An empty home is always the end of a story: inheritance, breakup, new beginning... Faced with orphaned furniture and piled-up memories, we wish for a simple, almost invisible logistics. Renting a dumpster doesn't soothe the sorrow, but it provides a clear framework: everything that needs to go does so all at once, without trips to the dump, without additional stress.
Sorting through photos, administrative papers, and trinkets from a bygone era, we make progress with the ghost of the former occupants over our shoulder.
In France, 6.8 million people moved in 2021, representing 10% of the population.
As for inheritance, there are about 420,000 estate openings each year.
It goes without saying that the challenge of clearing out affects everyone, sooner or later.
Having a dumpster within reach is a way to make decisions more calmly: to keep, to give away, to throw out... without the pressure of waste disposal site opening hours.
- **Large Volumes**: Once you exceed 8 m³, the equivalent of a filled living room, your family station wagon is no longer sufficient.
- **Heavy or Bulky Items**: Upright piano, massive sideboard, soaked mattress... All items that are impossible to fit into a standard van.
- **Tight Deadlines**: Notary appointments, handing over keys to the landlord, starting a job far away... a dumpster compresses the schedule.
- **Geographical Distance**: When heirs live several hundred kilometers apart, it's better to centralize rather than make multiple trips.
• Each French person produces approximately **615 kg of household waste per year**, of which 13% is bulky waste that is difficult to recycle.
• The public service collected **41 million tonnes** of household waste in 2021, a record fueled by the boom in post-Covid renovations and clear-outs.
• In a house affected by a disaster (flood, fire), the volume of bulky waste is estimated at **8 to 12 m³**, which is the capacity of a standard skip.
- **3-6 m³**: studio or small one-bedroom apartment. Approximately 180 - 300 € excluding VAT for one day (mixed waste).
- **8–10 m³**: single-story house. Count on 330 € excluding VAT (rubble) to 485 € excluding VAT (mixed) for 24 hours.
- **15–30 m³**: housing + outbuildings. Between 600 and 800 € excluding VAT per week depending on the region and type of waste.
The price includes drop-off, pick-up, transport to the sorting center, and a base tonnage; beyond that, an additional fee per ton applies. Tips: some renters offer the weekend for free if the dumpster is delivered on Friday morning.
• **On private property** (courtyard, garden), no formalities required (unless approval from the condominium association is needed).
• **On public roads**, submit a **temporary occupation permit** to the town hall: average processing time 7 days, fee €30 - €90 for three days in a residential area.
• Mark the dumpster with cones or reflective strips; some rental companies provide the kit.
Less physical fatigue: no more ten trips back and forth to the dump.
Set budget: add up utility vehicle + fuel + tolls + time… the dumpster often comes out on top.
Safety: less handling, so fewer strained backs (and broken glasses!).
Traceability: you receive a slip confirming the sorting, reassuring in case of disputes among heirs.
Reduced carbon footprint: just one truck + one sorting center, no more scattered shuttles.
1. Block out a full 48 hours and enlist the help of two close ones: collective momentum makes a difference.
2. Three categories: keep / donate / discard. Donations go first, the dumpster gets the rest.
3. "Maybe" box: for items that require further thought (albums, letters). You can decide on these later.
4. Before/after photos: useful for insurance purposes and symbolically freeing.
5. WEEE space: electrical appliances go outside the mixed waste dumpster, headed for their dedicated stream.
6. Close the chapter: share a coffee, take a moment of silence, decluttering doesn't mean forgetting.
Whether it's settling an estate or making a fresh start, a dumpster is just a container... but it can do so much: lighten the load on your shoulders, streamline sorting, and respect the environment. By reserving it at the right time and in the right size, an overwhelming chore is transformed into a structured task, almost soothing: fill it, close it, move on.
Nota Bene:
• DIB: "ordinary industrial waste" (furniture, plaster, non-hazardous plastic).
• WEEE: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, a specific category.
• The rates mentioned are exclusive of tax and vary depending on the region, duration, and actual tonnage.
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