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Can Neighbors Share A Dumpster?

If you are doing a major cleanout before winter, there is a high likelihood that your neighbors are doing it too. Most dumpster rentals allow you to share a dumpster if you live in the same neighborhood provided you do not exceed the trash limit. It is a good idea to share a dumpster with your neighbor if you want to save money and conserve resources. Before renting a dumpster, it is important to the total costs to be shared and how to prepare for delivery and pickup. This article discusses the reasons why neighbors share a dumpster and how to share the cost of a dumpster rental.

Reasons for Sharing a Dumpster with Your Neighbor

  • It Saves Money
Horizontal shot of a new neighborhood under construction.

The cost of renting a dumpster is always the same no matter how many people come together to dispose of their trash. As long as you meet the requirements of the dumpster rental, you can save a lot of money by sharing the costs with your neighbors. You will agree on a central location to place the dumpster and who will be responsible for paying the rental company. You can choose to collect the sum upfront or ask your neighbors to pay their portion of the rental afterward.

  • It Fosters Good Relationships With Neighbors

You can choose to share the dumpster with your neighbors to prevent the illegal disposal of trash in your dumpster. Many people shy away from renting a dumpster especially when they are working on a small project. Not only do some find it costly but also sharing a dumpster can help create strong bonds with your neighbors since many would be willing to take up the offer if they are saving money in the process.

  • Enhances Neighborhood Cleanliness and Appearances

If you have a shared green area or playground around your neighborhood, you can combine efforts to share a dumpster for disposing of wastes and other debris. This ensures that people not only care for the cleanliness of their compound but their general neighborhood as well. By sharing a dumpster, you encourage other people to be mindful of their surroundings and work together to make their lives better.

  • Remodeling at the Same Time

If you and your neighbor are planning a small renovation at home, you may consider sharing a dumpster instead of each neighbor having their own. The local garbage collectors can only carry a small amount of trash and are very picky about what they can take away. Sharing a dumpster can save you both the time and money of dealing with a remodeling mess. Consider planning with your neighbor ahead of time on the duration you will take to complete your project to avoid penalties on late pickups or exceeding the trash limit.

Rental costs and Other Factors to Consider When Sharing a Dumpster

Before you agree with your neighbor to share a dumpster, you need to be on the same page about what needs to be disposed of in your rental container and the costs you will incur based on the chosen size. Things can get a little bit tricky when it comes to sharing costs. If you intend to fill the dumpster with equal amounts of trash then the best route will be to split the total cost in half. If you will be using a larger space in the dumpster than your neighbor, then it would be fair enough if you pay a larger fraction of the rental fee. If you allow other neighbors to dispose of small amounts of trash then you can ask them for a small donation to put toward your rental fee.

Reputable dumpster rental companies protect your driveway with a special barrier before dropping off the dumpster. Placing the dumpster outside your compound is not a good idea as it encourages illegal dumping from ill-mannered citizens. You could also be charged more for disposing of items that should not be in the container or filling it more than you should. All disposed of items should be level or below the top of the container. Ensure you and your neighbor are disposing of the right items in the container to avoid hefty penalties from the rental company.

Sharing a dumpster with your neighbor is a great way to save time and money. There is a time of the year when most homeowners perform major home cleanouts or a small building project that generates extra waste. Since most of the debris and wastes extracted from these projects are too large for the regular garbage bin, a shared dumpster offers an ideal solution for neighbors who share the same experience.