The Short Answer
Paint, oil, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, mercury devices, hazardous waste and medical waste cannot go in a dumpster. The county landfill refuses most of them, and a load that includes them can be turned away or charged extra. Set them aside before you load and call us about any item you are unsure of.
Items Charlotte County Does Not Accept
The county landfill's page lists the items it refuses and says where households and businesses take them. The table below follows that page.
| Item | Households | Businesses |
|---|---|---|
| Used motor oil and filters | Curbside program | Not accepted at the landfill |
| Lead-acid batteries | Curbside program | Battery Storage Area |
| Rechargeable batteries | Mini-Transfer Facilities | Scale Building, small quantities |
| Mercury devices, such as thermostats | Mini-Transfer Facilities | Hazardous waste hauler |
| Fluorescent bulbs | Mini-Transfer Facilities | Hazardous waste hauler |
| Hazardous waste | Mini-Transfer Facilities | Hazardous or bio-medical hauler |
| Bio-medical waste and used needles | Mini-Transfer Facilities | Bio-medical hauler |
| Unknown liquids | Drums must be empty with holes punctured | Same |
Check the current list with the county before a big job, because it can change.
Why Prohibited Items Cause Problems
Prohibited items cause problems because the load is inspected at the scale and the landfill can refuse or surcharge it. The landfill page also lists a $50 charge for dumping in the wrong area and an extra $50 for special handling items. A single paint can or battery in a mixed load can turn a routine dump into a problem. We tell you what to keep out, and the residential dumpster rental page lists common home loads.
What Can Go in a Dumpster
Most of what a cleanout or a remodel produces goes in. Household junk, furniture, flooring, drywall, lumber, roofing, yard waste and construction debris go in a standard dumpster. The landfill accepts clean debris and charges no fee for tile, dirt, gravel, pavers and small pieces of concrete no larger than 1 foot by 1 foot with no rebar or wire. Tires are accepted at a separate rate of $250.47 per ton for county waste, so ask us before you add tires.
Business Loads Follow a Stricter Rule
Businesses have fewer options than households, and the landfill page says so. For fluorescent bulbs, mercury devices and EPA-listed hazardous waste, businesses must use a hazardous waste hauler. For bio-medical waste, businesses must use a bio-medical hauler. A renovation or a unit turnover that produces those items needs a separate disposal plan before the container arrives. See our commercial dumpster rental page.
