Enclosing a dumpster with a fence and sturdy gate or door makes good business sense on several levels. You don’t want just anyone – or anything – gaining easy access to your dumpster. Here’s why a dumpster enclosure gate makes sense.
Reasons to Use a Dumpster Enclosure Gate
Dumpsters are Never an Attractive Look
Dumpsters are never going to be the most attractive aspect of a business. It‘s more aesthetically pleasing to hide them behind an enclosure. With the right design, colors and materials, you can make the enclosure blend in with other buildings and recede from prominence.
Securing Your Dumpster to Prevent Unauthorized Access
You want to keep intruders from gaining access to your dumpster. People going through your garbage and ripping open bags to see what’s inside can result in an unsightly mess around your property, requiring time and personnel to clean it up.
Unrestricted dumpsters can lead to potential issues like:
- Illegal Dumping: Without proper barriers, others might dispose of their waste in your dumpster, leading to increased disposal costs and potential overflows. An enclosure with a locked gate or door is a deterrent from most passersby using your dumpster to unload their garbage. A locked gate or door can also prevent other businesses from dumping on you.
- Theft and Vandalism: Open dumpsters can be targets for theft or vandalism, making your business look untidy and poorly maintained.
- Identity Theft: Thieves sometimes target dumpsters expressly to gain access to personal information in documents inside the garbage with the intention of committing identity theft or fraud.
Keeping Your Wildlife and Pests at Bay
You want to keep animals out of the dumpster. Smaller animals may find a way over or under the fence, but often by building the fence and gate or door high enough and close enough to the ground, you can keep most animals on the outside. An enclosure system is another line of defense against any animal that might try to gain access to your dumpster, or be attracted to garbage that may have spilled around it.
Maintaining Cleanliness
Open dumpsters without gated enclosures can emit unpleasant odors, especially in warmer climates. They can attract pests such as rodents, insects, or scavenging animals. This can create health hazards and potential nuisances for residents, customers, or employees.
Lack of containment can result in wind-blown litter and debris, leading to a messy and untidy environment. This can give the impression of poor maintenance and lack of care for the property.
Complying with Local Regulations
Depending on local regulations, businesses may need to have gated dumpster enclosures. This might be to meet specific standards for waste management, containment, and aesthetics. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in penalties or fines.
Design Considerations for Effective Dumpster Enclosures
Dumpster enclosures are available in a variety of materials, including plain chain link fences, functional and sturdy steel or aluminum or more aesthetically pleasing wood, brick or vinyl/PVC.
When planning your dumpster enclosure, consider the following:
- Material Selection: like metal, masonry, or treated wood to withstand environmental conditions and frequent use.
- Durable Hardware: Equip gates with robust hinges, latches, and locks to ensure repetitive use and enhance security.
- Gate Functionality: Ensure gates open beyond 90 degrees, preferably up to 120 degrees, to facilitate easy access for waste collection vehicle
- Accessibility: Design the enclosure to allow easy access for authorized personnel while deterring unauthorized entry.
Put some thought into the gates or doors – not just the way they open, close and lock but also the way they look. The enclosure may just be protecting a dumpster, but sagging or dented doors have a negative effect on the visual appeal of your commercial property, so replace damaged doors and posts, caps and hinges as needed. Options range from simple closing doors, to automated sliding doors and gates, double drive doors and gates and more. Gate or doors might be made from PVC, metal decking, wood, chain link with PVC plats for privacy, chain link with windscreen and aluminum louvers.
Thoughtful design and material choices ensure the enclosure is both functional and visually appealing. By implementing a well-constructed dumpster enclosure gate, businesses can enhance property aesthetics, improve security, comply with regulations, and maintain a cleaner, more appealing environment.