What Can Go in a Dumpster in Columbia, SC

Most household and construction debris goes straight in the container. A short list of materials does not, and in South Carolina several of those are restricted by state law rather than company policy.

Goes in without a second thought

• Lumber, framing, trim, plywood and OSB
• Drywall, plaster and insulation
• Flooring — carpet, padding, laminate, hardwood, vinyl
• Cabinets, countertops, fixtures and millwork
• Furniture, mattresses and general household junk
• Non-hazardous construction and demolition debris
• Doors, windows and siding
• Toys, clothing, boxes and the contents of an overdue garage

Goes in, but tell us first

These are accepted but affect sizing, pricing or how the load is handled.

• Concrete, brick, block, asphalt, dirt and tile. Priced by weight. Usually needs a dedicated heavy-debris container, normally a 10 yard.
• Roofing shingles. Heavy, and often sized and quoted separately.
• Yard waste. Handled separately from construction debris in South Carolina; it may need its own container or route.
• Large appliances without refrigerant — a stove or dishwasher is usually fine; see below for anything that cools.

Does not go in

South Carolina's Solid Waste Policy and Management Act of 1991 keeps several categories out of landfills. These are state-level restrictions, not one company's rules, and they apply regardless of who you rent from:

• Tires
• Lead-acid batteries (car and truck batteries)
• Motor oil and other used oil
• White goods — appliances, including anything containing refrigerant
• Electronics
• Yard waste (diverted from general landfill disposal)

On top of the state list, roll-off containers will not take:

• Liquid paint, solvents, stains and adhesives
• Pesticides, herbicides and pool chemicals
• Asbestos-containing material
• Propane tanks, fuel and other flammables
• Medical and biohazardous waste
• Ammunition, explosives and flares
• Railroad ties and other creosote-treated timber
• Contaminated soil or absorbents

Where the banned items actually go

Being excluded from the container does not mean being stuck with it.

• Tires — most tire retailers accept them for a small per-tire fee; county collection events take them periodically.
• Car batteries — auto parts stores take them back, usually free and sometimes with a core credit.
• Motor oil — auto parts stores and county collection sites accept used oil.
• Appliances with refrigerant — refrigerant must be professionally recovered first. Appliance retailers often haul the old unit on delivery, and scrap metal yards take them once certified.
• Electronics — retailer take-back programs and county e-waste collection.
• Paint — latex can be dried out solid (kitty litter or a hardening additive) and then disposed of as regular waste; oil-based paint goes to household hazardous waste collection.
• Yard waste — curbside collection or a dedicated yard-waste service.

Richland and Lexington counties both run convenience centers and periodic household hazardous waste events. Check your county's solid waste page for current locations and dates.

Loading it properly

Keep it level with the rim. Debris above the sides cannot be legally tarped, and the driver will not haul it. An overfilled container means a return trip and a charge.

Heavy material on the bottom, spread flat. Do not pile weight at one end — it makes the container difficult and sometimes unsafe to load onto the truck.

Break things down. Flattened boxes, disassembled furniture and cut-down lumber can nearly double what fits.

Fill the gaps. Large rigid items create voids. Soft material packed into them is free capacity you already paid for.

Not sure about something specific? Call (803) 594-8907 and ask. It is a much better outcome than finding out at pickup.