curbside is another step and expense that would be considered a dumpster rental con.
While the cost of renting a roll off dumpster is one of the least expensive options, the actual price will vary depending on a handful of factors. For example, the larger the dumpster, the higher the expense. Keeping the dumpster for longer than the standard length of time can also add to the expense. If you have the dumpster placed on public property (curbside), there will be a cost associated with the permit, which differs from one municipality to the next.
The dumpster rental cost at A City Suburban Dumpsters ranges from $340 to $510. The price includes the five day rental, drop off and pick up. The only reason you’ll ever be charged more is if you exceed the weight allowance of your unit or if you extend the length of time you need to dumpster.
Dumpster rental services are of benefit to customers in many situations, including DIY projects. It’s considered an integral part of any project where waste/debris is generated, as having a place to deposit waste as it accumulates will keep the work area clear and safe.
There are five different sizes of dumpsters at A City Suburban Services, which means you have options and you can be sure there will be one that fits your DIY project. For example, anything involving dense materials, such as dirt, bricks, cinder blocks and rocks is a good match for our 6- and 10-cubic-yard dumpsters, which can handle 4,000 and 5,000 pounds of material, respectively.
Knowing in advance how much waste you’re going to be dealing with will ensure you’re renting the right unit. For example, if you’re removing carpet from a large home, the 20-cubic-yard container is appropriate. If you’ve got a big demolition job or new construction that will generate tons of waste, you can go all the way up to a 30-cubic-yard dumpster, the largest, which will hold up to 11,000 pounds of material.
There comes a time when a decision has to be made on whether or not to bring in professionals to remove your junk for you. This time is usually when the project at hand is extensive, such as a whole-house cleanout that calls for the removal of the majority of the contents, which could take weeks for someone to do on their own. Rather than facing something that is laborious and time consuming, bringing in professionals to knock it out in one day becomes a more attractive option.
There is also a point when safety becomes a concern for homeowners doing a DIY project, whether it’s a rehab situation or just moving old clutter out. Rather than risk injury, bringing in junk removal specialists is a safer option.
Junk removal specialists are the go-to option in these situations:
- There is no space on or near the property for placing a dumpster.
- The items to be removed are too heavy and/or bulky.
- There are only a handful of items – too few to justify a dumpster.
- When the items need to be disposed of quickly instead of over the course of days.
There is almost no limit to what a junk removal company will work with, as long as it is not toxic/hazardous (although some will specialize in this and charge accordingly). The vast majority of jobs call for the removal of general trash, materials related to construction projects, landscaping debris and bulky items like old furniture and appliances.
Junk removal services offer the primary advantage of doing all the lifting and hard work for you. They also work fast, getting rid of your junk in a short amount of time, hauling it away and leaving you free of clutter and waste. And while speed is important, they are also efficient in their safety methods, taking care not to damage anything in the process of removing junk.
You can discuss with your waste disposal experts exactly what you want disposed of prior to them showing up. In fact, that’s part of the procedure for most companies, as they’ll need to know what type of transportation will be required to carry the junk away, as well as know how many waste removal specialists should respond to the job. These items can range from the usual trash to bulky items to landscaping material.
Typical items removed by a junk removal company:
- Large appliances
- Construction debris
- Couches and other furniture
- Carpet and padding
- Mattresses
You’ll need to inquire with your local company about items that are questionable, such as anything you suspect is hazardous/toxic.
It’s always smart to go over the good and bad of any junk removal services option before making a decision. Moving ahead with confidence only happens after weighing the pros and cons. Check out the following information about the good and bad of services offered for junk removal.
If your preference is to have your junk removed without putting any physical effort into it, the obvious perk of hiring junk removal professionals is that they handle all the lifting, which means you have zero responsibilities in this area. You also don’t have to wait around and wonder when they’re going to get the job done, as most are fast and will get your junk off the premises in a very short amount of time – much faster than most DIY enthusiasts can manage. They are quick to finish because they know the easiest and safest way of lugging junk from the premises to their trailer, van, truck or dumpster.
Peace of mind cannot be overstated, either, as when you hire junk removal experts, you know your project will be completed, and on a very specific date and time. It’s a seamless process that makes planning a breeze.
