sustainable waste management Archives - Dumpster Rentals Louisville & Lexington KY

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Moon dumpsters will take care of your trash and household waste when it becomes unmanageable so that you don't have to burn it in your backyard.

Why You Should Never Burn Household Waste

May 2, 2023/in Commercial Dumpsters, Dumpsters, Environment, Residental Dumpsters/by Moon Dumpster Rentals

When trash and debris start piling up, it might be ingrained in some of us that the most effective, time-saving, and economical way to get rid of it is to throw it in a heap and burn it.

Especially now, as spring edges into the weather and it warms up enough that folks take it as a sign to start shaking off the last vestiges of winter and jump right into the thick of spring cleaning and DIY projects or renovations, a lot of us find that there’s a whole lot of junk that’s accumulated over the colder months, both inside and outside.

The worst part of it is that these things might come in quantities that seem unreasonable and would require far too much work to haul to your nearest garbage dump. The only thing left to do seems to be to burn all the clutter and scraps that won’t fit in your trash container.

What you may not have been told, though, is that burning your household waste has tons of unintentional consequences – both direct and indirect.

Consider the Consequences

Barrel burning is a practice that has been outlawed by cities across the country, and for good reason. It’s the same thing as burning your household waste in your fire pit, a fireplace, or a pile of stick in your backyard.

Here’s four big, extensively-studied reasons not to burn your trash and debris!

1. It compromises your health.

Especially in small areas, smoke is never the best for you to be inhaling. But when it comes to household waste, the temperature that it burns at does not combust materials efficiently, which releases the pollutants and harmful chemicals that were used to make what you’re burning – such as plastics, rubber, and other materials that become cancerous when broken down – or were sprayed onto it, like pesticides or wood treatments, into the air. This can lead to the development or the exacerbation of severe health issues, especially for children, teenagers, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with preexisting respiratory conditions like asthma, allergies, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, or emphysema.

2. It has negative impacts on the environment.

All of those bad chemicals and pollutants don’t only affect the air quality. These byproducts can sink into the soil and infiltrate the groundwater supply, as well, especially if you’re burning in large or frequent quantities. But, even taking away the big picture, the most affected area will be that at ground zero, which means your lawn and garden will be bearing a substantial portion of the environmental impact.

3. You can’t control it.

There is very little that you can control when it comes to fire, even if it’s in a contained space in an open area. Fires can still start as trees and plants start to dry out in the warmer days, and it only takes a fly-away piece of smoldering paper to start something bigger. The smoke, especially if burning chemically-made waste, will change with the wind, and it might cause a sore spot with your neighbors, who will be just as exposed to the smell, health impacts, and environmental impacts are you and your family.

4. You could get fined.

In Kentucky and Southern Indiana, open burn violation fines can range from $2,500-$25,000. A full list of items that you can and cannot burn in Kentucky can be found on the government website in PDF format here, and the same list for Indiana can be found on their government website, as well.

Look at Other Options

Renting a dumpster is an options that can cost you less, is far easier, and much better for you, the environment, and your reputation than burning your trash.

Moon Dumpsters offers delivery right to your driveway and then straight to the dump when you’re done, so you don’t have to worry about transporting your household waste, only getting it out of your house and yard and into one of our premium dumpsters! We offer a variety of sizes that range from 6 cubic yards to 40, so you won’t have a problem finding one that isn’t overkill for a job that was just out of reach of your truck, or one that can fit big projects.

Don’t burn your household waste – send it to the Moon!

Consider renting a Moon Mini Dumpster, no matter what size project you choose to undertake. Our driveway dumpsters come in 6, 9, 12, 16, 20, 30, and 40 cubic yard capacities. Affordable and lightweight, a dumpster will be delivered directly to you and placed on boards for surface protection. We are environmentally-friendly, locally-owned, and willing to work with any time frame. Give us a call at 502-772-2821 to learn more!

Rent Dumpster For Remodeling, Moving, Landscaping Projects in Kentucky and Indiana

7 Ways To Use A Dumpster This Summer

August 10, 2021/in Dumpsters, Residental Dumpsters/by Moon Dumpster Rentals

During the many months of pandemic restrictions and remote work orders, millions of people have had more time to delve into homebound activities, whether it be baking bread, planting a garden, or undergoing extensive remodeling. In fact, according to Bank of America’s 2021 Homebuyers report, over 65% of millennials intend to begin a renovation project sometime this year!

Whether you’re remodeling your entire house, finally cleaning out your garage, or just trying to repair a leaking roof, renting a mini dumpster may be the best choice you ever make! Keep reading to find out 7 common activities that call for a dumpster.

