There’s something oddly therapeutic about a big clear-out. I found that out when I helped clean out my late uncle’s old farmhouse last year. The guy was a collector—or maybe a hoarder, depending on who you ask. Everything from rusted garden tools to half-broken radios from the 80s, not to mention the four busted plastic chairs stacked in a cobwebby corner of the garage that collapsed like pancakes the moment we tried to sit on them.
And let me tell you something upfront: if you’re taking on a big property clean-out and think you can get by with a few bin bags and a couple of weekly curbside collections… yeah, nah. You’re gonna need a proper dumpster. Preferably a 30-yard or even a 40-yard beast if you’re serious about making progress.
At first, we thought, “Eh, we’ll just make a few trips to the tip.” Classic mistake. After the second run—hot, sweaty, dusty, and made worse by the weird smell coming from a mystery box in the boot—we realised we needed a smarter plan. That’s when we rang up a local dumpster rental place Elgins Dumpsters Miami. Best call we made that whole week.
30-Yard vs 40-Yard Dumpsters
If you’ve never rented a dumpster before, here’s the gist. A 30-yard dumpster is no joke—it can hold around nine pickup truck loads of junk. That’s massive. But when we saw how many wardrobes, carpet rolls, old appliances, and “what-even-is-that” boxes we were dealing with, we upped it to a 40-yarder. Zero regrets. The thing looked like a shipping container dropped in the driveway, and we still managed to fill it to the brim.
Don’t get caught thinking you can squeeze it all in something smaller “to save a bit of cash.” Better safe than sorry, right? Overfilling a dumpster can lead to extra fees—or worse, having to order a second one halfway through. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
What Can You Dump?
Now, not everything can go in a dumpster. We had to call ahead and check what was allowed. Most places won’t let you toss in paint tins, asbestos, car batteries, or anything that could explode or poison someone. That’s fair enough, I guess. But for general household junk—like mattresses, old timber, boxes of VHS tapes, and even the kitchen sink—it’s perfect.
One thing we didn’t think about? The weight limit. A 40-yard dumpster holds a lot, but if you pack it with bricks, soil, or chunks of concrete, it can go over the weight cap real quick. It’s worth checking the fine print on that, or just chatting with the rental folks. They’ve usually seen it all.
Placement and Access
Here’s a hot tip: Think about where the dumpster’s gonna go. We had ours delivered to the front of the property, which worked fine until the neighbour started side-eyeing us because we’d accidentally blocked part of their driveway. Oops.
If you’ve got a long driveway, perfect. If not, talk to the rental company about what you need to make room. Also, make sure there’s nothing low-hanging like tree branches or wires in the way. These dumpsters don’t exactly tuck neatly into tight spaces.
The Emotional Bit
This part might not apply to everyone, but clearing out a property—especially one that’s been in the family—can be weirdly emotional. I found old photos, letters, and little trinkets that hit me harder than expected. The dumpster was for the junk, yeah, but you find yourself sorting through layers of memories too. Some things made me laugh. A few things made me cry. Others just made me shake my head and wonder what the heck my uncle was thinking.
Point is, don’t rush it if you don’t have to. The big dumpster lets you take your time. You can chuck as you go, which made the process less overwhelming and more manageable.
