What You Can and Can’t Put in a Dumpster (South Shore & Cape Cod MA)

Contents: The Do's and Don'ts For What Can Be Put in A Dumpster Rental in MA

You can throw out most non-hazardous household junk, wood, drywall, and yard waste. Liquids, fuels, chemicals, batteries, propane tanks, and mercury bulbs are out. When unsure, use your town’s HHW (Household Hazardous Waste) program.

Usually OK (confirm local rules)

• Cleanouts: furniture, clothing, toys, small non-refrigerated appliances (remove doors).
• Construction debris: lumber, drywall, flooring, cabinets, windows (tape/wrap glass).
• Roofing shingles: allowed; remember they’re heavy.
• Yard waste: branches/leaves; some towns want separation.

Not allowed / special handling

• Liquids/chemicals: wet paint, thinners, fuels, pool chemicals, pesticides, oil, paint thinners.
• Batteries: car, lithium, tool packs — universal waste programs only.
• Mercury items: fluorescent tubes, some thermostats.
• Pressurized tanks: propane/helium cylinders.
• Anything hazardous

Things that cost additional

• Refrigerant appliances
  
• Mattresses
• Box Springs
• Tires
• Rims
• Large Appliances
• Large Electronics

These items have additional recycling fees associated with MA DEP regulations

Things you cannot mix-

You absolutely cannot mix greenwaste/landscape debris with in-organic materials. Green waste MUST go in its own dumpster to go to the proper facility for handling, and these facilities DO NOT handle in-organic waste, wood, trash etc.