The full breakdown, not the short version — what's fine to toss straight in, what needs a separate stop, and where to actually take the stuff we can't haul.
Load these straight in, no separate trip needed
Needs a separate, legal disposal path
Not sure where something on this list falls? Call (270) 770-0012 and describe it — we'd rather answer a five-minute question than have a load get rejected at the landfill.
The prohibited list is shorter than most people expect. It's these few exceptions that trip customers up.
Leftover deck stain or paint thinner gets tossed in with drywall scraps without a second thought — but wet liquids are treated as hazardous waste, not household junk.
A window AC unit or mini fridge gets buried under a pile of shingles during a renovation — but refrigerant has to be professionally removed first, no exceptions.
Tires get thrown in because there's room left in the container — but they're never accepted in a roll-off, regardless of how much space is left.
Warren County has legitimate, nearby options for almost everything on the prohibited list.
Warren County runs periodic household hazardous waste collection days for exactly this kind of material. We keep track of the current schedule and can point you to the next one when you call.
Most tire shops and auto parts stores around Bowling Green will take old tires for a small per-tire fee. The county also occasionally runs a tire amnesty event — worth asking us if one's coming up.
Local scrap and appliance recyclers often take these for free, since the metal has resale value once the refrigerant's been professionally reclaimed. We can point you toward one nearby.
Auto parts stores across Warren County almost universally accept car and marine batteries for recycling, often for a small deposit refund. Household batteries can go in most curbside recycling programs.
This one's not DIY — asbestos abatement in Kentucky requires a licensed contractor. If a remodel on an older Bowling Green home turns up suspect material (common in houses built before the 1980s), stop and have it tested before anything gets disturbed.
Most propane suppliers and some hardware stores in the area will take an empty or unwanted tank off your hands, sometimes for a small fee. Never put one in the dumpster, even if you think it's empty.
Older housing stock is common around downtown Bowling Green and in some of the established neighborhoods near WKU, and that means asbestos and lead paint come up more here than they would in a brand-new subdivision. If you're tearing into a wall, ceiling, or floor in a house built before the 1980s and something doesn't look like standard drywall or flooring, it's worth pausing and getting it checked rather than guessing. It's a rare situation, but it's exactly the kind of thing I'd rather flag upfront than have someone find out the hard way.
On the other end of things, storm cleanup after the kind of severe weather Warren County sees — including the December 2021 tornado that hit Creekwood and the surrounding area hard — almost always falls entirely in the "accepted" column. Downed limbs, damaged fencing, waterlogged drywall, and general storm debris are all fine to load straight in. The one exception is if a storm damages something like a propane tank or an outdoor fuel container on the property — that still needs its own disposal path, storm or not.
And for anyone doing a new-construction job in a growing area like Touissant Springs or Cogan's Crossing: packaging waste, off-cuts, and general job-site debris are all fine mixed together. Just keep an eye on total weight if you're running a lot of concrete or block scrap through the same container as lighter framing waste, since that's the combination most likely to push a load over its allowance.
Yes. Mattresses, box springs, and furniture are all fine in a standard roll-off dumpster. Just be aware they take up volume fast — a couple of mattresses and a sectional can eat a third of a 10 yard container on their own.
Not if the paint is still liquid. Latex paint that's fully dried out and hardened can usually go in with the trash, but wet paint, oil-based paint, and paint thinner are treated as hazardous liquid waste and can't go in the dumpster. Warren County's household hazardous waste collection accepts these — ask us and we'll point you to the current drop-off schedule.
No, tires aren't accepted in any of our containers. Most tire shops and auto parts stores in Bowling Green will take old tires for a small per-tire fee, and Warren County occasionally runs tire amnesty collection events — we can point you to the nearest option when you call.
Not as-is. Refrigerators, freezers, and window AC units contain refrigerant, which by law has to be professionally removed (a process called "reclaiming") before the appliance can go into general debris disposal. Once the refrigerant's been reclaimed and the unit is tagged, it's fine to load. Some local scrap and appliance recyclers handle this for free since the metal has resale value.
Call us and let us know as soon as you notice. Depending on what it is, we may be able to have it pulled out before pickup, or in some cases the landfill itself will reject a load with hazardous material in it, which delays everything and can add a fee. It's a lot easier to sort it out before pickup than after, so don't wait to mention it.
Yes, mixed loads are completely normal — drywall, lumber, old furniture, and general junk can all go in the same container. The one thing to watch is total weight, since construction material like shingles and concrete is much heavier by volume than household junk, and it's weight, not just fullness, that determines your allowance.
Digging into concrete, dirt, or shingles specifically? See our full breakdown of weight limits by material. Clearing out furniture or an old fridge? See our guide to mattresses, couches & appliances. Tearing out sod or clearing brush? See our sod & yard waste guide. Wondering if tires or paint are actually illegal to toss? See our tires & paint disposal guide. More questions about pricing, sizing, or permits? See our full FAQ page.
Describe what you're getting rid of and we'll tell you straight whether it goes in the dumpster or needs a different stop.
Rather put it in writing? Email bgdumpsters@gmail.com and we'll follow up.
