Common Dumpster Rental Mistakes to Avoid in Acadiana

1. Choosing by size when the load is heavy

This is the mistake behind most surprise invoices. Every one of our roll-offs comes with included tonnage, and the 10-yard and 15-yard include the same 1 ton. Renting the bigger bin gets you more room, not more weight.

Heavy debris uses up that allowance long before it fills the container. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works puts dry soil at about 2,025 pounds per cubic yard, so a single cubic yard of dirt is about a full ton on its own. Tile, plaster and shingles are heavy too, and a single layer of asphalt shingles from an average-sized roof can run three to five tons.

• 10-yard, $375, 1 ton included
• 15-yard, $400, 1 ton included
• 20-yard, $475, 2 tons included
• 30-yard, $600, 3 tons included
• Anything over the included weight is $100 per ton, on every size

2. Mixing concrete into a regular dumpster

Concrete, brick, block, asphalt and stone cannot go in with general debris. They need our dedicated 7.5-yard concrete dumpster, which starts at $300 and takes clean concrete only. It is 22 feet long with walls just 3 feet high.

Keep the concrete clean, too. Trash, wood or dirt mixed into a concrete load means it is no longer clean concrete. If you are pouring a slab or a driveway, our concrete washout services handle the cleanup on pour day.

3. Tossing items that are not allowed

Every load is inspected at the disposal facility. If prohibited items turn up, the load can be rejected. Then the driver brings it back, you pull the item out, and a second trip gets scheduled. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality regulates what can enter landfills and construction debris sites, so these rules are not ours to bend.

• Tires
• Paint, chemicals and flammable liquids
• Batteries
• Refrigerators and AC units that still hold freon
• Asbestos and medical waste
• Electronics with hazardous parts

4. Renting one size too small

Delivery is a flat $75 on every size, and it covers both drop-off and pickup. Rent a 15-yard for a job that needs a 20-yard and you pay for a second bin and a second delivery. Bulky, light debris like furniture, boxes and yard waste fills space fast, so for a cleanout it is usually cheaper to size up once. Our size guide for every project matches common jobs to the right roll-off.

5. Loading above the rim

Full means level with the top of the walls. A container with debris sticking up or hanging over the side is not safe to haul, and the extra has to come out before the truck can take it. Break furniture down, flatten boxes, stack flat pieces along the floor and fill the gaps. A loosely packed bin can look full at half its real capacity. Our guide to the best way to load a dumpster walks through the order that fits the most.

6. Not planning where the bin goes

Our 20-yard and 30-yard roll-offs are 22 feet long and 8 feet wide, and even the 10-yard is 12 feet long. Pick the spot before delivery day, clear vehicles and anything low-hanging out of the way, and keep a clear path from your work area to the bin. Our guide on how to prepare for a dumpster rental covers placement in more detail.

7. Letting a full bin sit, or forgetting the fuel surcharge

Our rental period runs on a 28 days dump cycle, but you do not have to wait it out. When the bin is full, send us a text and we will come get it. If the project runs past the cycle, we dump it and reset it so the work keeps moving.

Since October 1, 2026, invoices also carry a fuel surcharge. It is a percentage of the invoice that changes each month with the Gulf Coast diesel price published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Our fuel surcharge policy shows the chart. It is the one line on the invoice that moves with the market, so it is worth knowing about before the bill arrives.

If this is your first rental, our guide to how dumpster rentals work covers the process from booking to pickup, and our pricing guide for Acadiana breaks down every part of the cost. When you are ready, book dumpster rentals online or call us at 337-654-8951, and we will take it from there.

Key Takeaways

• Plan heavy loads by weight. The 10-yard and 15-yard include the same 1 ton, and overage is $100 per ton.
• Concrete, brick, block and stone go in the dedicated concrete dumpster, clean, never mixed with other debris.
• Tires, paint, batteries, freon appliances and other prohibited items can get a load rejected at the disposal facility.
• Delivery is $75 per bin, so renting one size too small usually costs more than sizing up.
• Text us for pickup when the bin is full, and expect a monthly fuel surcharge on the invoice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common dumpster rental mistake?

Choosing a size by volume when the load is heavy. Dirt, concrete, tile and shingles use up the included tonnage long before they fill the bin, and anything over it is $100 per ton.

Can I put concrete in a regular dumpster?

No. Concrete, brick, block, asphalt and stone go in our 7.5-yard concrete dumpster, which takes clean concrete only and starts at $300.

What happens if I put a prohibited item in the dumpster?

The load is inspected at the disposal facility, and prohibited items can get it rejected. The bin then comes back, the item has to be removed, and a second trip is scheduled.

How long can I keep a dumpster from OGE's Waste Services?

The rental runs on a 28 days dump cycle. Text us any time the bin is full and we will pick it up early, or we will dump and reset it if your project runs longer.

Is there a fuel surcharge on a dumpster rental?

Yes, since October 1, 2026. It is a monthly percentage of the invoice based on the Gulf Coast diesel price from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Our fuel surcharge policy page shows the current chart.