Short answer: you cannot put hazardous waste, liquids, wet paint, propane tanks, tires, batteries, electronics such as TVs and computers, appliances, asbestos or medical waste in a Mr. Cheapee roll-off dumpster. Most household hazardous items from a Westchester home can go instead to the county’s Household Material Recovery Facility (H-MRF) in Valhalla, by appointment.
Below is the full list of what is not allowed, where each item can go instead, and the loading rules that keep your pickup on schedule. It applies to every dumpster we deliver in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties.
What can’t go in a dumpster?
These items are not allowed in any Mr. Cheapee dumpster:
- Hazardous waste and toxic chemicals, including solvents, herbicides, pesticides and other chemical products
- Paint, except completely dried latex paint cans with no liquid left
- Flammable liquids, aerosol cans and propane tanks
- Motor oil, transmission, lubricating and hydraulic oil, oil filters, contaminated oils and antifreeze
- Tires and batteries
- Computers, monitors, televisions and microwaves
- Appliances
- Fluorescent tubes
- Asbestos, lead paint chips and petroleum-contaminated soil
- Dirt, railroad ties and barrels
- Medical waste, radioactive material, industrial waste and animals
- Free liquids of any kind
Where each banned item can go instead
| Item | Where it can go in Westchester |
|---|---|
| Oil-based and latex paint, stains, wood preservatives | Westchester County H-MRF, Valhalla. Fully dried latex cans can go in the dumpster. |
| Pesticides, pool chemicals, flammable liquids, polishes | Westchester County H-MRF |
| Propane tanks | Westchester County H-MRF (limited tank sizes) |
| TVs, computers, monitors and other electronics | Westchester County H-MRF, or the manufacturer’s free take-back program |
| Car tires | The tire shop when you buy new tires, or the H-MRF (up to four per household, fee applies) |
| Rechargeable batteries, fluorescent bulbs, mercury thermostats | Westchester County H-MRF |
| Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners | Westchester County H-MRF (fee applies), or ask us about junk removal |
| Asbestos | A licensed asbestos abatement contractor only. The H-MRF does not take it. |
| Motor oil | Not taken at the H-MRF. Call the county Recycling HelpLine for a drop-off point. |
How to use the Westchester County H-MRF
The Household Material Recovery Facility is run by Westchester County for county residents. Here is what you need to know before you go:
- Address: 15 Woods Road, Valhalla, NY
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., by appointment only. Closed on federal holidays.
- Booking: call the Recycling HelpLine at (914) 813-5425, seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., or book online. You can book up to two weeks ahead.
- Bring: a current government-issued photo ID as proof of residency.
- Fees: residents of Somers, North Salem, Lewisboro, Pound Ridge, Bedford, North Castle and New Castle may be charged, because those towns do not pay into the county refuse district that funds the facility. Some items, such as tires and refrigerant appliances, carry a fee for everyone. Payment is by credit card only.
Check the county’s H-MRF page for the full list of accepted items before your visit.
Why electronics and tires are banned
New York State law bans households from throwing covered electronics, such as TVs, computers and monitors, in the trash. The ban has applied to individuals since January 1, 2015, under the state’s Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act. Manufacturers must run free take-back programs.
For tires, New York requires a tire shop with a physical store to accept your old tires, in the same number, when you buy or have new tires installed.
What can go in a dumpster?
Most of what a cleanout or renovation produces is fine:
- Household junk, boxes and clothing
- Furniture such as couches, chairs, tables and dressers
- Renovation and construction debris, such as wood, drywall and flooring
- Yard and landscaping debris
- Completely dried latex paint cans
Heavy materials like concrete, brick and stone need the right container. Call us before you load them. See our guide to renting a dumpster for concrete and heavy debris.
The loading rules
- Load only to the marked line on the dumpster wall, and keep the load level. Nothing can stick out of the top.
- Only solid waste goes in. No free liquids.
- If a dumpster is overloaded or unsafe, it must be unloaded to a safe level before we can take it away, and extra charges apply.
- You stay responsible for what goes in the container, under our terms and conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put paint cans in a dumpster?
Only latex paint cans that are completely dry, with no liquid left. Wet latex paint and all oil-based paint go to the Westchester County H-MRF in Valhalla.
Can I throw a TV in a dumpster in New York?
No. New York banned households from putting covered electronics, including TVs, in the trash on January 1, 2015. Take it to the county H-MRF or use the manufacturer’s free take-back program.
Can I put a refrigerator in a dumpster?
No. Appliances are not allowed in our dumpsters. The county H-MRF takes refrigerant appliances for a fee, or we can remove them as part of a junk removal job.
Can I put tires in a rental dumpster?
No. Return them to a tire shop when you buy new tires, or take up to four to the county H-MRF for a fee.
Can I put dirt in a dumpster?
No. Dirt is not allowed in our roll-off dumpsters.
Need a dumpster for your project?
Mr. Cheapee delivers 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 yard roll-off dumpsters across Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess, from our base in Ossining. If you are not sure whether something can go in, ask us when you book. Call (914) 737-0823 or book online.
