A dumpster is a dumpster. Throw away your trash and stop thinking about it, and it’s as simple as that—right?
The world of waste removal is actually far from simple. If you’re about to start a construction project, or you find yourself in need of commercial trash disposal, you may feel confused by all the different types of dumpsters and terms involved.
Commercial Dumpsters
Commercial dumpsters are the type you see behind restaurants and pushed against the wall of businesses. These big blue bins are a familiar sight for urban dwellers and are how businesses get rid of their trash. You can easily recognize them by a few key features.
- Look for the lid. Commercial dumpsters are covered by a lid, which keeps out insects and animals, and prevents the odor of garbage from escaping.
- Add trash easily. Front load dumpsters are lower in the front, allowing you to easily load bags of trash, time and again.
Construction Dumpsters
The most obvious difference between commercial and construction dumpsters is the size. Because construction projects involve large pieces of lumber, steel, and concrete, as opposed to small bags of trash, construction dumpsters are far larger than their commercial counterparts. But there are other features that separate them as well.
- You won’t find a lid. Since most animals won’t be as interested in digging through odd bits of lumber and drywall as they would a half-eaten cheeseburger, having a lid to prevent pests isn’t as much of a priority for construction dumpsters.
- There are several types. Construction dumpsters are further divided by the type of material being disposed of, unlike the more uniform style of urban dumpsters. If you’re working with sharp pieces of broken concrete, for example, you’ll need a durable dumpster that can handle scratches and heavy weight.
- Roll them away. While their commercial counterparts can be lifted by and loaded onto disposal trucks, construction dumpsters are equipped with wheels to aid in their removal when your construction project is finished.