Wintry weather has a major impact on our day-to-day lives.

It affects the way we dress.

It affects the way we drive.

It even affects our mood. Seasonal depression, anyone?

And when it comes to using a dumpster, well, it affects that too.

Using your dumpster in the winter can be a challenge. Snow, rain and ice aren’t exactly ideal conditions for using something outdoors. Dumpsters are no exception.

There are, however, ways to get around Old Man Winter and still use your dumpster effectively.

Tip #1: Keep Your Work Area Plowed

Whether your dumpster is parked in your driveway, on a construction site or in your business’s parking lot, you need to keep the area around it free of snow so that your dumpster can be delivered and picked up without any hiccups and make it easier to use. The driver will appreciate it, much like your mailman appreciates a freshly shoveled sidewalk.

Keeping your work area free of snow will make it much easier to access and use the dumpster.

Tip #2: De-ice Ice Baby

Having a dumpster means making frequent trips to it and from it, and the last thing you want is to slip while lugging around some heavy construction debris. Once you’ve cleared all the snow away from the dumpster area, throw some rock salt down to melt the ice.

De-icing the area is not only for your own safety but the driver’s as well, as they have to drop off and pick up the container.

Tip #3: Protect It From the Elements

In order to prevent snow and rain from getting in a dumpster, cover it up with a tarp. Not only will this help you stay within your dumpster’s weight limit and avoid extra charges, but it will also keep your neighbors from using your dumpster. If you have a dumpster for your business, simply close the lids when you’re not using it. Also, consider covering latches and fasteners to prevent them from freezing, requiring excessive force to open.

Exposed items could get wet and freeze inside the dumpster.

Tip #4: Protect Yourself From the Elements

Let’s fact it, it’s cold out there. And just as it’s important to protect your dumpster and the items inside it from the elements, it’s equally as important to protect yourself. Be sure to dress accordingly. This includes wearing gloves to prevent contact with the cold metal of the dumpster.

Okay, so you don’t need to go all Randy in “A Christmas Story” to the point where you can’t put your arms down, but you should dress for the elements.

Using your dumpster is one thing. Using your dumpster in the winter is another. Now that you know how to use your dumpster in the winter, rent one for your next project.