Before you start loading your roll-off container, it's essential to understand what the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and City of Jacksonville regulations allow. Placing prohibited items in a dumpster can result in additional disposal fees, container rejection at the transfer station, and in serious cases, environmental fines passed down to the property owner.
What You CAN Put in a Dumpster
The vast majority of residential, commercial, and construction debris is perfectly acceptable:
- General household junk: Furniture, clothing, toys, books, decorations
- Construction & demolition debris: Lumber, drywall, roofing shingles, metal, siding
- Appliances (non-freon): Dishwashers, stoves, washing machines, dryers
- Yard waste: Tree limbs, brush, sod, mulch, leaves (verify with us first)
- Concrete and masonry: Small quantities — best in a dedicated small container
- Flooring materials: Carpet, tile, hardwood, laminate
- Glass and windows (bagged for safety)
- Cardboard and paper
What is PROHIBITED in a Dumpster
Florida DEP Prohibited Items
Placing these items in a roll-off container is illegal under Florida state law and subjects the owner to fines.
- Hazardous liquids: Paint, solvents, motor oil, gasoline, pesticides, cleaning chemicals
- Batteries: Car batteries, lithium-ion batteries, alkaline batteries
- Tires: All vehicle tires regardless of size
- Propane tanks and pressurized containers
- Refrigerators, freezers, AC units containing Freon/refrigerant
- Asbestos-containing materials (common in pre-1980 Jacksonville homes)
- Medical waste: Syringes, biological materials, pharmaceuticals
- Electronics (e-waste): TVs, computers, monitors (see below)
What To Do With Prohibited Items in Jacksonville
Just because these items can't go in a dumpster doesn't mean you're stuck with them. Here are Jacksonville-specific disposal options:
- Hazardous household waste: The City of Jacksonville holds periodic HHW drop-off events. Check jaxready.com for dates and locations.
- Refrigerators/AC units: Many appliance retailers offer Freon removal and recycling. Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Jacksonville also accepts these with prior removal.
- Tires: Most Jacksonville auto shops accept tires for a small recycling fee.
- Electronics: Best Buy and Staples locations in Jacksonville offer e-waste recycling at no charge.
Unsure About a Specific Item?
Call us at (904) 331-8585. We'll tell you immediately whether it's approved for your container — no wait, no runaround.