If you’ve thought about renting a dumpster for your business’s various disposal needs, you may envision a receptacle that provides service in good weather and bad. In reality, extreme seasonal storms and temperature can affect your ability to use your dumpster (and any additional dumpsters you rent) properly.

Once you understand a few key points about the ways different weather situations can affect your dumpster usage, as well as the smart way to employ dumpsters for post-storm cleanup efforts, you can get the most out of your dumpster all year round. Take a moment to acquaint yourself with the basics.

Dumpsters and Frozen Precipitation

In addition to the traffic jams, power outages, and other hassles your business may endure, your dumpster can fill up with frozen precipitation faster than you might think during the cold months. A dumpster full of snow can’t accommodate much else, forcing your team to work among piles of trash.

To avoid this issue, make sure that everyone at your business knows to keep the dumpster’s lid closed whenever there is a threat of sleet or snow. However, even if the forecast looks good during the day, you should close the dumpster lid in the evening just in case the weather turns overnight. Cover the fasteners and latches, if possible, to keep them from freezing solid.

Don’t forget about the snow and ice buildup around your dumpster. It might not hurt the dumpster itself, but it could cause anyone trying to use that dumpster to slip, fall, and sustain an injury. Plow or shovel this zone to keep it as free of winter precipitation as possible.

Dumpsters and Rain

A dumpster full of rain doesn’t just wreak havoc on the dumpster itself; it can also put a dent in your rental costs. Water weighs a great deal when it collects in even a medium-sized dumpster, while dumpster trash that absorbs moisture also gets heavier. If you exceed your dumpster’s weight allowance, you’ll probably pay overage fees.

Always keep your dumpsters covered, either with their included lids or with a tarp, whenever you expect rain. Better yet, locate your dumpsters in enclosed areas of your parking lot, or place them next to large permanent structures that can protect them against some of the rainfall.

Dumpsters and Hot Weather

Hot weather poses its own share of issues for commercial dumpster users. Heat speeds up the breakdown of organic substances, meaning that any discarded food or damp vegetation will rot that much more quickly. The resulting stench then attracts flies as well as other animals looking for a meal.

A hot dumpster can also cause injury for unsuspecting users. You might not know that the metal of your dumpster has reached scalding-hot temperatures on a sunny summer day until you casually brush up against or place a hand on it while adding debris, potentially sustaining a burn as a result.

To avoid these issues, bag your dumpster loads as tightly as possible in the hotter months of the year. This simple step can minimize any odors issuing from the bags and discourage pests from taking up residence in your dumpster. And hose the dumpster down periodically to keep it clean. Consider moving the dumpster into shade to prevent overheating.

Dumpsters and Post-Storm Cleanup

A rented dumpster can seem like a lifesaver in the wake of a devastating storm that leaves your workplace littered with branches, leaves, random trash, and other debris. Before you simply throw all that debris into your everyday work dumpster, however, bear in mind that poor conditions may prevent crews from emptying it out right away.

Instead of drastically reducing the free space in your usual dumpster, consider renting a separate dumpster solely for your post-storm cleanup efforts. That way, you can fill this dedicated receptacle to your heart’s content while still disposing of your usual garbage in your main dumpster.

You’ll probably find it difficult or impossible to estimate the amount of dumpster space you’ll need to dispose of all the post-storm debris strewn around your property. So if your budget allows, go ahead and rent the largest dumpster available to cover your bases as effectively as possible without the need for multiple dumpsters or multiple trips.

Keep in mind that city services may include post-storm debris pickup, at least for smaller amounts of debris. If you can get your debris problem taken care of through this method, you may not need a dumpster rental. You may also choose to distribute your debris between city services and a rented dumpster to handle larger objects.

Now that you know how to work with your rented dumpster in all types of weather, you can rent a dumpster with confidence. Tri-State Disposal can provide you with the right dumpster rental that will cover all your needs. Contact us today and tell us how we can help.