Will A Dumpster Damage A Driveway?

Yes, it is possible for a dumpster to cause damage to a driveway, but it is not common. Dumpsters are heavy, even empty. Add to that is the weight of the truck dropping the dumpster off and picking it up. That weight in addition to the material you put in the dumpster can cause cracks and scratches on the surface of a driveway.

The type of material the driveway is made from can increase or decrease the chance of damage from a dumpster. Most driveways are made from either asphalt or concrete. Asphalt driveways are more prone to scratch marks or surface damage from heavy items like dumpsters. Concrete driveways are much less likely to suffer damage, but can crack, particularly on the corners of the driveway.

That said, at Trash Daddy Dumpsters we have been in the dumpster rental business for more than 15 years. We very rarely see damage to a driveway from a dumpster. But the point of this article is that it is possible, and it is beyond anyone's control.

There are things you can do to try to protect your driveway. Below are 3 tips to help prevent driveway damage from a dumpster.

How do I protect my driveway from dumpsters?

1. Put down plywood to protect the driveway surface

If you put down plywood on the driveway before the dumpster is delivered you can help to minimize the chance of damage. Make sure you get pieces of plywood that are wide enough. Remember that most dumpster rental sizes are 8 feet wide. Place the plywood pieces larger than an 8 foot width to make it easy for the driver to place the dumpster on top of it. It's called a "roll off" dumpster, because it rolls off the back of the truck, right onto the plywood.

It's important to point out that putting down plywood can help minimize the chances of damage, but the real issue is the weight of the dumpsters and the truck. Because of this there is still always a possibility of damage.

Why the "Drop Point" matters: Most scratches occur at the very beginning of the delivery or the very end of the pickup. As the dumpster slides off the truck, the steel rollers hit the pavement with concentrated pressure. To prevent this, don't just put plywood under the middle of the dumpster—place your protective boards exactly where the rear rollers will first touch the driveway and where the front "feet" will eventually rest. This simple alignment absorbs the initial impact of the steel on your asphalt or concrete.

2. Don't overfill the dumpster or fill it with very heavy material

Every dumpster has a "fill line" mark on it which is near the top edge of the dumpster. When you load a dumpster, nothing should be sticking out of the top. The trash or junk should be flat and just under the top edge. If you follow this guideline, and you are filling the dumpster with normal household or remodeling trash, then it's not likely the dumpster will be excessively heavy.

If you need to dispose of heavy material like brick, rock, shingles, concrete or sod, then it's a good idea to NOT place the dumpster in your driveway. These materials are very heavy. A dumpster even one quarter full with this type of material will definitely increase the chance of damage to the driveway.

3. Place the dumpster on the street

Placing the dumpster on the street is the simplest way to protect your driveway entirely. In our experience across most service areas, requiring a permit for a temporary street placement is actually less common than people think. However, if you go this route, we recommend two safety steps:

• Check for "No Parking" Signs: Ensure the spot isn't a dedicated fire lane, street sweeping or a towaway or loading zone.
• Improve Visibility: If the street is poorly lit, place a couple of orange traffic cones or a reflective strip on the street-facing corners of the dumpster. This helps nighttime drivers see the steel container from a distance and keeps your project "incident-free." Some cities do require this, even if they don't require an actual permit, or will accept this instead of a permit.

Arterial streets (busier streets with the double yellow lines in the middle) are the exception - most cities do not want dumpsters placed on these streets.

Final word - will a dumpster damage a driveway?

It's possible, but rare. A lot of people who rent dumpsters will have them placed in their driveway. Just remember that these dumpsters and trucks are heavy, so there is always the possibility of damage. But, by following the 3 tips outlined above, you can minimize the chances of your driveway being damaged.

If you are looking to get rid of a few old appliances, clean out your garage, maybe tear down your deck, a roll off dumpster rental is what you need to dispose of the debris. Roll off dumpsters are affordable and convenient, and they are easy to rent for any homeowner.

We hope this article has been helpful. If you need a roll off dumpster rental, we would love to help you out! Thanks for reading.