A handful of materials are off-limits — either because they damage the trailer, contaminate it for the next renter, or are illegal to transport in an open trailer. Loading any of these triggers a sanitation fee of up to $500 in addition to repair or replacement costs for any damage they cause.
The list — what can't go in
Wet drywall or wet construction debris — wet drywall is acidic, sticks to the bed, and can damage the floor coating
Loose paint, solvents, lacquers, or other liquid contaminants — leaks, soaks into the bed, contaminates the next renter's load
Fuel, oil, or other automotive fluids — same as above, plus fire risk
Animal carcasses — biohazard and biological-cleaning requirement
Raw sewage or biohazardous waste — same
Asbestos or asbestos-containing materials — regulated material; requires specialized handling
Pressurized cylinders, gas bottles, or propane tanks — explosion risk in heat or impact
Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, or other refrigerant-bearing appliances — unless the refrigerant has been professionally evacuated and the unit is so labeled. Releasing refrigerant is a federal violation.
Televisions, computer monitors, fluorescent tubes, or other mercury-containing items — regulated and shouldn't go in general waste
Vehicle batteries or other lead-acid batteries — corrosive, regulated
Reactive chemicals or solvents
Anything likely to permanently stain, corrode, or contaminate the trailer
If you're unsure whether a specific material is OK, message us before loading.
Why each is prohibited
Two reasons, in roughly equal measure:
Damage to the trailer. Wet drywall corrodes the floor. Paint spills coat the bed. Refrigerant releases are illegal and contaminate. Any damage from a prohibited load triggers repair charges per the Rental Agreement § 20.
Contamination for the next renter. A trailer with paint spills, dead animal residue, or asbestos contamination can't be safely rented again until it's professionally cleaned. The downtime and the cleaning cost both fall on the renter who caused them.
What to do if you have one of these
Most prohibited materials have a proper disposal path:
Paint, solvents, batteries, fluorescent tubes, mercury items — check your county's household hazardous waste collection day. Most counties run these monthly or quarterly.
Refrigerators / air conditioners — most appliance retailers will haul old units away when delivering a replacement. Standalone disposal requires a refrigerant-evacuation tag from a licensed HVAC tech.
Asbestos — requires a licensed abatement contractor. Don't transport without the right paperwork.
Propane tanks, gas bottles — most propane retailers accept old/empty tanks for recycling.
Animal carcasses — call your county or city animal control or a licensed disposal service.
If you accidentally loaded something prohibited, message us before unloading anywhere. We'll work through what to do.
Sanitation and decontamination fees
If the trailer is returned with any of the prohibited materials in or on it:
Sanitation / decontamination fee: up to $500, depending on what was loaded and what cleaning is required
Plus damage repair costs: if the load damaged the trailer, repair charges apply (parts plus labor at standard market rates)
Both charges are documented with photos and an itemized statement, processed against the card on file under your Rental Agreement.
Full terms in your Rental Agreement
The complete prohibited-materials list and consequences are in § 14 (Prohibited Uses and Materials) of your Rental Agreement.