Cost is usually the first con that is brought up when discussing junk removal services, especially for large projects where multiple heavy pieces are involved. The more stuff you have, the higher the price for junk removal services, as big projects require more labor and more weight to transport, potentially to the local landfill, which charges by weight.
Time restrictions are another con, as junk removal teams might not be available when you need them. Furthermore, if time is tight and the company can only spend a short amount of time on your project, there is a chance that not all of your stuff will be removed.
While cost is based on a variety of variables, the baseline is usually around $150 for small jobs, but in most circumstances, a job worth bringing in professionals for will cost around $600. For example, if you’ve got a couch you need to get rid of but can’t move it yourself, expect to pay $150 to have it removed. If you’ve got a truck load of stuff you want moved out and hauled away, the price will likely jump up to $600. Larger projects and projects that involve exceedingly heavy equipment will go up from there. If any of your items are out of the ordinary and require specialized services, you could see more fees tacked on.
You can get a better estimate of what you’ll pay when you speak to a representative at the company, inform them about what you are getting rid of, establish how big the load is (anywhere from an eighth of a truck to a full truck load) and how much labor will be involved. While there is an expense related to the tipping fees for offloading junk, you’re also paying for the labor involved in physically removing the junk from your premises.
A junk removal company is the go-to preference for those who do not want to move their junk around or cannot physically do it themselves. From getting rid of a heavy and bulky appliance to hauling load after load of construction debris, the junk removal company brings in the muscle to do all the hard work for you.
Not only do you not have to risk injury by doing it yourself, the task is completed much faster by professionals. Most junk removal companies work in teams, which means they can easily manage the heaviest items. And for those projects that involve big piles of refuse, whether it’s old tile flooring or years and years of junk that has piled up in storage, the team works together to carry each individual load to an awaiting receptacle, whether it’s a truck bed, box truck or dumpster.
Much ground has been covered about the debate between dumpster rental or junk removal. It’s been established that in most situations, the dumpster rental is going to be the least costly option, but the responsibility is yours to load all your waste. You also know that when you bring in a junk removal company, they do the heavy lifting, but the price for these services is higher than renting a dumpster.
When you want to move at your own pace on longer, more extensive projects, you know that the dumpster rental will afford you that luxury. But you also realize that when time is of the essence and the job has to be done fast, the junk removal service will be there for you, knocking out the project in one day.
In both situations, whether you have someone move your waste out of your space or if you do it yourself, the company you hire or rent from will take it away to its next destination. In most rental situations, the company will pick up your dumpster on the fifth day of the rental, as most contracts are for five days. The junk removal service company is almost always going to be in and out in a single day, perhaps in as little as an hour for small jobs.
Now you have a decision to make – will it be the rented dumpster or will you hire a removal service? Most people in your situation will make the decision based on their ability to do the work themselves, their budget and the amount of time they have to complete the job.
One of the reasons the dumpster rental wins out over junk removal services is because of the flexibility you are afforded and the less strain it puts on the budget. And it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation, as dumpster rental companies have more than one sized unit from which to choose. And you’ve also got flexibility in what goes in them, as you can place concrete, cinder blocks and roofing material in a dumpster, but you can also toss general trash, furniture and construction debris in it.
So, whether you have a big yard project, garage cleanout, home remodel or you’re just getting rid of a bunch of unwanted junk, your dumpster company will help you pick the right size unit for you, drop it off where you want it and pick it up when you’re done.
When you rent a dumpster, there is no immediate deadline for you to fill it. Rather, in most situations you’ll have five whole days, affording you the luxury of taking your time and doing the work as you see fit. This is great for users who don’t want to be rushed or have a project that is being done in phases. You don’t have this flexibility with a removal service, as they can’t wait around for days on end, ridding your space of waste as it is generated.
In a remodel situation where the work is slow, the dumpster is the obvious choice, as you can remove junk as it is generated, keeping the work area clear as the project progresses from one day to the next. A dumpster gives you more control over the situation, allowing for more flexibility and taking the stress out of the situation.
