Fall Yard Cleanup: Using a Dumpster for Leaves, Limbs and Brush

Fall is a busy time for yard work around the Triad. The leaves come down, wind and storms drop limbs, and a lot of people finally get around to the overgrown fence line or the shrubs they meant to pull out back in the spring. By the time the work is done, the pile in the backyard is usually a lot bigger than anyone planned.

If that pile is more than your trash cart or a few pickup trips can handle, a roll-off dumpster can save you a lot of time. Here is how to make one work for a fall cleanup.

What yard waste can go in

Yard waste, brush and stumps are all accepted in A-1 dumpsters. That covers most of what a fall cleanup turns up: leaves, limbs, branches, pulled shrubs and vines.

A few things to keep in mind as you load:

• Cut long limbs into shorter pieces. They lie flatter, and you will fit a lot more in the box.
• Be careful with dirt. Soil is heavy, and trucks have legal weight limits. If you are digging out beds or leveling a low spot, call us about weight before you start shoveling it in.
• Some things can't go in at all. Paint, chemicals, tires, batteries and appliances with refrigerant are not allowed. That includes leftover lawn chemicals and the old gas can from the shed.

For the full list, read our guide on what you can and can't put in a dumpster.

Picking a size

For most homeowners, the 15 yard is the right fit. It is our most popular size for homeowners, and it is built for clean-outs and yard cleanups. It measures about 11 feet long, 8 feet 4 inches wide and 4 feet 5 inches tall, and it holds roughly 4 to 5 pickup truck loads.

If you are clearing a big lot, dealing with several downed trees, or doing the yard and a garage clean-out at the same time, look at the 20 yard. It holds about 6 to 8 pickup loads.

Not sure which one you need? Call and tell us what you are working on. Our dispatchers speak English and Spanish.

Where to put it

Your driveway is usually the best spot, and you don't need a permit to set a dumpster on your own property. If it has to sit on a public street or sidewalk, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point and most other Triad towns generally require a right-of-way permit from the city. Check on that before you schedule delivery.

Our drivers set boards under the dumpster to help protect your concrete or asphalt. On delivery day, move cars out of the way so the driver can set it right where you want it.

How long you can keep it

A homeowner rental includes 7 days. For most people that covers a weekend or two of raking and cutting. Fall cleanups tend to happen in rounds, with a big push one weekend and a final pass after the last of the leaves come down, so plan your delivery date with that in mind. If the job runs long, call dispatch and we can extend your rental.

Homeowner rentals are a flat rate that includes the 7 days and a set amount of tonnage, so you know the cost up front. You can see prices by filling out the short form on our dumpster rental page.

Delivery is usually within a day or two across the Triad. We deliver within 40 miles of Greensboro and Winston-Salem, from Clemmons east to Mebane and from Reidsville south to Asheboro. If you are near the edge of that, give us a call.

Where it all goes

When you call for pickup, we haul the dumpster to our own landfill on Bishop Road in Greensboro. The Bishop Road landfill takes land-clearing debris like stumps, brush and logs, so your yard waste has a place to go close to home.

If you are a contractor or hauler with your own trucks, you can bring stumps, brush and other land-clearing debris straight to Bishop Road. Contractors and haulers can set up a commercial account with contract rates.

A few last tips

• Load the heavy, flat pieces first and the lighter, bulky brush on top.
• Keep the load level with the top of the box. Nothing should stick up over the sides.
• Bag loose leaves if it is a windy week, so they stay in the box and out of your neighbor's yard.

To get a dumpster scheduled, visit our dumpster rental page or call (336) 855-8195.