Most household junk, furniture, and building debris can go in your dumpster. The limits come from Texas landfill rules.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality bans several items from every landfill in the state. These include car batteries, used motor oil you drained yourself, oil filters, and whole tires. Anything that holds refrigerant, such as a fridge, freezer, or AC unit, is banned too, along with liquid waste and regulated hazardous waste.
Hazardous waste, paint, solvents, fuel, and asbestos should never go in a standard dumpster.
Little Elm gives residents a better route for many of these items. Its twice-a-year Clean & Green event takes paint, motor oil, pool chemicals, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs, car batteries, electronics, tires, and refrigerators. The next one is on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Public Works Service Center, 1600 Mark Tree Lane.
If you're not sure about an item, check with your account manager before it goes in the container.