Placement
Where to put a dumpster
The truck sets the container down by tilting its frame and sliding the box off the back. It needs a clear approach, height above it and firm ground under the spot.
Phones answered Mon–Sat 8 am–8 pm, Sun 8 am–1 pm (Eastern)
Check the spot
Length
Measure from the street to the garage. The box plus room for the truck to line up must fit.
Height
Overhead wires, gutters and low branches block the tilting frame. Look straight up from the spot.
Width
Leave room to walk past and to swing a car door if you still need the garage.
Surface
Concrete is easiest. Asphalt softens in summer heat and can dent under the rails.
Protect the driveway
Ask whether the company puts boards under the rails, or lay two long sheets of plywood yourself where the rails will land. They spread the weight and keep the steel off the surface. Avoid the lawn: wet ground lets the rails sink, and the truck can leave ruts on the way out.
Keep the container away from the house wall and anything the truck could clip while backing in.
Winter, HOAs and shared driveways
In a Michigan winter, clear the snow from the spot before drop-off day, and keep the container off the street where city plows need room. A container on the street in Grand Rapids needs a Temporary Occupancy Permit in any season.
Homeowners associations in newer subdivisions often limit how long a container may sit in view, or require notice. Check your rules before booking. With a shared driveway, agree on timing with the neighbor first.
Ready to book a roll-off?
Have the address, the project and a rough idea of how much is going in. The company on the phone quotes the size, the drop-off date and the price.
Phones answered Mon–Sat 8 am–8 pm, Sun 8 am–1 pm (Eastern)