How Do Dumpster Rental Companies Choose Between Recycling and the Landfill? Insights from Economy Disposal — The Best Dumpster Rental Contractor in Lisle, Illinois

When you rent a dumpster, will everything you throw inside be dumped in one place? Not exactly.

Most dumpster rental contractors first send the load to a facility where the waste is sorted and separated. They will then decide what can be recycled/reused, and what must go to the landfill. As the leading dumpster rental contractor in Lisle, Illinois Economy Disposal is here to explain how these disposal decisions are made.

How do rental companies decide what can be recycled?

Most dumpster rental contractors in Lisle, Illinois use the waste management hierarchy for handling waste responsibly. This system is basically a “best practices” ladder for waste management. It prioritizes reducing waste in the first place.

The system also encourages reuse whenever possible. If the items you are throwing away are still in good condition and can be easily repaired/refurbished, the contractor may recommend donating or repurposing them instead. This is common with construction items, furniture, usable wood scraps, cabinets or leftover household items.

Recycling is the next best option when waste materials can’t be reused but can still be turned into something new. Common recyclable materials include cardboard, metal, wood and concrete.

Landfill disposal is the final option. It is used only when it is not possible to reduce/reuse/recycle the waste.

In most cases, recycling is the preferred outcome.

Recycling gives waste items a second life and lowers demand for raw material extraction. It also reduces the sheer amount of waste we generate. Landfill space is not unlimited. And once a landfill reaches capacity, that creates higher costs and fewer disposal options for everyone.

Still, recycling has limits because you can’t throw every item into the recycling pile.

For example, if materials are contaminated (like cardboard soaked in grease or paint-covered materials), they may no longer meet the facility’s recycling standards. The same thing happens with mixed waste (recyclable items mixed with non-recyclables). Mixing waste items can make sorting harder and sometimes ruin materials that would otherwise be recyclable.

Landfill disposal becomes the more practical option in these situations. But even then, most dumpster rental contractors still try to choose recycling as much as possible. If your contractor can separate clean recyclables or redirect usable materials away from landfills, they usually do so.

What happens to dumpster waste before final disposal?

When a professional dumpster rental contractor in Lisle, Illinois picks up your full dumpster, they drive the load to a transfer station or a materials recovery facility (MRF).

At a transfer station, workers gather waste and combine it into larger loads. Larger combined loads make shipping waste in big batches to its destination more efficient. Then, at a materials recovery facility, waste materials are separated and sorted.

After workers sort everything, they may send the waste to a recycling center (for reusable materials) or to a landfill (for unsalvageable waste).

What affects whether waste is recycled or landfilled?

Cost is unsurprisingly one of the biggest factors that decides what happens to your waste. Some materials are technically recyclable. But recycling them may not be financially practical due to processing costs, sorting time and labor, transportation costs or low market demand for the recycled material. When recycling becomes too expensive compared to landfill fees, landfill disposal may be chosen instead.

Safety is also critical in waste handling. You must keep some items out of standard dumpsters because they require special handling procedures and disposal methods.

For example, some electronic devices contain heavy metals like lead or mercury. There are also components that should not be crushed or buried in landfills. These materials must go to e-waste recycling facilities instead. Your dumpster rental contractor will explain everything to make sure your rental experience is as hassle-free as possible.

Looking for a dumpster rental contractor in Lisle, Illinois?

If you want your waste handled responsibly, Economy Disposal Service is here to help. As the top-rated dumpster rental contractor in Lisle, Illinois, we have decades of experience in professional waste management and local recycling practices. Contact us today to book your dumpster or learn more about our responsible waste and recycling services.