7 Ways To Use A Dumpster This Summer

1. Remodeling

Remodeling creates a lot of waste, from unwanted furniture to broken pieces of plaster, brick, wood, and other disassembled building materials. Instead of letting dust-ridden, useless trash fill up your space until you lug it to the curb, why not work as you go with a rental dumpster? Throw whatever has to go into the dumpster, and we’ll handle the rest.

2. Moving

Whether you’re moving into a new house, out of an old one, or doing both at once, you’ll likely need a dumpster rental! You’ve got junk. Whether it’s yours or the previous owner of your new house, you likely want it gone, fast, and a dumpster is the quickest, easiest way of providing space for congregating everything you don’t need.

3. Garage Cleanout

Many of us use our garages as secondary storage, allowing them to fill up with old furniture, toys, tools, and other unneeded items. If you’re thinking about taking a deep-dive into your garage this summer, or maybe hosting a garage sale, consider renting a Moon dumpster first! With a dumpster, you can quickly sort through what really matters, bringing the peace of mind of a renewed and organized space.

4. Landscaping

You may not think it, but landscaping your yard produces a lot of waste! More particularly: topsoil, loose concrete, plant scraps, old bricks, dead tree limbs and brush, a rotting deck, etc. A mini dumpster is not only convenient, but under-the-radar, allowing a months-long or days-long project to be kept tidy. Nobody wants their trash to hinder their progress, right?

5. Community Projects

If you’re involved in your local neighborhood organization, you may take part in endeavors such as a community garden, a neighborhood block party, a park clean-up, or a multi-home yard sale. Split the costs of a dumpster with your community to make the process as smooth sailing as possible!

6. Home Repairs

From natural disasters to regular wear-and-tear, all houses need repairs in time. If you’re planning any repairs this month, consider renting a dumpster. Whether you’re dealing with a flooded basement, replacing the roof, or tearing down a broken fence, a dumpster is integral to streamlining the process.

7. Hosting An Event

Are you managing a big event, like a wedding? Maybe you own your own event venue? You may be surprised with the amount of trash produced by a large-scale celebration. Investing in a dumpster can be a surefire way to get a handle on all that waste, from plates, food, cups, garbage bags and other disposable materials.

Consider renting a Moon Mini Dumpster, no matter what size project you choose to undertake. Our driveway dumpsters come in 6, 9, 12, 16, 20, 30, and 40 cubic yard capacities. Affordable and lightweight, a dumpster will be delivered directly to you and placed on boards for surface protection. We are environmentally-friendly, locally-owned, and willing to work with any time frame. Give us a call at 502-772-2821 to learn more!

Waste Disposal: Where Does Waste Go?

August 6, 2020/in Dumpsters, Environment/by Moon Dumpster Rentals

When you throw your garbage or yard waste into a dumpster, it can be easy to never think about it again. All of that has to go somewhere, though. But where? There are a few main places your waste is most likely to go, depending on what it is and the waste disposal practices and regulations where you live. Let’s take a look at the main places that waste goes.

Landfills: The Main Form of Waste Disposal in the United States

Landfills are simply disposal sites for waste. Landfill workers carefully contain and monitor waste and waste byproducts in landfills to avoid contaminating groundwater, soil, and the air. Eventually, when landfills are completely full, they shut down. You can think of them as a way to isolate waste from the surrounding environment. In the United States, landfills are where most waste goes.

Recycling Centers

Recycling centers help repurpose items like plastics, glass, paper products, and metals. These centers sort through recyclable items and then compact them into ‘bales’ that can be sent to mills where they are processed into new materials. What is recyclable for you depends on the infrastructure and policies in your area, so always check your local and state practices.

Recycling, while still much less common than landfilling, has become more widely adopted in the past several decades. In 2015, for instance, 67.77 million tons of waste were recycled in the United States, with to 137.7 million tons of waste going to landfills. Compare this to 25 years prior- in 1990, only 29.04 million tons were recycled, with 145.27 million tons being landfilled. Recycling is a preferable alternative to landfilling today, since it means reusing materials as opposed to trying to contain them in a landfill.

Composting

Composting is another of the main ways to deal with waste. Compost facilities use controlled aerobic decomposition to help turn organic waste into a nutrient-rich soil conditioner. Many food scraps and bits of yard waste are compostable. The end product of composting can help grow plants and food. Many people create their own compost, and some communities have composting centers or facilities where community members can drop off organic matter waste. Composting has the benefits of lowering carbon footprints, enriching soil, and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.

