What Can't Go In A Dumpster Rental

While we accept most items in our dumpsters, certain materials cannot be accepted due to environmental regulations, safety concerns, and legal requirements.

• Prohibited Item List
• Where To Throw Prohibited Items

Not sure what can't go in a dumpster rental? Check our guide to prohibited items and find local disposal options in Houston for restricted materials.

Prohibited Items: Things We Don't Accept in Our Dumpsters

• Tires We cannot accept tires as they don't decompose naturally and create dangerous air pockets in landfills. These air pockets lead to unstable ground conditions, and discarded tires often collect water, becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

• Paint and Lacquer All paint products, including latex and oil-based paints, varnishes, and wood stains, are prohibited. These materials contain chemicals that can leach into soil and groundwater, making them hazardous to the environment.

• Motor Oil and Automotive Fluids Automotive fluids require special handling due to their environmental impact. We cannot accept motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, or antifreeze in our dumpsters.

• Batteries Due to significant fire risks, we cannot accept any lithium batteries. This includes batteries from laptops, tablets, mobile phones, electric tools, electric vehicles, and other portable electronics.

• Chemicals All chemical waste is prohibited, including pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals, cleaning solutions, solvents, and industrial chemicals. These materials require specialized disposal methods to protect both the environment and our workers.

• Medical Waste For health and safety reasons, we cannot accept any medical waste. This includes needles, syringes, bandages, dressings, IV bags, tubing, pharmaceutical waste, laboratory waste, and any materials contaminated with bodily fluids.

Where To Dispose Of Prohibited Items

Proper disposal of prohibited items is essential for environmental safety and regulatory compliance. While these materials can't go in your rental dumpster, Houston offers numerous facilities and programs to help you dispose of them responsibly.

Visit the links below to learn more about each facility's services and requirements. We recommend reviewing their websites and calling ahead to verify current operating hours and acceptance policies, as these may change seasonally.

Tire Disposal Options

• Heavy Trash Day: Houston residents can place up to 4 tires at the curb during Bulk Waste months. Place tires separately from other bulk items for proper collection and recycling. Find out when bulk waste is for your neighborhood here.

• SWM - Environmental Services Center: 5 tires per residence, per month, no commercial vehicle tires.

• Westpark Consumer Recycling Center: Up to 5 (five) tires with or without rims

Paint Disposal Locations

• Westpark Consumer Recycling Center: Only latex (water-based) paint. A maximum of 10 gallons, per person, per month.

• SWM - Environmental Services Center: Paint (Latex & Oil Base) - 25 gallons maximum

Battery Recycling/ Disposal

• Environmental Service Centers (ESC): ESC locations and Westpark accept car and vehicle batteries (lead acid), along with rechargeable batteries like lithium-ion (Li-ION), nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH), and nickel cadmium (Ni-CD). For 9V and 6V alkaline batteries, tape terminals, bag, and place in regular trash. Other battery types not accepted.

• Battery Plus: Battery Plus locations throughout Houston recycle all types of household batteries, including lead acid, lithium ion and polymer, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, and specialty batteries.

Used Oil Recycling

• Westpark Consumer Recycling Center: Accepts up to 5 gallons of used oil and oil filters for recycling.

• Environmental Service Centers (ESC): Up to 25 gallons of oil products, including motor oil, cooking oil, and oil-based paint.

• Autozone: AutoZone provides free recycling for used motor oil and car batteries at most locations. Call ahead to confirm acceptance.

Medical Waste / Sharps

For medical waste disposal companies in the Houston area, do a Google search for 'medical waste disposal services Houston' or 'sharps disposal Houston' to find licensed providers. You can also contact your healthcare provider or local pharmacy for guidance on proper disposal of needles and other medical waste.