Most household and construction debris rides fine in a roll-off. A short list never does — and loading it anyway can mean a rejected load and a much bigger bill.
Never load these
- Wet paint, stains and solvents (dried-out latex with the lid off is usually fine — ask)
- Motor oil, fuels and chemicals
- Car and lithium batteries
- Tires
- Propane tanks
- Refrigerators, freezers and AC units (refrigerants)
- Asbestos-containing material
- Contaminated soil
- Medical and hazardous waste
What to do instead
Berks County runs household hazardous waste and recycling programs for paints, oils, chemicals and electronics — check the county's current collection schedule before your cleanout weekend, because dates and accepted items change. Tires and refrigerant appliances have their own disposal routes; appliance retailers often haul the old unit when delivering a new one.
The one rule
Ask before you load anything questionable. A ten-second call beats a rejected load every time. The short version also lives on our FAQ page; sizing for everything that can go in is on the size guide.