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 Centennial and Arapahoe 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 Arapahoe 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 Colorado
• 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 Arapahoe County

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

• The Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site (DADS) on South Gun Club Road in Aurora is the regional landfill most Centennial debris routes to — it's owned by the City and County of Denver, operated by Waste Management, and accepts construction and demolition material. Its recycling center takes single-stream recycling at no charge, with appliances, tires, and electronics accepted for a fee. For the paint, chemicals, and other household hazardous waste that can't go in a roll-off, Centennial residents have a genuinely convenient option: the At Your Door Special Collection program, run through SEMSWA's contract with Waste Management, which picks hazardous material up from your home.
• Household hazardous waste — the county runs collection programs for chemicals, paint, and similar materials. Check with the Arapahoe 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, Arapahoe County publishes trash and recycling resources including an A-to-Z disposal guide, and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) is the state authority that permits and regulates disposal facilities.

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 Centennial or Arapahoe County? Call (983) 216-0563 and we'll help you choose the right dumpster size and give you a flat, all-in quote — delivery, pickup, and disposal included.