What not to put in a dumpster

Almost always banned

These show up on nearly every hauler’s prohibited list:

• Hazardous waste: chemicals, solvents, pool chemicals
• Fuel and fluids: gasoline, diesel, motor oil, antifreeze
• Herbicides and pesticides
• Batteries: car batteries and household batteries
• Tires
• Medical, biohazard, or radioactive waste
• Asbestos

Often banned, or extra

These vary more from company to company:

• Paint: some ban all paint, some ban only wet paint
• Appliances with refrigerant: refrigerators, freezers, A/C units
• Mattresses: often allowed for a per-item fee
• Dirt, rock, and concrete: often allowed only in small or heavy-debris bins
• Food waste and dead animals
• Wet glue and silicone

Two real lists from Hays County haulers

To show how much lists vary, here’s what two companies that serve San Marcos post on their own sites:

• EZ Bin: prohibits biohazards, toxic or radioactive material, tires, gas, diesel, oil, antifreeze, refrigerators and freezers, herbicides and pesticides, wet glue and silicone, paint (wet or dry), dead animals, food waste, weapons, and batteries, and charges $20 per mattress.
• Five Star Dumpsters: no tires, wet paint, oil, batteries, dirt, rock, or appliances like refrigerators, A/C units, and ovens.

Those lists were current when we checked. Companies update them, so read your hauler’s list before you load.

Where banned items can go

Hays County cities and the county run or point to household hazardous waste and recycling options, and they change over time. Check your city’s website or Hays County’s website for current drop-off options. Tire shops and auto parts stores often take used tires and car batteries, sometimes for a fee.

Rule of thumb

If it’s liquid, toxic, flammable, pressurized, or has refrigerant in it, it probably doesn’t go in the bin. When in doubt, call the hauler first.