Cleaning out a garage, basement, shed, or inherited house doesn’t have to mean five overloaded truck runs — or paying a full junk-removal crew when you’re willing to do the lifting yourself. Rent a dump trailer for the day, load what you’re throwing out, and tip it at a local facility that accepts your waste. This guide covers the DIY plan, what belongs in recycling vs. trash, and where Sussex / nearby homeowners actually go to dump.
Recycling and scrap out of the trash pile saves tip fees.
Sussex trash generally goes to SCMUA in Lafayette.
Hours, residency rules, and tip fees change.
One open trailer beats a dozen overloaded pickups.
When DIY + a trailer makes sense
Renting a dump trailer is a strong fit when:
- You’re clearing a garage, basement, attic, shed, or storage unit
- You (or friends/family) can lift and load the material yourselves
- You have a tow vehicle rated for the loaded trailer
- You want to control cost by sorting recyclables and scrap first
Hire a junk-removal company instead when the job includes stairs-only access, hoarding conditions, biohazards, or you simply don’t want to do the labor. Many cleanout companies also make great partners when you need overflow capacity — but for a normal home purge, a trailer is often the cheaper path.
Sort before you load
Thirty minutes of sorting at the house saves money at the scale:
- Scrap metal — appliances (freon removed if required), filing cabinets, bike frames, aluminum → scrap yard (often pays you)
- Recycling — cardboard, clean plastics/cans/glass per your county rules → free recycling area where available
- Donation — usable furniture, clothing, housewares → thrift / Habitat ReStore before they become trash
- Hazardous — paint, chemicals, batteries, propane → household hazardous waste events or designated drop-offs (not the trash pile)
- Everything else — bagged household trash, broken furniture, mixed debris → transfer station / convenience center
Where to dump near Wantage (trash & construction debris)
Sussex County residents — start here
| Facility | Address | Phone | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCMUA Solid Waste & Recycling Complex | 34 Route 94 South, Lafayette, NJ | 973-579-6998 | Primary Sussex dump + free recycling center. Typical hours Mon–Sat 7:00 am–2:00 pm. Accepts household/bulk garbage and C&D from Sussex generators. Commercial vehicles need proper NJDEP decals. |
SCMUA is the place most Wantage / Newton / Sparta / Vernon homeowners should plan around for a cleanout weekend.
If you’re outside Sussex
| Facility | Area | Phone | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren County District Landfill / PCFAWC | 500 Mt. Pisgah Ave, Oxford, NJ | 908-453-2174 | Landfill + convenience/recycling for Warren County. Confirm residency and rates. |
| Orange County Transfer Station #3 | 86 Tow Path Rd, Port Jervis, NY | 845-291-2640 | Closest Orange County station to Wantage. Mon–Fri 8–3, Sat 8–12 (confirm). |
| Orange County Transfer Station #1 | 21 Training Center Lane, New Hampton, NY | 845-291-2640 | Accepts C&D / bulk; good option for Orange County jobs. |
| MCMUA Mount Olive Transfer Station | 168 Gold Mine Rd, Flanders, NJ | 973-829-8585 | Important: MCMUA publicly notes restrictions on rental trucks — call before you go with a rented trailer. |
Where to recycle & scrap (and sometimes get paid)
| Place | Town | Phone | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCMUA Recycling Center | Lafayette | 973-579-6998 | Free resident recycling after you enter the complex (follow green arrows / right lane per SCMUA signs) |
| George’s Salvage Co. | Newton | 973-383-4471 | Scrap metal drop-off |
| Raimo Scrap Iron and Metal | Byram | 973-347-4545 | Scrap iron & metal |
| Rockaway Recycling | Rockaway | 973-625-9560 | Larger scrap loads via Rt 15 corridor |
| Arthur Trovei & Sons | Sparrowbush / Port Jervis area | 845-856-1142 | Scrap metal (GPS tip: use Port Jervis) |
Municipal recycling centers (Newton, Vernon, Hopatcong, and others) may also accept limited materials for residents — check your township’s rules and hours before loading.
How to load the trailer safely
- Keep weight balanced — heavy items over the axles, not all on the tongue or rear
- Bag loose trash; tarp anything that can blow out on Route 23 / 94 / 206
- Don’t exceed the trailer’s payload or your truck’s tow rating
- Secure with straps so the load can’t shift under braking
- Leave room to close the gate / tarp cleanly before you roll
Full walkthrough: How to Load and Secure Cargo and How to Prevent Trailer Sway.
Watch-outs before you drive to the scale
- Rental-truck policies: Some transfer stations restrict rented vehicles. MCMUA Mount Olive is one example — verify before you go.
- Freon appliances: Fridges, freezers, and A/C units often need special handling or a fee — ask the scrap yard or SCMUA.
- Tires, batteries, paint, propane: Usually not “throw in the trailer and tip.” Use designated recycling / HHW options.
- County flow control: Sussex County expects Sussex-generated solid waste at SCMUA. Don’t assume you can tip Sussex trash in another county.
Rent a dump trailer in Wantage and do the cleanout this weekend
Edmond Rentals LLC is based in Wantage, NJ. We rent trailers to homeowners and contractors who want to haul their own materials — cleanouts, yard projects, scrap runs, and supply pickups.
- Weekday and weekend rates available
- Security deposit required; booking is a request until we approve your tow vehicle and plan
- We’ll help you confirm hitch, ball size, and payload before pickup
Check availability and book · or call 917-635-7441