What Can't Go in a Dumpster?
Quick Answer: Five categories cannot go in a rental dumpster in Colorado Springs: Freon appliances, car batteries, liquids, electronics and tires. Every one has a proper local destination, and most of them are free.
• Electronics are banned from Colorado landfills by state law
• Household hazardous waste is free at 3255 Akers Dr
• Freon has to be professionally recovered before disposal
• Concrete, dirt and rock need a dedicated heavy-debris bin
The restricted list is short, and none of it is arbitrary. Each item is excluded because it is hazardous, illegal to landfill in Colorado, or requires processing a dumpster cannot do. Here is the complete list and exactly where each thing goes instead.
The Complete Restricted List
| Item | Why | Where It Goes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerators, freezers, A/C units | Freon must be professionally recovered | Appliance recycler or retailer haul-away |
| Car batteries | Lead acid | HHW facility or auto parts retailers |
| Liquids — wet paint, oil, gas, stain | Leaks and contaminates the load | HHW facility, free for county residents |
| TVs and monitors | Banned from Colorado landfills | E-waste drop-off or participating retailer |
| Car and truck tires | Not landfill-accepted | Tire retailers, disposal fee applies |
Why Is Electronic Waste Banned?
Colorado prohibits electronics from entering landfills statewide. TVs, monitors and computers contain lead, mercury and other materials that should not go into the ground, and the state made that a rule rather than a suggestion.
It applies whether you are using a dumpster, a transfer station or your curbside trash. Electronics recycling covers local drop-off options.
Why Can't Appliances Go In?
Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners contain refrigerant that has to be recovered by a certified technician before the unit can be scrapped. That is federal, not local.
Appliances without refrigerant — washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves — are a different question, and worth asking us about before you assume either way. Appliance disposal covers both cases.
What Counts as a Liquid?
More than people expect. Wet paint, motor oil, gasoline, stain, solvents, pool chemicals and pesticides all qualify. The problem is not just the chemical — liquids leak, soak into everything else in the bin, and turn an ordinary load into contaminated waste.
All of it goes free to the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 3255 Akers Dr, for El Paso and Teller County households. Bring proof of residency and call 719-520-7878 ahead of a large load. Paint disposal covers the specifics.
What About Concrete and Dirt?
Not on the restricted list exactly — they are accepted, just not in a standard bin. Concrete, dirt, rock and asphalt need a dedicated heavy-debris container because of weight. Call 719-686-8613, or see concrete disposal.
What Happens If Something Restricted Ends Up in the Bin?
It gets pulled and disposed of separately, and that cost gets passed on. Nobody enjoys that conversation. If you are unsure about an item, call before it goes in — the answer takes thirty seconds.
Everything else from a house or a renovation is fair game. What you can put in a dumpster has the full accepted list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a TV in a dumpster in Colorado?
No. Colorado bans electronics from landfills. TVs need an e-waste drop-off or a participating retailer.
Can I put empty paint cans in the dumpster?
Fully dried-out cans are a different case than wet paint, but the safe answer is to take paint to the county HHW facility. It is free and it removes the question entirely.
Can I put a refrigerator in a dumpster?
No. Freon has to be recovered by a certified technician first. Appliance recyclers and some retailers handle this.
Where do I take restricted items in Colorado Springs?
Most go to the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 3255 Akers Dr, free for county households. Electronics need an e-waste drop-off; tires go to tire retailers.
Got something you are unsure about?
Ask before it goes in the bin. Thirty seconds on the phone beats a line item later.
Book a Dumpster or call 719-686-8613
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brandon Dinkel — Owner, Bin There Dump That Colorado Springs
Brandon and Rene Dinkel own and operate Bin There Dump That Colorado Springs, delivering residential-friendly dumpsters across El Paso County — Colorado Springs, Monument, Black Forest, Falcon, and the surrounding communities. Every bin comes with driveway protection and a walk-in door, and every load is disposed of at approved local facilities.
Meet Brandon and Rene or call 719-686-8613.