During your construction project, a lot of garbage is likely to be generated and then accumulate over time. When working on a project the size of the construction, and going off of the size of the trash likely gathered, simply putting the debris you collect in bags for the local sanitation workers to pick up at the curb isn’t going to work in this situation, and may not always be feasible or safe for them or your team. For a project of the magnitude that construction can be, obtaining a dumpster dedicated to what you have to throw away is sometimes, if not usually, necessary.
However, there are the odd projects here and there that don’t require a dumpster. Along with that comes the matter of where to store the dumpster when it’s not in use. Sometimes it’s nice to just have a dumpster on the scene rather than lugging one to and from projects. For this reason, it may in fact be better to rent a dumpster instead of outright owning one. Below are some more in-depth reasons as to why you should simply rent the dumpster rather than purchase it.
Consider Future Usage
If you’re the owner of a construction company, buying a dumper might make sense. Still, as previously mentioned, you’d need to figure out where to store the dumpster at times when the unit is not in use. This is actually one of the bigger reasons that smaller companies or independent contractors without a regular need for dumpsters or an immediate place to put one should rent instead. Simply removing the problem until your company is big enough to have a dedicated location for the dumpster when not in use takes a lot of hassle and stress off of you as the owner and your workers when they’re done on the project.
Look at the Budget
Buying a dumpster is certainly going to cost more than renting a unit. Chances are that you don’t want to spend money on an item that you aren’t going to use on a regular basis, such as if you’re an independent contractor or a smaller company. Dumpster rentals are more affordable options for smaller teams who just end up with a lot of garbage or debris they need to get rid of. Browse the costs associated with buying a dumpster to see that you can rent one for a fraction of the cost.
Evaluate Transportation Concerns
Once you purchase a dumpster, you and your team are then responsible for transporting the unit to and from the various construction sites you’ll be working on. In fact, unless you also put in the money to buy whatever you might need for transportation, you may have to rent an otherwise unnecessary truck or trailer simply to get the dumpster to and from the site. When renting the dumpster, you’re only responsible for the unit while it’s on the site. Once you’re finished with the project, the rental company will drop off and pick up the dumpster at the location. Even if you need the dumpster at multiple sites, you can speak with the rental company about transportation options.
A small tangent to this point would be to include the disposal of whatever goes into the dumpster. When you own the unit yourself, you also have to be the one responsible for disposing of the trash inside the dumpster. When working with a rental company, however, you can allow them to worry about it once you’re done. This eliminates the question of what to do with the refuse and debris generated from your project and allows professionals to safely and efficiently handle everything for you.
Think about Replacements
Imagine that you purchase a dumpster only to discover defects with the unit upon delivery. In such a situation, you would have to go through the process of returning the dumpster and waiting for a replacement, and your construction project likely can’t afford that kind of a delay. If a rental company delivers a dumper that has defects, you can simply point out the issues and ask for an immediate replacement. Since this is a rental company, it’s very easy to switch out dumpsters. While the goal is to have the rental delivered without issue, problems can arise, and you want to have a plan in place to address the matter. However, since this is a rental company they’re likely focused on keeping what they offer in prime condition and replacing what’s broken or worn out. If you were to own a dumpster, you would be responsible for monitoring the unit for signs of wear and tear along with later replacing it once it was beyond use.
Right now, you’re likely stuck on deciding whether the better move is to buy or rent a dumpster for your construction project. While looking at the full scope of the situation is important, such as what it would be used for, your budget, the logistics of storing the dumpster when not in use, and the transportation, you might also consider the many ways in which a rental can make your life easier. This would include the fact that you wouldn’t be responsible for its maintenance beyond making sure it wasn’t damaged by your site, the disposal would be taken care of for you, and you wouldn’t have to worry about getting the unit to and from your place of business to various construction sites.