What Can You Put in a Dump Trailer? What's Allowed and What's Not

The short answer: most construction, landscaping, and household debris is fine in a dump trailer. The exceptions are hazardous materials and a handful of specific items that require separate disposal. Here is a practical breakdown for the most common project types in Utah County.

What you can haul

Construction and remodeling debris

Drywall, wood framing, flooring, tile, cabinets, fixtures, insulation (non-asbestos), windows, doors, trim, nails, screws, fasteners. All fine. Mixed loads are typical and expected.

Roofing materials

Asphalt shingles, roofing felt, flashing, plywood decking. Fine. This is one of the most common uses for our 6×12 and 7×14. Note that shingles are heavy — know your weight limit before loading.

Concrete, brick, and masonry

Broken concrete, brick, cinder block, pavers, tile, mortar. Allowed, but these are among the densest materials you can haul. A small pile fills the weight limit fast. Do not guess — estimate in cubic yards and multiply by about 4,000 pounds per cubic yard for concrete.

Dirt and rock

Topsoil, fill dirt, clay, gravel, decomposed granite, road base. All fine. Same weight-density caution applies. Wet soil is significantly heavier than dry soil.

Yard and landscape debris

Tree branches, brush, leaves, grass clippings, sod, mulch, bark, stumps (smaller ones). Fine. This is light material by weight but fills volume quickly. Larger stumps may require grinding before they fit efficiently.

Appliances and metal

Washing machines, dryers, refrigerators (with refrigerant drained), metal shelving, bed frames, furniture frames. Allowed. Note: refrigerators, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers with refrigerant must be evacuated by a licensed technician before disposal. If you are not sure, ask us before loading.

General household junk

Furniture, mattresses, boxes, miscellaneous household items. Allowed in most cases. Mattresses carry a disposal surcharge at some landfill facilities — check with your disposal site.

What you cannot haul

Hazardous materials

Paint (liquid), motor oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, solvents, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, pool chemicals, batteries (automotive and lithium), propane tanks, asbestos-containing materials, and any material with a hazardous waste label. These require separate disposal through a licensed hazardous waste facility. Utah County has periodic household hazardous waste drop-off events — check the Utah County website for the current schedule.

Asbestos

Any material suspected to contain asbestos (older floor tile, pipe insulation, roof tile from pre-1980 structures) must be tested and disposed of through a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. Do not load suspect materials into a rental trailer.

Medical or biohazard waste

Sharps, medical waste, and biohazardous materials are not allowed in any general rental trailer. These require specialized disposal.

Tires

Most landfills in Utah charge separately for tires and limit how many you can dispose of at once. Check with your disposal facility before loading.

Weight limits matter more than volume

Every trailer has a posted GVWR — the maximum legal combined weight of the trailer and its contents. Exceeding it is illegal on public roads and creates a serious towing hazard. The weight limit is the binding constraint on every load, regardless of how full the trailer looks. If you are hauling dense materials like concrete or soil, you will hit the weight limit well before the bed appears full.

Related reading: What Can You Haul in a Dump Trailer covers load limits and material-specific details in more depth.