You’ve booked your dumpster rental — great. Now what? A little preparation before delivery day makes everything go smoother. Here’s what Long Island homeowners need to know.

Choose Your Placement Spot

The most common place for a dumpster is your driveway. Here’s what we need:

Clear, level surface — remove cars, bikes, trash cans, and anything else from the delivery area
Overhead clearance — our trucks need vertical clearance to lift and place the container. Check for low-hanging tree branches, power lines, or overhangs
Enough length — a 20 yard dumpster is about 16 feet long, so make sure there’s room
Access for the truck — our delivery trucks are large. Make sure there’s a clear path from the street to the placement spot

If your driveway won’t work, we can sometimes place containers on the street, in a front yard, or in a parking area. Just let us know when you book.

Protect Your Driveway

Roll-off dumpsters are heavy, especially when loaded. If you’re concerned about your driveway surface:

Plywood sheets under the container can distribute weight and prevent marks
Tell us your concerns — our drivers are experienced and will be careful with placement
We use boards under the container’s resting points whenever possible

Do You Need a Permit?

On your own property (driveway, yard): Generally, no permit is needed in most Long Island towns.

On the street or public right-of-way: You’ll likely need a permit from your town or village. Requirements vary by municipality:

Town of Hempstead — contact the Highway Department
Town of Babylon — street placement may require a permit
Town of Huntington — check with the town clerk for street placement rules
Town of Islip — permits may be needed for street placement
Town of Smithtown — contact the Highway Department
Town of Brookhaven — varies by area

When in doubt, call your town’s building department or highway department before delivery day. We can also advise based on our experience with each municipality.

What to Have Ready

Before the dumpster arrives:

Clear the delivery area — cars, equipment, and obstacles should be moved
Know your project scope — have a plan for what’s going in the container
Review accepted materials — check our FAQ for what can and can’t go in the dumpster
Tell neighbors — a quick heads-up is good etiquette, especially if the dumpster is near property lines

Loading Tips

Once your dumpster is in place:

Fill from the back to the front — start loading from the far end and work toward the opening
Break down large items — disassemble furniture, break up drywall, flatten boxes
Distribute weight evenly — don’t pile everything on one side
Don’t overfill — debris should not extend above the top of the container walls. Overfilled containers can’t be safely transported
Heavy items on the bottom — put concrete, tile, and heavy materials at the base

When You’re Done

Give us a call at 631-855-5502 when you’re finished loading, and we’ll schedule pickup. Most pickups happen within 24 hours of your call.

Need more time? Just let us know — we offer flexible extensions so your project isn’t rushed.

Need help loading? Our loading service means you don’t have to lift a finger. We’ll send a crew to load the dumpster for you.

How to Prepare for a Dumpster Delivery on Long Island