What Can (and Can't) Go in Your Dumpster

One of the most common questions we get before delivery is a simple one: can I put this in the dumpster? The good news is that the vast majority of household, remodeling, and construction debris is perfectly fine. Only a specific list of items is off-limits — and there are good reasons for each. Here's the full rundown for Canton and Wayne County renters.

What you CAN put in the dumpster

Nearly everything from a typical project is accepted, including:

• General household junk and trash
• Furniture — couches, tables, mattresses, dressers
• Remodeling debris — drywall, wood, cabinetry, fixtures
• Flooring — carpet, tile, laminate, hardwood
• Yard waste — branches, brush, leaves, sod
• Construction and demolition debris
• Roofing shingles (in a right-sized container)
• Non-refrigerant appliances (see below)
• Concrete, brick, and dirt (in a dedicated container)

What you CANNOT put in the dumpster

These items are prohibited for safety, environmental, or legal reasons — and Wayne County has specific handling rules for most of them:

• Hazardous waste — chemicals, solvents, pesticides, motor oil
• Wet paint and stains — dried-out latex paint cans are sometimes okay; liquids are not
• Tires — these have a separate disposal stream in Michigan
• Batteries — car batteries and rechargeables
• Appliances with refrigerant — refrigerators, freezers, AC units (the refrigerant must be professionally removed first)
• Electronics — TVs, monitors, and computers in some cases (e-waste)
• Medical waste and sharps
• Flammable or explosive materials — propane tanks, fuel
• Asbestos — requires licensed abatement

Where to take prohibited items in Wayne County

Just because something can't go in the container doesn't mean it's a headache to dispose of. Wayne County offers several good options:

• The Arbor Hills Landfill at Napier and Six Mile in Salem Township is the closest licensed landfill to Canton, with Woodland Meadows in Wayne as the other regional option — both accept construction and demolition material. Worth knowing locally: Canton Township's curbside service takes household trash, single-stream recycling, and yard waste, but yard waste has real limits — bundles no bigger than three feet, branches under an inch and a half thick, nothing over 50 pounds, and six bundles a week. Canton also runs periodic Clean-up events for items the curb won't take. For a remodel, a tear-off, or a whole-property clear-out, none of that comes close, which is exactly the gap a roll-off fills.
• Household hazardous waste — the county runs collection programs for chemicals, paint, and similar materials. Check with the Wayne County solid waste office for current dates.
• Tires and batteries — many auto retailers accept these, and the county has designated handling.
• Appliances with refrigerant — have the refrigerant removed by a professional, after which the metal shell can go in your dumpster.

For official, up-to-date guidance, Canton Township publishes exactly what its curbside crews will and won't take, along with a list of local landfill and disposal sites. Michigan EGLE (Environment, Great Lakes & Energy) is the state authority that licenses and regulates disposal facilities under Part 115 of the state's solid waste law.

When in doubt, just ask

This list covers the big ones, but if you're staring at something unusual and wondering whether it's allowed, don't guess — call us. We'd much rather answer a quick question than have you discover a problem at pickup. Keeping prohibited items out also protects your flat rate, since contaminated loads can incur extra handling charges.

Working on a project in Canton or Wayne County? Call (734) 245-2476 and we'll help you choose the right dumpster size and give you a flat, all-in quote — delivery, pickup, and disposal included.