Every industry was touched by the start of the coronavirus pandemic. While construction has fared better than some, the crisis certainly threw a wrench in the works (pun intended). Now, as crews rush to make up for lost time and permanently shuttered businesses hurry to clear out their premises, being able to work quickly is paramount. Open top containers are proving to be a huge asset.
Moving Forward on Pandemic Construction
The construction industry never really shut down when the pandemic began. Essential projects were able to continue throughout those early days of quarantine. Non-essential construction was halted when the U.S. first went into lockdown in March, but it was one of the first industries to come back when states started reopening. (Here in Massachusetts, all construction was allowed to resume as of May 18th.)
Of course, the world had changed by the time crews on non-essential jobs got back to work. Companies and consumers who were hit hard by the pandemic were unable to move forward with planned projects. Some ongoing projects were canceled or delayed indefinitely. Other projects that were slated for early summer are now on accelerated timelines, with workers rushing to finish jobs before the weather turns.
At the same time, some construction firms are seeing growth because business owners and homeowners have decided to use this unexpected time for remodeling and expansion. Plus, businesses that have closed permanently are clearing out their premises.
With all this upheaval, late 2020 is proving to be a busy time for construction and renovations. Time is always a factor, though. Anyone doing construction right now has to contend with financial pressure, changing weather and concerns about another wave of lockdown orders coming in the near future. These jobs have to get done now.
Having an open top container on-site is critical for keeping a construction, renovation or clear-out job moving quickly. Sometimes people call these construction Dumpsters, open top Dumpsters or roll-off containers. A container is delivered to your site and collecting debris or scrap is as easy as tossing it into the open top. When it’s full, the rental company comes and takes the container away.
FAQs About Open Top Containers
Miller Recycling rents open top containers of differing sizes for a variety of purposes. If you’ve never utilized one of these so-called construction Dumpsters, we expect that you’ll have questions.
- How big are open top containers? Containers come in a range of sizes. From a 16-foot-long, 1-ton container to a 22-footer that holds up to 4 tons, you can choose the option that best accommodates your specific job. (If you’re not sure what size is appropriate, we’ll help you narrow it down.)
- What can I put in an open top container? It’s actually easier to talk about what you can’t put in a container, because that list is shorter. Nothing that’s flammable or requires hazardous disposal (leftover paint or solvents, asbestos, propane tanks, etc.) can be tossed in your open top container. But non-hazardous construction debris, yard waste, scrap metal and garbage can all be disposed of in an open top container.
- What does it cost to rent an open top container? Prices vary by container size and rental period length. Contact us and we’ll be happy to give you a specific quote.
- Are open top containers only available to construction firms? No. If you want to clean out brush from your property or empty out a home before moving, you can rent a container.
- Is there a COVID risk with renting open top containers? One of the things that’s so useful about open top containers is that, well, they’re open. Between the container getting delivered, you filling it up and it being taken away, it’s conceivable to use one without ever touching any part of it. The workers who deliver and pick up your container will follow all safety precautions while they’re on-site. There’s no need to worry about contamination via an open top container or construction Dumpster.
- How does the rental process work? Once you choose the size of container you need, Miller Recycling can deliver it to your location in as little as 24 hours. The container will be rolled off the back of a truck and positioned on a driveway or concrete slab at your site. Then you fill it up. Once you’re done, contact us and our crew will schedule a prompt pickup and handle disposal.
What other questions do you have about renting open top containers for your construction or renovation projects? We’re happy to answer them! No matter what happens with the pandemic going forward, the Miller Recycling team is always here to meet your solid waste removal needs. Contact us to learn more.