A dumpster for days. Or a crew for one visit.

Two ways to clear it out, two different paces

With a dumpster, a rental company drops a large bin in your driveway, or on the street if the city allows it. It stays for days while you fill it yourself, then a truck comes back to haul it away. Every piece goes through your hands: carrying it out, lifting it, stacking it.

A junk removal crew works the other way around: the crew shows up with a truck, carries out everything you point to, from the basement to the attic, and leaves with the whole load in the same visit. Nothing stays in the driveway. So the real question is how much time, space and effort you want to put in.

When a dumpster makes sense

A dumpster is made for projects that produce debris day after day: a renovation that drags on for weeks, a roof being redone, a basement torn out and rebuilt. When a contractor is on site, the workers toss offcuts in as they go. The bin becomes a job-site tool.

Sizes vary. Vaudreuil-Dorion's page on construction waste lists containers from 2 to 120 cubic yards, with 10, 20 and 40 yards coming up often, and some companies only serve industrial, commercial and institutional clients. Some offers also set a weight limit. Ask what the bin can't take and, as that city recommends, ask for it to go to a sorting centre.

When a junk removal crew is the better call

For a one-time cleanout, renting a bin for days isn't always worth it. A crew fits better in the cases below. That's what Gestion Débarras does across the heart of Montérégie and the South Shore: our insured, vetted crew carries everything out, using straps and floor protection, and sweeps up before leaving.

• A one-time cleanout: garage, basement, shed or house.
• No room in the driveway for a bin.
• Heavy or bulky items to carry out.
• Stairs or an upper floor to come down from.
• You want it gone today.
• No street permit to request for a dumpster.
• You'd rather not lift a thing.

A dumpster on the street: several cities require a permit

Several cities require authorization before a dumpster occupies a public street. In Longueuil, the bylaw lists a waste container as a temporary occupation of the public domain: you need a permit before placing one on the street or sidewalk. The application includes a location plan, the planned duration and payment of the fee, among other things. If the bin isn't in front of your address, you need written consent from the owner or occupant of the property facing it. On site: signage or cones, and more than 1.8 m of clearance from fire hydrants.

In Brossard, a waste or materials container placed on the street, the sidewalk or a bike path must be authorized in advance. The city's form lists a non-refundable review fee, daily occupation fees, a copy of liability insurance and a scale plan. Allow processing time once a complete file is submitted, since nothing can be placed before the permit is issued.

In Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Granby, the bylaws cover any occupation of the public road or domain without naming dumpsters, so confirm with the city. In Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, you need authorization from the Public Works department, which takes effect once proof of liability insurance is provided and fees are paid. In Granby, leaving any object on public property requires prior written permission from a municipal officer. For a private driveway, check with your city too.

What can't go in a dumpster or the garbage

Each rental company sets its own list of refused materials, so ask for it before you start. Garbage rules give a good benchmark. In Saint-Hyacinthe, bylaw 810 bans construction and demolition debris from garbage collection, along with household hazardous waste, tires, liquid waste, propane tanks, refrigeration or air-conditioning appliances and ashes, among other things. Every municipality words its list differently.

Household hazardous waste needs a separate trip. According to RECYC-QUÉBEC, aerosols, pesticides and chemical fertilizers go to an ecocentre, and the Ça va où? app shows the nearest drop-off point. At Gestion Débarras, we don't take paint, solvents, propane, chemicals or asbestos either. Some products fall under extended producer responsibility and go back to dedicated drop-off points:

• Household appliances and air conditioners
• Pressurized fuel containers
• Oils and antifreeze
• Mercury lamps
• Paint
• Batteries
• Electronics
• Medications

A quick checklist before you choose

Answer these questions before you book. If your answers describe debris piling up over weeks, a dumpster makes sense. If they describe one big cleanout, little space in front of the house or a lot of stairs, a junk removal crew will be simpler.

• Will the debris build up over weeks, or is it already there?
• Can a bin sit in the driveway for days?
• If not, does your city require a street permit?
• Who does the loading, and how many stairs to the door?
• Is anything too heavy for you?
• Do you have hazardous waste to take to an ecocentre?
• Has the rental company given you its list of refused materials?
• Do you want everything gone in a single visit?