What You Can't Put in a Dumpster in Tennessee
Updated 2026-10 · Murfreesboro, TN
Why the list exists
A roll-off load ends up at a landfill or transfer station, and the container company is responsible for what is in it. Some items are kept out of landfills by Tennessee law. Others are accepted only with special handling that costs extra. A company that finds them in your container will either charge a surcharge, take them out and bill you, or refuse to collect until they are gone.
Kept out of landfills by Tennessee law
Whole tires
Tennessee does not allow whole, unshredded tires in a landfill. Every county must offer a collection site; in Rutherford County the county landfill accepts tires. Take them there rather than paying a per-tire surcharge.
Lead-acid batteries
Car, truck and mower batteries are banned from landfills in Tennessee. Auto parts stores commonly take them back, often with a core credit.
Used motor oil
Also kept out of landfills by state law. Many auto parts stores and service stations take it.
Usually refused or charged extra
- Refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers and window AC units that still contain refrigerant
- Liquid paint, stains, solvents and thinners (dried-out latex paint is often accepted)
- Propane tanks, fire extinguishers and other pressurised cylinders
- Pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and other household chemicals
- Fluorescent tubes and other mercury-containing bulbs
- Medical waste and sharps
- Asbestos-containing material, which needs licensed abatement
- Mattresses and box springs, accepted by many companies for a per-item fee
- Televisions and monitors, accepted by some, refused or charged by others
Every company has its own list, and it changes with what the disposal site will take. Ask for the list in writing when you book.
Where to take them in and around Murfreesboro
City of Murfreesboro residents have the city's recycling center and its household hazardous waste collections, which are the right place for paint, chemicals and similar items. Rutherford County's convenience centers are for county residents outside city trash service; they take household trash and recyclables and limit bulk items per visit, and they do not take construction debris or brush. The county landfill takes tires and brush. Check the city or county website for current hours and what each site accepts before you go, because both change.
Old appliances are often worth more to a scrap metal dealer than they cost to dispose of, once the refrigerant has been properly recovered. Ask the dealer what they need from you first.
Older Murfreesboro houses and asbestos
Houses built before about 1980, which includes a lot of the older stock downtown, along East Main and in parts of Northfield, can contain asbestos in floor tiles, pipe insulation, siding and some ceiling textures. Material suspected of containing asbestos should be tested before demolition, and it does not go in an ordinary roll-off. If you are gutting an older house, sort this out before you rent the container.
Not sure whether something on your list is accepted? Send the list and the dumpster company will say what is fine, what costs extra and what has to go elsewhere.
Where to go next
Common questions
Can I put a refrigerator in a dumpster?
Usually only if the refrigerant has been removed and you can show it. Otherwise expect it to be refused or charged a surcharge.
Can paint go in a dumpster?
Dried-out latex paint is often accepted. Liquid paint, oil-based paint and solvents generally are not. Use a household hazardous waste collection.
What about yard waste?
Many companies accept brush and limbs, sometimes with a separate rate. The City of Murfreesboro also collects brush, so check whether you need a container at all.