About one garage in three has something in it that can't go on a hauling truck. It's almost never a problem — it's a fifteen-minute errand — but it surprises people on cleanout day, so here's the list up front.
Household hazardous waste
Florida routes these through household hazardous waste collection, not standard disposal. No licensed hauler can take them in a regular load.
- Liquid paint, stains, and solvents. Dried, hardened latex paint in an open can is generally acceptable in household trash. Liquid is not, and oil-based paint is not regardless of state.
- Motor oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, and gasoline. Including the old gas in the mower and the generator.
- Pesticides, herbicides, and pool chemicals. Very common in South Florida garages, often decades old and no longer labeled.
- Propane tanks and compressed gas cylinders. A grill tank is a pressure vessel; it can't go in a compactor.
- Automotive and bulk batteries. Retailers that sell them usually take them back free.
- Fluorescent tubes and CFL bulbs. Mercury content.
Broward County runs household hazardous waste drop-off for residents. Load it in your trunk, drive it over, hand it off. That's the whole process.
Asbestos
This is the one that actually matters. Florida homes built before the early 1980s can contain asbestos in popcorn ceilings, vinyl floor tile and the mastic under it, some pipe and duct insulation, and certain roofing and siding products.
Asbestos requires a licensed abatement contractor and a specific disposal chain. No hauling company can touch it. If you've torn out an old ceiling or floor and you're not certain what it was, stop and have it tested before anyone moves it. Testing costs a fraction of what an improper disposal costs, and the health math isn't close.
Ammunition, explosives, and firearms
Ammunition turns up in garage cleanouts more than you'd think, usually in a box nobody remembers. Contact your local police department's non-emergency line for disposal. Firearms should never be handed to a hauler under any circumstances — transfer them through a licensed dealer or law enforcement.
Medical and biological waste
Sharps, needles, IV equipment, and anything biologically contaminated require regulated medical waste handling. Pharmacies and sheriff's offices commonly run sharps and medication take-back programs.
Things people assume are banned but aren't
- Refrigerators and A/C units. Fine to haul — they just need certified refrigerant recovery first, which is why there's a fee.
- Mattresses. Fine, with a recycling fee.
- Tires. Fine, with a fee — they're banned from the landfill, not from the truck.
- Electronics and TVs. Fine, and they should go to an e-waste recycler.
- Dried latex paint. Fine, if it's genuinely solid.
What happens if it turns up mid-job
With us: we stop, set it aside, tell you what it is and where it goes, and continue with the rest of the load. It doesn't cancel the job and it doesn't change the price.
It's worth asking any hauler what they do here before you book. A crew that would rather quietly bury a propane tank in the middle of a load than have an awkward conversation is a crew making that decision on your property, under your address.
Need this done rather than explained? We do garage cleanouts across Cooper City and South Broward with flat pricing approved before we start. Book a slot online or call (954) 663-9372.