Dumpster Bags vs Roll-Off Bins in Metro Vancouver

A dumpster bag and a roll off bin both solve the same issue: you have waste, and you need somewhere to put it that is not your garage. The two formats work differently, and the right choice hinges on the job. Here is a clear list of the questions to ask. We rent roll off bins, so we describe how our bins work and leave the details of any bag service to the company providing it.

What they are

A roll off bin is a steel container that a truck delivers to your property. You fill it, and we haul it away. Our junk bins come in 20, 30 and 40-yard sizes. There is also a 15-yard bin, though it is commonly sold out, so ask when you book. A dumpster bag is a large flexible bag that you fill and then arrange to have collected. Ask the bag company for the bag's volume in cubic yards so you can compare it with a bin size.

Questions to ask for either format

1. How much will fit? Volume is one measure. Ask for the weight limit in writing, because heavy materials fill the weight limit long before they fill the space.
2. What can go in? Both formats are bound by the same disposal rules at the end of the trip. Metro Vancouver's disposal ban manual bans hazardous waste, paint, propane, electronics and metal appliances, among many other items, and bans single objects over 100 kg, 2.5 metres long or 1.2 metres wide. Clean wood, cardboard and yard trimmings are banned recyclables. Check our what not to put in a bin post for the practical list.
3. Where will it sit? A bin or bag on private property needs no City permit. On a street or lane, some cities need a permit, so ask the company what they handle and confirm with your City.
4. When is it collected? Ask how the company schedules the pickup and what happens if you finish early or late.
5. What does the total cost include? Ask what is covered, such as delivery, pickup and disposal, and what is extra.

Heavy materials

Concrete and dirt are heavy. At Trash King they each go in their own 10 or 12-yard bin and never in a larger bin or with junk. A mixed concrete and dirt bin, also a 10 or 12-yard, is sometimes possible for an added fee. For heavy materials, ask any provider, bag or bin, how they handle the weight before you book.

How bins handle the job

A 20-yard bin is the common starting size for a renovation, a garage cleanout or a big yard job. We deliver, you fill the bin, and we haul it away when you are finished. Ask when you book about the right size for your job. Our post on dump runs versus bin rental looks at a third option, and our 20-yard bin page and disposal bins page cover the sizes.

FAQ

Is a dumpster bag the same as a roll off bin? No. A bin is a steel container delivered by truck. A bag is a flexible bag you fill and arrange to have collected.

Do the same disposal rules apply to a bag? Yes. Metro Vancouver's disposal ban rules apply to the load at the disposal site, whatever container it came in.

Can I put concrete in a bag? Ask the company providing the bag. At Trash King, concrete goes in its own 10 or 12-yard bin.

Does a bin on my driveway need a permit? No. Some cities need a permit if the bin sits on the street or lane.