What Can (and Can't) Go In

The fastest way to turn a smooth cleanout into a problem is tossing something that can't legally ride in a roll-off. Here's the full picture, no fine print surprises.

Green light: almost everything

Household junk, furniture, mattresses, appliances without refrigerant, carpet, drywall, lumber, fencing, cabinets, shingles, yard debris, boxes of who-knows-what from the attic — all fine. That covers 95% of every garage, estate, and renovation cleanout we serve in Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties.

Red light: the do-not-load list

• Hazardous waste — solvents, pesticides, pool chemicals, oil, gas
• Paint — even half-empty cans (dry them out or use county drop-off)
• Tires — accepted only as a special item at $25 each
• Batteries — car, marine, lithium, all of them
• Chemicals & propane tanks — including "empty" grill tanks
• Fridges, freezers, AC units — $25–$50 each, but anything with refrigerant needs it removed by a certified technician first
• Concrete, sod, and dirt — not accepted in the 20-yard; a 10-yard heavy-duty unit for them is coming soon (see Lesson 4)

Why it matters to you, not just us

The landfill inspects loads. A prohibited item found in your dumpster can mean rejection fees or a sorting charge that lands on your invoice. Thirty seconds of checking beats a surprise line item.

Easy fixes for the banned stuff

Sarasota and Charlotte counties both run household hazardous waste drop-off sites — free for residents. Auto parts stores take batteries. Appliance retailers often haul off the old freon unit when delivering the new one. And if you're unsure about one weird item, just text a photo to (561) 878-1535 — Robert will give you a straight answer before you load it.

More detail on our FAQ and residential cleanout page.