Tips To Prevent Unauthorized Use of Your Dumpster

Dumpster rentals are commonly used in construction sites and commercial areas. People who do not have access to a dumpster may use your rental as a way to dispose of their own waste. This misuse of the rental can lead to problems for the renters, such as overfilling the rental or violating local regulations.

Here are tips on how to prevent unauthorized use of your dumpster rental. 

Choose a Secure Dumpster Location

Keep the dumpster in a secure location such as a garage, barn, outbuilding, or securely fenced area. This makes it difficult for outsiders to access your dumpster and dump their trash. 

Tarp the Dumpster When Not in Use

Tarping means covering the dumpster with a covering material to prevent others from accessing it and dumping their trash. You can also use bungee cords and cheap tarp material to cover the dumpster. Tarping keeps the load inside the dumpster dry during heavy rainfall or snow storms. This is important because a wet load is bulky, which can make it more difficult to handle and transport.

Put Up Signs

Some people may not understand the proper way to dispose of waste and may illegally dump trash in a dumpster. These individuals may not realize that there are rules and regulations surrounding waste disposal. Placing a caution sign near the dumpster may deter some people from illegally dumping trash and remind everyone that the dumpster is not for public use.

The sign should not specify what items cannot be dumped, as this may give the impression that anything else is acceptable. Instead, the sign should simply state “For Business Use Only” or “No Unauthorized Dumping.”

Install Security Cameras

It is not practical for someone to physically monitor their dumpster all day. However, you can still monitor the activities around your dumpster by installing security cameras. By installing security cameras near the dumpster, one can monitor the activities of people who approach the dumpster and ensure that they are not illegally dumping trash.

The camera can also help identify the person responsible for illegal dumping, even if they are not caught on-site. If the security camera captures someone violating this law, you can share this footage or descriptions of the perpetrators with local police.

The use of security cameras can also act as a deterrent to potential offenders, as they are less likely to engage in illegal dumping if they know they are being monitored. This can help to reduce the amount of trash that is illegally dumped in the dumpster.

Create an Enclosure

If you plan to keep the dumpster in one place for a long time, it is a good idea to build a wall around it to keep people from accessing it and to make it look nicer. However, if you might need to move the dumpster or expand the area in the future, it is better to use a fence instead of a permanent wall.

Lock It Up

Closing and locking the lids of a dumpster between uses can prevent unauthorized persons from accessing it. This means that only those with permission can access the dumpster. If the dumpster is only accessed occasionally, then this security measure can be a cost-effective solution. However, this security measure can also have the downside of causing inconvenience to employees who need to use the dumpster frequently.

Place your Dumpsters in a Well-Lit Area

People are more likely to use a dumpster illegally when it is dark and they think no one is watching. A big security light shining directly on the dumpster can make it more difficult for them to do so without being noticed.

Portland Disposal & Recycling, Inc., offers garbage collection services for both residential and commercial properties. In addition to garbage and recycling services, we offer clean-up containers and drop boxes for customers who need to dispose of larger items or quantities of waste. Contact us to get started.