Waste Combustion: A Declining Method of Waste Disposal

Combustion is another approach for disposing of waste. Municipal solid waste incinerator facilities burn waste at an extremely high temperature. They then use steam produced from incineration to create energy. However, this process has significant negative impacts on the environment and local communities. They increase pollution in their communities, most of which are lower-income communities of color in the United States. Support for this form of disposal in the US seems to be diminishing, particularly because the remaining facilities in the United States are aging and have old, inefficient technology. But in other parts of the world like Europe, combustion waste management is quickly becoming more accepted. These facilities also have better technology that is potentially safer for the environment and communities.

Moon Dumpsters makes sure that waste disposal is as environmentally-friendly as possible, with efficient trucks and green disposal practices. To learn more about Moon’s full-service dumpster rentals and get the dumpsters you need, visit our website or call us at 502-772-2821 today!

Where can I get the best dumpster rental in Kentucky?

The Origin of the Dumpster

May 20, 2020/in Dumpsters/by Moon Dumpster Rentals

The dumpster is a common utility container all around the world. Dumpsters are so commonplace in everyday life that you may have never stopped to think about where they came from. Prior to their invention, waste disposal was a significant hindrance to public health in areas of high population. The dumpster helped solve sanitation issues that many cities faced in the early 20th century by making waste disposal more efficient and less labor-intensive.

Here’s a look at the origin of the dumpster.

George Dempster

The story of the dumpster starts with George Dempster in the 1930’s. Dempster owned a construction business with his brothers in Knoxville, Tennessee. His experience with the logistics of transporting waste in the construction business sparked the idea for the dumpster, which he eventually created and patented in 1935.

Dempster’s design initially involved a pulley system that was mounted to a motorized truck. Containers were raised by pins welded to their sides, and then transported and emptied through a hinged door. Dempster first used this system for his construction business to handle waste. However, as sanitation issues became more and more significant in cities, the Dempster dumpster became a widespread solution.

The Dumpster as a Sanitation Solution

Prior to the dumpster, waste collection and removal was extremely inefficient. Garbage and debris (particularly in cities) regularly piled up along streets and on sidewalks. Cities required a lot of labor to mitigate this public health hazard. While waste could be hauled away by carriage, and later by the Model T Ford, this still involved a lot of manual labor. Workers had to load and unload garbage by hand.

The Dempster dumpster allowed sanitary, enclosed storage for waste near places of business and residence, and made it easy to remove waste and return the container quickly. Crucially, the technology reduced the amount of hands-on labor required for sanitation. A single person could now pick up and handle waste collection with a dumpster. In 1937, Nashville, Tennessee became the first city to purchase the dumpster, becoming an early adopter of a technology that is now everywhere.

Later models of the dumpster evolved for greater efficiency. Dempster improved the initial model by adding hydraulic lifting with chains and pivot arms, outstripping the lifting power of the old model’s cables and pulleys. Post-World War II, Dempster went on to design a single-axle end-dumping container with ten cubic yards of volume. This design, called the Dempster Kolector, allowed trucks to haul the containers behind them for quick collection, emptying, and delivery.

Dempster created technology related to dumpsters as well. In the 1950’s, Dempster’s company created the Dempster-Dumpmaster, an early model for what we now know as the garbage truck. The front-loading design allowed truck drivers to empty multiple dumpsters in one trip without ever leaving their seats.

Modern Dumpster Technology

It’s safe to say that Dempster’s inventions have played a huge role in shaping waste collection and sanitation as we know them today. Dumpster designs have changed over the years and there are numerous options on the market.

Companies like Moon Dumpsters now offer dumpsters ranging from 6 to 40 cubic yards, and roll-off dumpsters and other designs are now common. Moon also makes sure that waste disposal is as environmentally-friendly as possible, with efficient trucks and green disposal practices. To learn more about Moon’s full-service dumpster rentals and get the dumpsters you need, visit our website or call us at 502-772-2821 today!

Spreading the Word About Sustainable Waste Management

March 20, 2014/0 Comments/in Environment/by Moon Dumpster Rentals

As a green company in Louisville, KY Moon Mini Dumpsters works hard to preserve our surrounding environment. We adopt business practices that will keep us, and the earth, sustaining for a long time. These include, but are not limited to, recycling waste and using fuel efficient vehicles. Our trucks are smaller and equipped with pollution reducing devices.

Sustainable Waste Management

Moon is not only concerned with conserving the environment and resources in Kentucky and southern Indiana. We understand that what happens here affects all those around us. This is why we share ideas and learn new practices from people everywhere. The Google + community Sustainable Waste Management allows us to do this. Made up of businesses and individuals committed to conservation and sustainability, SWM is a platform for people to interact and trade thoughts about the environment. We invite you to join today!

Written by Bob Jones