When the cost of a project weighs heavy on you, the affordability of a dumpster rental becomes a go-to option. Dumpsters are in high need, which is why there are so many companies offering this service, and it’s this competition that makes them even more cost effective as companies work toward keeping their prices more competitive than others in their industry.
One of the reasons junk removal services can’t compete at this level is that they have to pay their laborers to do the heavy lifting, which is built into their pricing models. Dumpsters, on the other hand, require the renter to do the work, which means labor fees are not present in their contracts, making it a more cost effective option.
For larger projects, junk removal services can outprice many potential customers, as the substantial amount of labor adds up. Conversely, if you’ve got a big job that requires the largest dumpster, you are only paying for the dumpster, not the labor to fill it. And that is where the biggest differences are experienced, in the larger projects where a service tacks on so many added fees that it simply becomes too costly.
In many home improvement projects, there is more than one waste generating phase. Yes, the demolition phase will certainly create a pile of waste, but as the project goes on, scrap will also pile up. For this reason, having a seamless solution makes the most sense, which is what a dumpster rental provides.
The other option is to hire a junk removal service, which means you’ll have to halt what you’re doing (or what your contractors are doing) so the junk removal team can swoop in and collect the waste. And for a remodeling project, this might need to occur several times before the job is completed. When you want to enhance your overall project rather than hinder it, a dumpster rental makes the most sense.
Nothing derails a project like an injury, which is why every precaution needs to be taken to keep the jobsite free from debris that can lead to fall injuries. General contractors rely on dumpsters to keep their workspaces clear of clutter, which means their workers not only get their jobs done more efficiently, but also without hazards that can create injury situations. From jagged metal and glass to piles of waste that can cause workers to trip, having a place to put all that waste and get it out of the way makes a huge difference.
The other option is to hire a junk removal service, which is not an efficient process for several reasons, the first of which is too many people in the work area and the potential for excess work stoppages. Also, the lack of cohesive communication between entities can lead to problems, particularly in how and when materials should be removed. Finally, most junk removal services prefer to do their work quickly and would rather not have to work around others who are in their way.
When you rent a dumpster, you get a unit that is large enough to meet your needs, which includes parking it nearby, allowing you to fill it as needed, then having it carted off when you’re finished. Many junk removal services cart away waste in increments, which means more trips to the landfill or wherever they are depositing the material (recycling center, scrap yard, etc.).
Because there is only one trip involved with the dumpster rental, it is the more eco-friendly option because it has a lower carbon footprint. And while this might seem trivial for your project alone, remember that there are many, many projects occurring every single day, which really adds up.
No matter what your project is, from ridding your yard of landscaping debris to clearing out the rubble from a room refurbishing project, a dumpster is going to fit your needs. Also, no matter the size of your project, there is a dumpster that will be a good fit for it.
Versatility is the key, so when you research your options, you’ll find that your small project that generates less than 4,000 pounds of waste is also a job for a dumpster. Specifically, the smallest unit, a 6-cubic-yard dumpster, will fit your needs. But what if you have a relatively massive project – one that will generate as much as 11,000 pounds of waste? In that situation you’ll need the largest dumpster, which is the 30-cubic-yard unit.
And you also have versatility in respect to the amount of time you have to fill your dumpster. Most contracts allow you to keep it for five days, but for a more extensive project, simply work it out with the rental company to keep your unit longer than the standard term.
There is no doubt that when a dumpster rental is the choice, the customer is happy with the outcomes. They come looking for safety, cost effective solutions as well as more flexibility in how they do their work and they find it in their dumpster rental.
While there is a time and a place for hiring a junk removal service, again and again customers find what they need with a dumpster rental company that provides a cost-effective and efficient method of getting rid of waste.
If you’re in the Chicago area and you need to tackle a project that generates waste, you need a dumpster as part of your strategy. You don’t want to risk encountering hassles that prolong your project or cause costly delays, so bring in a dumpster to keep your waste out of the way.
At A City Suburban Dumpsters, we provide a fast and easy solution for dumpster rental in Chicago. In fact, when you rent a dumpster for junk removal from us, you can utilize our online renting process where all your questions can be answered and you can get your rental underway. It’s quick and convenient, but if you have questions, we are here with answers.