Dumpster rental vs. junk removal company comparison guide
Wondering what your options are when it comes to renting a dumpster and how it compares to junk removal service? Read this guide to find out!
When you have unwanted junk that needs to disappear, it can be difficult deciding what to do with it. The most common options are to rent a dumpster or hire a professional junk removal company, like 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. From cost to convenience, this guide will cover everything you need to know in order to make an educated decision on which junk removal method is best for you!
Types of dumpsters and dumpster rental cost
Not only are there differences between dumpster rentals and junk removal services, but there are differences in the dumpsters themselves! Depending on the amount of junk you have, the size and material of the dumpster will differ, which will affect the price.
1. Roll off dumpster
Roll off dumpsters are delivered by a truck with a specialized lift system and are dropped off at your property for a scheduled amount of time, usually one to two weeks. Roll off dumpster rentals are a great option when you have a large quantity of materials. They are best suited for temporary jobs such as home improvement projects, events, or demolitions. They come in various sizes, from 10 yards to 40 yards. They can hold the bulky items that you can’t put out on the curb, such as appliances, electronics, furniture, bricks, and drywall.
2. Front load dumpster
A front load dumpster is similar to a roll off dumpster. In fact they both come in varying sizes and accept similar materials. However, a front load dumpster is a more permanent option, and is ideal for commercial use by facilities like restaurants, offices, schools and apartments. Front load dumpster rentals usually offer pickup once a week, bi-weekly, or monthly. The price of a front load dumpster is based on the frequency of the pickup, along with the dumpster’s size, location, and add-ons.
3. Dumpster bag
Waste Management’s dumpster bag, also known as Bagster, is perfect for smaller jobs that don’t need the space of a full sized dumpster. These bags are 8 feet wide, 2.5 feet high, and 4 feet deep, so they are also a great option if you don't have a lot of space in your driveway. Even though the bags are small, they are mighty. They can carry up to 1.5 tonnes! To use a Bagster, you purchase the bag from a retailer, take however long you need to fill it up, then book a pickup appointment.
A dumpster bag is a great option for smaller jobs as the price is lower than a traditional dumpster. A Waste Management dumpster bag costs around $30 USD, but keep in mind that you still need to pay to have the bag picked up. Unlike traditional full sized dumpsters, Bagster does not have any deadlines or overage fees. Unfortunately, large items like appliances and electronics are not accepted. You can also only include small quantities of heavy items like brick and concrete.
6 differences between dumpsters and junk removal
1. Convenience
If convenience was the only deciding factor, junk removal companies would win hands down! Some companies, such as 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, offer full service junk removal. They come to your home or commercial space during a scheduled appointment window, remove your junk, and clean up any debris that may have been left behind. All you have to do is point!
In contrast, with dumpster rentals you have to do all the heavy lifting yourself. Not only is it hard work, but you also end up spending your free time doing an undesirable task.
2. Cost
The price of dumpsters can range from $90 to $840 USD for three to four days. Keep in mind this price may include hidden fees such as permits, overage charges, or dump fees.
Unlike some dumpster rentals, permits are not required with 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and you do not get charged based on time. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? prices their service based on the amount of space your junk takes up in a truck. We also do single item pricing on certain common items like mattresses. If you’re interested in a quote, call 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. We’re happy to help!
3. Safety
With dumpster rentals, since you are doing all the heavy lifting, there is a greater risk of injury. Even if you are capable of lifting a heavy item, it still can be a hazard to move it by yourself.
At 1-800-GOT-JUNK? our Truck Team Members never work alone and they have the equipment needed to transport large items with ease. Our teams are insured and have had proper training, so safety should never be a concern.
4. Type of accepted items
Even if you are able to lift big and heavy items, some dumpster rental companies won’t accept them. Many dumpster rentals do not allow tires or items with freon, such as fridges and freezers. Oftentimes different categories of items need to be placed in different dumpsters. For example, you can’t place yard trimmings in with construction materials, so you would need to rent two different dumpsters. If you are interested in renting a dumpster, confirm with the company if you can include a variety of items or not.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? does not have the same restrictions as a dumpster rental. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? takes almost everything you can imagine. From yard trimmings to drywall, no matter how big or weird we can haul it all. Our Truck Team Members can even remove large bulky items like hot tubs!
5. Environmental impact
Unfortunately, with dumpster rentals all the items are sent to the dump. If you have recyclable materials, you would need to sort them out beforehand and find a different removal method for them. However, at 1-800-GOT-JUNK? we can sort items for you! We pride ourselves on diverting items from the landfill by recycling the recyclables and donating the donate-ables.
If you want more information about 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, check out these frequently asked questions about our service or read the ten reasons why you should use a junk removal company!
Are you ready to swap that inconvenient dumpster for 1-800-GOT-JUNK?'s service?
Frequently asked questions
We price based on how much space your items take up in the back of our truck, broken down into ⅛, ¼, ½, ¾ of a truckload, all the way up to a full truckload. Our trucks hold the equivalent of seven pickup trucks.
Our prices vary based on location and there is a minimum charge for our teams to remove your items, which is different in each location, based on a number of factors, including local disposal and recycling fees.
We offer single item pricing for certain items such as mattresses or TVs, sometimes this will be less than our minimum charge.
For materials that have a heavy cubic weight like dirt, concrete, and gravel, pricing is based on the total volume that the material takes up in the truck, up to a maximum of one foot in height for a full truck.
Watch us load up a truck to see how our standard pricing works!
If you need service weekly, monthly, or quarterly, we offer bulk pricing discounts. This gives you better value compared to common alternatives, such as dumpsters or less professional junk removal services.
Interested? Call our business account team at 1-888-475-3461 to discuss your needs as well as pricing options.
On the day of your appointment with us, our friendly, uniformed truck team members will give you a call or text 25-30 mins before we arrive to let you know we’re on our way.
Whether your business has a single location or multiple locations, we can create a custom junk removal solution that works for you. We can coordinate pickups at multiple locations at a local, regional, and national level. Rather than work with dozens of regional or local companies, let 1-800-GOT-JUNK? handle the jobs across all your locations.
Absolutely! We take large items all the time. As long as it can be lifted and loaded into the truck by two people, we'll be happy to take it away for you!
We work with all types of businesses and can handle any type of job - cleanouts, bulk item removal, general junk removal and even specific items like cardboard or pallets. We can take pretty much anything as long as it's not toxic or hazardous. We can remove your items from wherever they’re located, whether it’s your office, store, site or anywhere else—all you have to do is point!
Yes, we're fully licensed, bonded and insured! We have insurance covering damages to both persons and property for every single booking.
While we don't quite service the entire map, we cover almost every greater metropolitan area across the US, Canada, and Australia. To see if we’re in your neighborhood, you can start a booking by entering your zip code here.
Our customer service center is open 24/7, so we’re here whenever you need us! While operating hours may vary in our franchise locations, we offer same-day and off-hours service, including weekends.
