Construction Dumpster Cost: 7 Factors to Consider

If you’re preparing for a construction project, your materials list probably includes at least one dumpster for managing waste. 

Dumpster rental pricing may be straightforward, but budgeting all the associated expenses can be tricky. How do you accurately determine your total costs for obtaining and using waste management containers? 

Estimating Construction Waste Management Costs

Factors that influence your construction dumpster costs involve the scope of your project, the materials you’ll need to dispose of, and the local fees and regulations. 

Consider the following factors when calculating your project’s estimated dumpster costs. 

Size and Scope of the Project

The basic details of your project indicate your waste management needs. You can estimate your dumpster requirements by considering these factors:

• Lot size
• Building size
• Nature of the project (renovation, addition, new construction, etc.)

To estimate your dumpster needs and costs, compare your project to other jobs you’ve completed that were similar in size and scope. 

Types of Waste Material

Different construction waste materials, like metals, stone, wood, and concrete, have different waste profiles. 

Bulk, weight, and safety hazards all vary by material. Different products may require different waste management practices. For example, heavier waste is more expensive to transport, while materials like cardboard or wood can be easily compacted to save on space and storage costs. 

Dumpster Size

Does your project call for a small dumpster for basic trash like packaging material, nails, and garbage? Or, will you be carting off heavy-duty materials like stone and drywall?

Here are average prices for the most common dumpster sizes. 

Source: Dumpsters.com, updated November 2021

According to Dumpsters.com, the average cost of a roll-off dumpster rental nationwide is $485.

Larger dumpster rentals are more expensive, of course, but the price per cubic yard often decreases substantially for larger units. 

Number of Dumpsters

Using more dumpsters means devoting more budget, as well as more worksite space, to waste management. 

To pay the best price for the most appropriate amount of container space, it can be helpful to mix and match different dumpster sizes to avoid paying for space you don’t need. For major projects, negotiate lower per-unit prices if you need to rent multiple dumpsters. 

Pickup Schedule

How often will you need your dumpsters picked up and replaced with empty ones? 

How quickly you fill up your dumpsters affects your waste management costs, since each pickup and replacement carries a price. 

Additionally, there are labor costs associated with managing your pickups or landfill trips. Lost productivity costs can also occur if you have to pause work to wait for more container space to open up. 

Dumpster Rental Period

For how many weeks or months will you require dumpster use? If you’re paying a time-based rental price, waste management is one of many project costs that keep increasing if your project suffers delays. 

Additional Permits, Taxes, and Fees

Some jurisdictions charge permit fees for placing dumpsters at project sites. Check with your local municipal office to inquire about waste management charges and regulations.  You might pay a single blanket fee or an individual fee for each container. 

Depending on where you’re conducting your project, there may be additional taxes or environmental fees associated with dumpster use. These extra expenses build up on top of your base dumpster rental costs. 

Get the Most Out Of Your Dumpster

One of the best ways to mitigate construction waste management costs is to contract with a trash compaction service.

Trashpac provides trash compaction for New Jersey construction projects. We make things easy for your team—as a mobile service, we come to your site. Working with a steel drum roller, we reduce your dumpster’s volume by 40-60 percent. 

Trash compaction helps minimize the number of landfill trips needed to complete your construction project. Improved dumpster efficiency makes your entire project run more smoothly, helping your team reach the finish line faster and with reduced costs. 

To learn more and schedule a free demo for your construction site, contact Trashpac today.