Dumpsters for Large Events: Waste Planning Tips
Hosting your own big event can feel like spinning in an office hamster wheel. With dozens of factors to keep straight, it’s normal for minor details to fall through the cracks. Having a game plan for trash service is one piece of the puzzle that can drastically improve guest experience, but it’s not typically a consideration until your planning deadline approaches.
There’s nothing worse than watching trash cans overflow while attendees complain about unsafe conditions or navigating your own municipally ticketed event property.
Get ahead of the curve when you’re in charge of a festival, outdoor wedding, or sports tournament by understanding how to properly calculate your needs ahead of time. Not only will your overhead stay neatly contained, but you’ll avoid eyesores that could dampen the impact of your hard work.
How Many Dumpsters Do I Need for My Event?
The first step in waste planning for large events is taking a close look at two primary variables. How many people will be in attendance, and for how long?
As a general rule of thumb, large festivals will require approximately 1-2 30 yard dumpsters for every 500-1,000 guests if food and beverage service is provided. Obviously the larger the number of scheduled hours, the more trash your event will produce. This means you may need to increase overall container size or schedule trash swaps for multi-day events.
Variables That Affect Event Dumpster Quantity
Now that you have a baseline estimation, it’s time to dig deeper into the details of your project. No two parties are the same, which means you could technically have two events with the same attendance produce very different amounts of garbage.
Consider these critical questions when formulating your unique game plan.
Attendees
The amount of trash generated at an event will usually scale linearly with crowd size. A regional craft fair with a couple hundred visitors will not create the same volume as a three-day music festival with dozens of stages.
Use your maximum guest capacity (or predicted ticket sales) for this exercise rather than a soft estimate. It’s always better to have a little extra space than to run out.
Duration
Length is another huge factor that will dictate how many dumpsters you need. Supplying visitors with the opportunity to dump stuff over the course of three hours creates far less debris than letting them loose all day long.
Keep overnight trash accumulation in mind for multi-day festivities as well. Either plan for the overall capacity you’ll need or schedule trash pickups between each day.
Food and Beverages Provided
This is typically a deal-breaker in regard to disposal requirements. Restaurants, food trucks, and sampling booths create hundreds (if not thousands) of additional pounds of waste. Cardboard boxes, disposable cups, and food scraps take up valuable space quickly.
If you know alcohol will be served at your event, be prepared to fill your containers with aluminum cans and glass bottles rapidly.
Event Type
All activities aren’t created equal when it comes to trash volumes. A wedding or corporate picnic will generally foster attendees who pack out smaller, more condensed waste. Parties like county fairs, concerts, and marathon events are the direct opposite.
They generate enormous quantities of bulky items that take up container real estate fast.
Waste Planning Quick Tip Quiz
Let’s review! Answer these quick questions to get an idea of your likely needs.
Do you have food trucks or outdoor catering?- Will the event last more than 4 hours?
- Are more than 300 people expected to attend?
If yes, you probably don’t want to bother with a
residential Dumpster rental. Commercial solutions will likely be your best bet to keep lines low.
Dumpster Sizes for Large Events
Still stressed about picking the wrong dumpster size? Don’t worry too much about overestimating. Use this handy guide as a reference to visualize potential fit.
15-Yard Dumpster Rentals
Smaller events rarely require more than a single 15-yard container. This includes small community events, neighborhood block parties, family reunions, and backyard gatherings. They offer just enough room for traditional trash bags without occupying too much space on smaller lots.
20-Yard Dumpsters
This can vary depending on the setup, but a standard 20-yard roll-off container fits the bill for medium-sized events. Community picnics, county-level sporting tournaments, and large weddings are just a few examples where it hits the sweet spot. Enough room for bulky cardboard boxes, but it won’t overwhelm your venue space.
30-40 Yard Dumpster Rentals
These are by far the workhorse sizes for large event sanitation. Dumpsters in this range can accommodate everything from town-wide holiday festivals to weekend-long music fests with ease. They’re ideal for anything exceeding ~1,000 guests with food and beverage service.
Additional Dumpsters for Events
Rolling dumpsters are only one facet of staging a successful waste collection program. Take your cleanup strategy to the next level by considering these extra resources.
Recycling Bins
Diverting as much recyclable material as possible can dramatically decrease overflow on your primary dumpsters. Set up separate recycling bins near every trash receptacle to encourage visitors to sort aluminum cans, plastic, and cardboard properly.
Porta Potties
Event sanitation isn’t complete without providing comfortable restroom facilities. Allow attendees to comfortably relieve themselves without having to leave your grounds by hiring a reputable portable toilet company. This is particularly important for events exceeding 1,000 patrons.
Handwashing Stations
You know those sticky little hand wipes everyone takes from the bar? Gross. Pairing your porta potties with handwashing stations helps limit the spread of germs and improves cleanliness. Ensure stations are visible near both dining spaces and restrooms.
Event Waste Management Best Practices
Rolling everything out on setup day can be tricky without a system in place. Avoid headaches when guests start to arrive by studying these best practices.
Placement
Dumpster rentals for events should always be situated on level, hard surfaces with adequate clearance for trucks. Your large containers shouldn’t obstruct guest traffic, but should be accessible for clean-up staff. Place smaller bins at high-volume locations such as entrances, port-a-potties, and food courts.
Servicing
If your event does not take place over several days, you may get away with one complete dumpster at max capacity. However, most large festivals will benefit from scheduled trash swaps. Aim to drop off additional containers before your event begins each day.
Signage
No one wants to deal with emptying their trash if clear directions aren’t provided. Make liberal use of large signs with your sanitation stations to ensure proper separation. Color-coding your dumpsters will help guests make quick decisions.
Partner With Toss It Dumpsters For Your Next Big Event
Managing large gatherings takes a village. When you need quality dumpsters for sale or rent in Texas, look no further than Toss It Dumpsters to simplify your life. Founded in 2019, our local family business now proudly serves residents and businesses from Kerr County and beyond. From restaurant Dumpster rentals to cleaning up after your festival, we offer unbiased advice and transparent pricing for all your containment needs.
Ready to learn more? Visit our dumpsters for sale overview or our event service guide for more information on our roll-off containers. When you’re ready to move forward, give us a call or
visit our contact page and request a no-hassle quote today!
FAQ
Q. How often should you empty a dumpster?
During a single-day event, you should be fine with one drop-off/pickup. For festivals or weekend events, we recommend daily servicing to avoid overflow.
Q. How many recycling dumpsters do I need?
Always provide recycling bins when possible. They allow you to divert tons of plastic, aluminum, and cardboard from your regular trash containers.
Q. Where should I place my dumpsters during an event?
Large roll-off containers should always be placed on flat surfaces with easy access for the delivery truck. Keep larger dumpsters away from guest walkways whenever possible.
