Prohibited items guide · Reviewed October 21, 2026
What Can You Put in a Dumpster?
Most cleanout, remodel and roofing debris can go in a roll-off dumpster. Mattresses, tires and Freon appliances cost $50 each. Hazardous chemicals, wet paint and batteries can never go in.
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What can and can't go in a roll-off dumpster?
A roll-off dumpster takes household junk, furniture, wood, drywall, shingles, yard waste, carpet and cabinets with no extra fee. Mattresses, automotive tires and Freon appliances go in for $50 each. Hazardous chemicals, wet paint and batteries are never allowed. Concrete, dirt and brick go only in the 10-yard or 15-yard dumpster.
| Item | Allowed? | Extra fee | Why, or where it goes instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household junk and furniture | Allowed | None | Break down sofas and tables so they lie flat. |
| Wood, lumber and cabinets | Allowed | None | Pull or bend over long nails for safe handling. |
| Drywall | Allowed | None | Heavier than it looks once a whole room comes down. |
| Roofing shingles | Allowed | None | Heavy. Size by roof squares on the roofing dumpster page. |
| Yard waste and brush | Allowed | None | Cut limbs short to fill gaps. |
| Carpet and pad | Allowed | None | Roll it tight and tape it. |
| Concrete, dirt and brick | 10 and 15-yard only | None | Load only halfway up the walls. Clean loads get clean-fill pricing. |
| Mattresses and box springs | Allowed | $50 each | Extra handling at disposal. |
| Automotive tires | Allowed | $50 each | Extra handling at disposal. A tire shop may also take old tires. |
| Freon appliances (fridges, freezers, AC units) | Allowed | $50 each | Refrigerant must be recovered before disposal under EPA 40 CFR 82.155. |
| Hazardous chemicals | Never | n/a | Household hazardous waste collection. |
| Wet or liquid paint | Never | n/a | Household hazardous waste collection. |
| Batteries | Never | n/a | A battery recycler, auto parts store or hazardous waste collection. |
Not sure about one item? A short call settles it before it goes in the bin. Call to ask about an item(432) 271-7372
What should you never put in a dumpster?
Never put fuels, motor oil, solvents, pesticides, asbestos, medical waste or propane tanks in a dumpster. These are the same categories that municipal solid waste landfills turn away, on top of our ban on hazardous chemicals, wet paint and batteries. They go to household hazardous waste collection or a licensed handler instead.
- Gasoline, diesel, kerosene and other fuels
- Motor oil, oil filters and antifreeze
- Solvents, thinners and pool chemicals
- Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers
- Asbestos siding, tile, insulation or pipe wrap
- Needles, sharps and other medical waste
- Propane tanks and other pressurized cylinders
Most of these can start a fire or leak in the truck or at the landfill. Keep them sealed and upright until you can drop them off. Ask the City of Odessa or Ector County when the next household hazardous waste collection runs.
Can you put asbestos in a dumpster?
Asbestos never goes in a roll-off dumpster. The EPA asbestos NESHAP, 40 CFR 61.145, calls for an inspection before demolition or renovation work and advance notice above set thresholds. Old siding, floor tile, popcorn ceilings and pipe wrap can contain it. A licensed abatement contractor removes and disposes of it.
The law sets the inspection and notice rules. Our advice: if your home is older and you are tearing out tile, ceilings or siding, get the material tested before you start. Confirm with your city, contractor or landfill.
Source: EPA asbestos NESHAP, 40 CFR 61.145, checked October 21, 2026
Can you put a mattress in a dumpster?
A mattress can go in a Stout Bros dumpster for a flat $50 per mattress. Box springs are handled the same way. Tell us when you book so the fee is expected, and lay the mattress flat on top of other debris. The fee appears on your final invoice with the scale ticket.
A mattress takes up a lot of room for its weight. Put it in last, flat across the load, so it doesn't leave a hollow underneath.
Can you put tires in a dumpster?
Automotive tires can go in for $50 per tire. The EPA conversion factors put a passenger tire at about 22.5 lb, so tires add little weight but need extra handling at disposal. If you only have one or two, a tire shop may take them back when you buy new ones.
Can you put paint in a dumpster?
Wet or liquid paint can never go in our dumpsters, in any amount. Liquid paint leaks through the load and the truck. Take paint cans with liquid in them to a household hazardous waste collection. Paint thinners, stains and solvents go there too. Call us if you have a can you're unsure about.
Can you put a refrigerator in a dumpster?
A refrigerator, freezer or window AC unit can go in for $50 each. These appliances hold Freon, and federal rule EPA 40 CFR 82.155 says the refrigerant must be recovered before final disposal. The $50 covers that extra handling. A fridge weighs about 250 lb by the EPA conversion factors.
Stand the fridge upright near the front of the load and tape the door shut. Ovens, washers and dryers without refrigerant are not on our item-fee list.
Source: EPA 40 CFR 82.155, checked October 21, 2026
Can you put concrete, dirt or brick in a dumpster?
Concrete, dirt, brick and sand go only in the 10-yard or 15-yard dumpster, loaded no higher than halfway up the walls. Heavy debris hits highway weight limits long before a dumpster looks full. A load of only clean concrete or only clean dirt qualifies for special clean-fill pricing.
The EPA conversion factors list broken concrete at about 860 lb per loose cubic yard and dirt at about 929 lb. See concrete and dirt dumpsters for sizing, and how dumpster weight is billed for the $75 per ton overage math.
How do allowed items affect your bill?
Allowed items cost nothing extra except by weight. Your dumpster includes 2 to 5 tons depending on size, and anything over is $75 per ton, billed by the exact pound. Only mattresses, tires and Freon appliances carry a $50 item fee. The full list of charges is on the cost page.
Read the dumpster rental cost guide for every charge, and how to load a dumpster to fit more in. Planning a big cleanout? The cleanout dumpster page sizes it by room.
Have a list of items ready when you call, and we will sort it into allowed, $50 and keep-out before the truck comes.
Quick version: the what can't go in a dumpster web story.
What can you put in a dumpster: more questions
What if I'm not sure an item is allowed?
Call (432) 271-7372 before you load it and describe the item. We will tell you if it goes in free, carries the $50 item fee, or belongs somewhere else. A quick call costs nothing. Pulling a banned item back out of a loaded dumpster is much harder.
Can I mix concrete with other junk in one dumpster?
Concrete is accepted only in the 10-yard and 15-yard dumpsters, loaded to halfway up the walls. A load of only clean concrete or only clean dirt qualifies for clean-fill pricing. Mixing it with household junk gives up that pricing and adds weight fast, so keep heavy debris in its own dumpster when you can.
Can brush and tree branches go in a roll-off?
Brush, branches and other yard waste are allowed in every size. Branches are light for their bulk: the EPA conversion factors list branches and stumps at about 127 lb per loose cubic yard. Cut long limbs down so they lie flat and leave fewer gaps.
Why do mattresses, tires and fridges cost extra?
These items need extra handling at disposal. Fridges and AC units hold refrigerant that federal law says must be recovered before disposal. Tires and mattresses do not pack down with other debris. The fee is a flat $50 per item, and it shows on your final invoice.
Where do I take paint, batteries and chemicals in Odessa?
These belong at a household hazardous waste collection, not in a roll-off. Ask the City of Odessa or Ector County about the next collection before you clean out the garage. Store the items upright and sealed until then. Our post on where to take mattresses, tires and paint in Odessa covers more options.
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Ready for a dumpster?
Tell us the project and the address. We confirm the size, the 7 days and the included tons before the truck rolls. Book by 3 PM for next-day delivery.
(432) 271-7372