Three years ago, the city of Kensington, Md., stopped allowing Dumpsters on streets. In nearby Rockville, a $1,500 bond for Dumpsters on the street is now required. Contractors must also submit a plan to the city review committee to explain traffic flow around the receptacle.
In response to these restrictions and laws, remodeler John Tabor of Tabor Construction, Silver Spring, Md., purchased a truck to haul debris. Tabor invested in a $40,000 dump truck that he can park on a driveway, freeing him of these regulations. The truck has a bed that is 12 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 4 feet high — about half the size of a standard Dumpster. It holds demolition materials from an average kitchen project. “It pays off, mostly in convenience,” Tabor says.
It is easier to tilt and clear the bed of this truck vs. a flatbed trailer. “With a trailer, we had to climb into the back with a shovel,” Tabor says.
The truck provides other benefits, too. First, there’s no damage to lawns or driveways, so Tabor doesn’t have to worry about fixing these areas after a job. And neighbors are less likely to throw their trash in the truck.