Ever cleaned out a closet, garage, or backyard and you have somehow felt like you uncovered an entire city’s worth of junk? In Los Angeles, waste accumulates exactly like this but on a larger scale; everywhere you turn, something is being built, remodelled, renovated, cleaned out, or celebrated.  From old furniture, yard trimmings, and left over event decor to broken appliances, everything adds up to the pile of waste to be dumped. The question to be asked here is what happens to this waste, where does it all go and most importantly, where should it all go?

This may surprise you (or maybe it won’t): Los Angeles produces more than 28 million tons of waste every year, and according to CalRecycle, over 75% of that could be recycled or diverted from landfills. Yes, that is what happens to every waste being dumped, be it event waste, construction waste, home renovation waste, or anything that needs to be dumped. 

The problem is that most of the waste gets mixed up and ends up in the wrong place. This is where making an eco-friendly waste disposal choice matters. One of the easiest ways to do that is by knowing how to use your rental dumpster to its full capacity.  Eco-friendly dumpster rentals aren’t just about tossing junk into the bin; it is about sorting, recycling and disposing of waste in a smart and responsible way. At Zippy Dumpster, the process is made simple. Be it construction waste, party leftovers or that pile of stuff from the regular clean-up project, the company helps you sort recyclables, handle green disposal and keep Los Angeles cleaner. How do we do this in a better and smarter way while getting out from Zippy Dumpster? The blog explores this topic in more depth. 

Sort Before You Toss

Let us be real: when you are in a cleanup mode, it is tempting to just throw everything into the dumpster and call it a day. Stop doing it. A little sorting goes a long way. Separating your waste into recyclables, donations and actual trash, and in that separate categories too; waste that are easily degradable, recyclable and hard to degegrade. Not only does it help the waste to be organised, but it also helps in saving money and disposal fees.

Think about it: why pay to dump old chairs, lamps (working lamps of course) or old clothes, when these items can be tossed to charity for others’ good? Before your dumpster even arrives, take a few minutes to make separate piles. Trust us, your future self (and the planet) will thank you. And if you’re not sure what goes where, companies like Zippy Dumpster can guide you through it- easy peasy!

Choose The Right-Sized Dumpster For The Job

Okay, here is a classic mistake people make: renting a dumpster that is either way too big or way too small. It is like trying to fit your whole wardrobe into a backpack or renting a moving truck for a single lamp. Neither makes sense, right? We know!

When it comes to eco-friendly waste disposal, the right dumpster size matters. When renting a small dumpster, you will end up overfilling it, which can lead to extra fees or waste spilling over all your property, causing extra trouble for dumpster rental company service providers to clean up the skilled work.

Now, what happens when you rent a dumpster that is too big? Simple: you are wasting space (and money) that nobody is going to use. Plus,  certain junk items like concrete, yard waste, or recyclables need their own rental dumpster bins if you want to recycle them properly. The smartest move to do this is to chat with a local rental dumpster company like Zippy Dumpster. The team will help you figure out the right-sized dumpster fit for your project so you don’t have to overpay. 

Be Aware of Hazardous Waste Rule

Just because you have rented a dumpster doesn’t mean that you have to ‘toss’ everything into it. Tossing the wrong stuff can cause big problems (even explosive problems). Items like paint, batteries, electric appliances, chemicals and other appliances are explosive or considered hazardous and shouldn’t be tossed into your dumpster. But if you do, you will be learning the hard way through fines.

Instead, what you could do is learn where and how to properly dispose of these materials. Los Angeles has special drop-off centres and collection events for hazardous items. Things like e-waste, old motor oil, and fluorescent bulbs have their own safe disposal spots. If you are not sure what counts as hazardous waste, a good rental dumpster company like Zippy Dumpster can guide you;  they know the LA rules inside and out and can help you avoid any trouble.

Compact Your Waste Smartly

Here is something most people forget (and do wrong most of the time): how you load your dumpster matters. Tossing things randomly into the dumpster eats up the space of your dumpster way faster than you think. This would result in creating big air gaps between items, resulting in needing a bigger (and maybe more expensive) rental dumpster. You don’t want that. 

The solution is to break down the bulky junk items like boxes, furniture and branches before tossing them into it. Flatten what you can, like cardboxes or ohe rboxes or nest smaller items inside into bigger ones and stack smartly utalizing space appropriately. Filing junk into your rental dumpster bin is basically like playing a giant game of Tetris with your trash. The tighter you pack, the more you will be able to fit into it, meaning fewer pickups at an affordable price, eco-friendly disposal, and more efficient cleanup. Local rental dumpster companies like Zippy Dumpster actually share handy packing tips when you book, so your project is clean and finished on time. 

At the end of the day, waste is something that will pile up whether we like it or not. However, the fact that is in question is how we manage the waste and how we can make a difference with it. We have to sort the waste into different categories, sorting them into different bins depending on the type of junk, recycling whatever is possible and being mindful of what goes into a dumpster.

If you are ready to tackle your next project (big, small or medium-sized) without the hassle, Zippy Dumpster makes it easy and hassle-free to stay eco-friendly and affordable. Zippy Dumpster offers reliable, flexible and responsible dumpster rentals designed for everything from home cleanouts and event clean-ups to remodelling or demolition projects. Additionally, the company helps with proper disposal and offers recycling tips so you can feel good about where your waste is going. Ready to clear out the mess and do it right? Reach out to Zippy Dumpster today, and start planning your project requirements accordingly.