Which Roll-Off Container Size Fits Your Job

Ordering a dumpster feels like it should be simple, right up until the person on the phone asks what size and you realize you've never thought about your trash in cubic yards. Winco Scrap Metal & Container rents roll-off containers in six sizes, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, and 50 yards, to homeowners and to businesses. Here's a practical way to figure out which one matches your job.

What a yard actually means

A yard here is a cubic yard, a box three feet wide, three feet deep, and three feet tall. That's 27 cubic feet. A 15-yard container holds fifteen of those boxes, a 50-yard holds fifty. Bigger numbers mean a longer, taller container, and a bigger footprint on your driveway or lot.

So you're really balancing two things: how much debris you have and how much room you can give the container. A roll-off arrives on a truck and the box slides off the back, which means you need a clear stretch of ground and room overhead for the truck to work. Walk the spot before you call. Look up for wires and branches, and look at the ground for soft lawn or a thin asphalt edge.

Matching the size to the job

These are rules of thumb from how people generally use containers, not Winco specifications. Describe your job on the phone and let them help you choose.

• A small job, like a garage you've been avoiding, a bathroom gut, or an overgrown corner of the yard, usually fits at the small end, around 15 or 20 yards.
• A mid-size job, like a kitchen remodel with old cabinets, flooring, and demolition debris, or a property manager clearing an apartment after an eviction, tends to land in the middle, around 20 to 30 yards.
• A big job, like a gut renovation, tearing down an addition or a detached garage, or a commercial clean-out, is where the 40 and 50-yard containers earn their keep.

If you're stuck between two sizes, most contractors go up one. A container that's too small means a second haul and a second wait. A container that's a bit too large costs you some driveway space and nothing else. Winco's roll-off page lists flat-rate fees, so ask what the flat rate covers for the size you're considering and you'll know the number before the truck shows up.

What can go in

According to Winco's roll-off page, the containers accept metal recycling, yard waste, demolition debris, and construction debris. That covers most of what a project throws off: lumber, flooring, torn-out fixtures, brush, branches, grass clippings, and loose metal.

If you've got something unusual in the pile, like tires, paint, or an appliance, call before you load it. What's allowed in a container can depend on what it is, and Winco can tell you what applies to your load. It's a lot easier to make that phone call than to unload a container.

Winco is also a scrap yard, so if your clean-out turns up a lot of metal, like copper pipe, wire, or an old water heater, ask whether it makes more sense to bring that metal to the scale instead of tossing it in the container. Winco's pages list copper, wire, aluminum, and steel and iron among the metals they take.

A few habits make any container hold more. Put the heavy, flat items on the bottom and fill gaps with smaller pieces. Break down boxes and long lumber so nothing sticks out. Keep the load level with the rim rather than mounded above it, since most haulers don't want a pile that could shift or spill on the road. And leave enough clearance in the driveway for the truck to come back and pick the box up without hitting anything.

If you're running a remodel, put the container where the crew can toss straight into it from the work area. Every extra trip across the yard is time somebody's paying for. For yard waste, stack the brush with the cut ends in the same direction so it packs tighter.

Timing it right

Winco says it can have a container on site within 24 hours after your request. That's quick enough that you can wait until the project date is firm. Call when you know your start day, tell them the size, and confirm where the container should go. If you're doing a weekend job, remember the yard's hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, closed Sunday. A Friday call is better than a Saturday-night scramble.

Winco's roll-off containers page lists all six sizes and what each one takes. Call (860) 230-0552 and describe your job, and they'll help you pick.