Dumpster Bags
Whether you’ve used a dumpster bag before or not, you’ll quite quickly see its benefits over a haulage service. For one, it’s a fraction of the cost and doesn’t come with some of the added complexities of using a container or junk removal service, making the bag a highly convenient choice.
What is a Dumpster Bag?
Hailed by its makers, Bagster, as “a dumpster within a bag” this item is exactly that – a dumpster in a bag. Also known as a Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container (FIBC), dumpster bags are highly durable, soft-sided, woven bags that will not tear or puncture under stress and can hold over three thousand pounds of waste material.
Until you are ready to use your dumpster bag, it remains neatly folded in its packaging. It can hold up to three yards of waste and is perfect for emergency situations, smaller projects, or jobsites with limited space.
These bags are made to use on renovation or small construction sites the exact same way a simple trash bag is made to use in a kitchen.
Like dumpsters, dumpster bags come in a variety of shapes and sizes so be sure to have a general idea of how much waste storage you will need before purchasing your bag. The most common size is three cubic yards that fit in a bag ninety-six inches wide and thirty inches tall. Be aware that these bags are not waterproof so check your local weather and be aware of any potential precipitation before leaving them outside for days while you complete your project.
Renting a dumpster can often get complicated. Between scheduling delivery and pickup times, making sure you have the right size and type of dumpster, and applying for permits to have a dumpster on your property, the complications of getting and having a dumpster can sometimes outweigh its advantages. For the times when you don’t need the hassle of a dumpster service, a dumpster bag is an ideal waste solution and alternative.
Ordering the Bagster
Quite a lot of people look for a dumpster bag rental because they are so used to renting (or hearing about other people renting) the traditional dumpsters so often sighted in their city. However, there is actually no need to go through the trouble of renting a dumpster bag. They are available for a one-time purchase at a very affordable price at your local Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, or other such stores.
The bags can even be ordered on Amazon in the comfort of your own home for approximately thirty dollars.
These rubbish bags do not have lids, making them easy to fill up, but do come with handy lifting straps for easy relocation. They are large enough to hold items such as doors and cabinets and are sturdy enough to hold heavy appliances such as bathtubs.
It is important to schedule a reliable collection service through your local waste management office, but even with the pickup fee you will likely spend somewhere between fifty and seventy-five percent less on a dumpster bag than if you were to rent a typical dumpster. In addition, dumpster bags do not come saddled with container fees and deadlines – yet another bonus!
If you’d like to be more environmentally-friendly, you can opt for reusable dumpster bags. These bags will be returned to you after the waste inside of them has been disposed of. Depending on the condition of your bag you might not get the exact same bag, especially if it has been ripped or torn, but you can expect a similar bag to be returned to you ready to be filled again.
What Rubbish Can it Take?
In short, dumpster bags can hold almost any item that can fit inside. Their sole purpose is to help you get rid of waste around your house or property, whether it’s from reconstruction, flooding, moving, cleanouts, fire, or any other reasonable situation you can think of. Acceptable items also include appliances, wood, metal, trim boards, shingles, roofing materials, flooring, cabinets, siding, sheetrock, and more. If you have further questions about what is allowed in your dumpster bag, don’t hesitate to ask a representative from your local home improvement store or call the waste management office in your area.
Things the Bagster should not be used for
Items that are considered hazardous should not be placed inside the bag. While it is always good to check with your local waste management if you are not sure if an item is hazardous or not, a general list would be:
- Tires
- Electronics
- Food waste and household garbage
- Medical waste
- Railroad ties
- Fluorescent bulbs
- Asbestos
- Fluids (especially chemicals, solvents, and liquid paint)
- Refrigerants
- Combustibles (flammable substances)
- Other toxic and hazardous waste (batteries, mercury thermometers, etc.)
It cannot be stressed enough that you should always check with your local waste management agency to ensure that you are doing your part to keep the environment healthy by disposing of hazardous waste the appropriate way. In most counties, you can drop off waste at an allotted facility at a specific time.
Due to further environmental regulations, yard waste and organic materials as well as heavy materials such as stone and concrete are only accepted in some areas. Again, please check the regulations of your area before using a dumpster bag to dispose of these materials.
Filling the Bag Correctly
When you are ready to have your bag picked up, double check to make sure your bag has been loaded properly and it is ready to be loaded. To correctly fill your dumpster bag, you should do the following:
- Load the waste evenly throughout the bag
- Make sure all the debris is contained in the bag and not hanging over the side or leaking out of a rip in the bag
- Ensure that the straps are accessible and can meet over the top of the bag for removal
When the pickup service removes the bag from your property, it should be smooth, efficient, and clean; no waste should be left floating around your property. To make sure this happens and you don’t get charged extra fees, be sure to always load your dumpster bag properly.
Placement, Delivery and Collection
When you’ve decided on your dumpster bag size, there are a few important steps in deciding where and how to place it on your driveway. First, be absolutely sure that there is no need for a permit. In most areas you will be allowed to have the dumpster bag on your property for as long as desire, but there are some areas that require you to have the dumpster bag moved or emptied after a certain number of days. As a general rule of thumb, it is recommended you check with your local permit office to be sure that you are using this type of dumpster in accordance with the law where you live!
In addition, be sure to check that your bag can be collected. While local collection agencies will generally pick up the full bags, it will save you a headache to call ahead and make sure that this is the case instead of having to make alternate plans when you have a two thousand pound bag full of waste and nowhere to dispose of it.
To see if your local waste management will pick up your dumpster bag, go to http://www.thebagster.com/products/collection_service.aspx. If you are not in an area where waste management will pick up, services such as Green Bag Pickup might be able to help instead.
As with any project, always plan ahead before you begin filling your bag. Once you start dumping waste into the bag, the bag must stay in that exact spot until it is picked up. If you attempt to move the bag when it is full, you risk tearing the bag and spilling waste all over your property.
Be sure that the bag is accessible both to you and whatever vehicle will be picking it up to dispose of the debris inside when you are finished. The dumpster bag must always be placed entirely on your property and clear of any obstructions such as vehicles or trees and clear of any overhead obstacles such as wires and branches.
If you are scheduling your bag for pickup, trucks require eighteen feet of vertical clearance and bags cannot be placed any further than sixteen feet from the road, alley, or driveway from where it will be picked up. Most pickup companies will also require you sign a driveway waiver (or something along those lines) which will allow the company to enter your property to pick up the bag if they cannot reach it from the street.
While a wide variety of materials are allowed in the bag and the bag can hold a respectable amount of waste, it is wise to plan out how you will fill your bag to maximize the space you do have. Municipal solid waste management services generally offer reasonable prices for pickups, but they do vary depending on where you live. It’s a good idea to research these prices before purchasing your bag so you aren’t too surprised by your overall waste disposal cost.