The DTR blog
Dumpster Rental Guides for Detroit & metro Detroit
Real answers from 12 years of hauling containers around Wayne County — sizing, costs, permits, what is banned from Michigan landfills, and how to get a project cleared without paying for a second haul.
All articles
13 guides written by people who drive the trucks
No filler, no listicles. Every article here answers a question we get asked on the phone most weeks.
Sizing
What Size Dumpster Do I Need in Detroit?
Detroit debris hits the weight limit long before it fills the box. A size-by-size guide to 10 through 40 yard roll-offs, plaster and lath, basements, roofs and what fits your drive.
Pricing
Dumpster Rental Cost in Detroit, MI: What Actually Drives the Number
A Detroit roll-off operator breaks down what actually moves the number on a dumpster invoice, from plaster and masonry weight to dry runs, winter access, seasonal demand and pulling salvage first.
Disposal Rules
What Can Go in a Dumpster in Detroit and Wayne County
A straight accepted-versus-prohibited materials list for roll-off containers in Detroit and Wayne County, including Michigan's yard waste ban, the state landfill bans, asbestos and lead paint, and what a rejected load actually costs you.
Permits & Rules
Dumpster Permits in Detroit, MI: When You Need One and Who to Ask
A plain guide to when a Detroit dumpster actually needs a permit, from driveway drops and street right-of-way applications to MDOT trunklines, rear alleys, demolition notifications and historic district review.
Roofing
Roofing Tear-Off Dumpster Size Guide for Detroit Homes
A roof tear-off is a weight problem, not a volume problem. How to count squares and layers, what slate and tile really weigh, and why a 15 or 20 beats a 30 in Detroit.
Rehab & Investment
House Rehab and Flip Debris in Detroit
A gut rehab on a pre-1940 Detroit bungalow is rarely one container. Phase-by-phase hauling plan covering plaster weight, salvage, asbestos testing, permits and keeping a vacant-house site secure.
Safety
Asbestos and Lead Paint in Older Detroit Homes
A plain-English guide to asbestos and lead paint in Detroit's pre-1980 housing: where the material actually hides, why testing beats guessing, how abatement changes your rehab schedule and where the debris legally goes.
Construction
Construction Debris Disposal in Metro Detroit: A Contractor's Guide
A working guide to construction and demolition debris in metro Detroit: which streams belong in a small can, how separated loads recover value, what salvage to pull first, and the site logistics that matter.
Delivery & Placement
Driveway Protection During Dumpster Delivery in Detroit
Protection boards, arrival photos and honest placement advice for Detroit driveways, aprons, alleys and lawns — plus freeze-thaw damage, winter ice, spring ruts, narrow drives and the clearance a roll-off truck actually needs.
Cleanouts
Basement and Garage Cleanout in Detroit: The Two Spaces That Decide the Job
A deep dive on the two spaces that decide a Detroit cleanout: the full basement with its coal bin, octopus furnace footprint and asbestos pipe wrap, and the detached garage off the alley.
Cleanouts
Home Cleanout Checklist for Detroit: A Weekend-by-Weekend Plan
A weekend-by-weekend plan for clearing a whole Detroit house, from the four-box sort and the full basement to Michigan damp, deposit returnables, hazardous waste days, salvage and loading a container without wasting half of it.
Cleanouts
Estate Cleanout Checklist for a Detroit Family Home
A sequenced checklist for clearing a long-held Detroit family home: secure the house first, work the probate order, sort the basement and attic, pull salvage, and size the hauls right.
Recycling
Recycling and Disposal in Detroit and Wayne County: Where Your Material Actually Goes
A working map of where Detroit and Wayne County material actually ends up, covering Michigan's Part 115 yard waste ban, the 10-cent deposit, architectural salvage, scrap metal, C&D sorting and household hazardous waste days.
Helpful Local Resources
Useful official sources for permits, disposal rules and recycling in Detroit and Wayne County. We keep these handy because half the questions we get are really questions for one of these offices.
- City of DetroitRight-of-way and obstruction permits, building and demolition permits, BSEED, and residential solid waste information.
- Wayne CountyCounty services, household hazardous waste collection days, and permits for work outside the city.
- Michigan EGLEPart 115 solid waste rules including the yard-clippings landfill ban, asbestos notification and C&D debris handling.
- Michigan MDHHSLead poisoning prevention, lead-safe work practices and public health guidance for older housing.
- MDOTPermit requirements for work or containers affecting a state trunkline such as M-1 Woodward, M-3 Gratiot or M-39.
- MISS DIG 811Free utility locates before you dig, demolish or set a container over a buried service line.
- Detroit Land Bank AuthorityParcel and side-lot purchases, Rehabbed & Ready homes, and the rules that come with a Land Bank property.
- US EPAFederal guidance on the RRP lead-paint rule, asbestos NESHAP, and construction and demolition debris recovery.
Services
Or skip the reading and pick a container
Residential Dumpster Rental
Driveway and alley placement for basement, attic and garage cleanouts and remodels.
Learn more →Commercial Dumpster Rental
Scheduled and on-call containers for retail, restaurants, offices and property managers.
Learn more →Construction Dumpster Rental
Jobsite roll-offs and next-day swap-outs for builders, rehabbers and GCs.
Learn more →Roofing Dumpster Rental
Weight-rated cans sized by squares and layers, including multi-layer tear-offs.
Learn more →Roll-Off Dumpster Rental
10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 yard roll-offs delivered across Detroit and Wayne County.
Learn more →Same-Day Dumpster Rental
Call before the cut-off and we can usually get a container to you this afternoon.
Learn more →Talk to a real person
Need a dumpster in Detroit today?
Tell us what you are clearing out and we will tell you the right size and the flat price to put it in your driveway. No forms, no waiting on an email — just call and we will sort it out in a couple of minutes.
Serving Detroit, Wayne County and metro Detroit · Mon–Fri 6:30am–6pm, Sat 7am–3pm