Who Invented the Dumpster?

Let us take you back to a time when there were no dumpsters or trash collection. Garbage was tossed anywhere and everywhere. This was a problem that needed to be solved for and the solution needed to include a way to pick up and discard of large amounts of debris at once. Enter the dumpster. We are going to review who invented the dumpster and a shortened version of the history behind it.

Who Invented the Dumpster?

Let us introduce you to George Roby Dempster, the man who first commercialized the word “dumpster”. George Dempster and the Dempster-Dumpster system is credited to be the first to recognize the need to store debris, particularly from construction sites, and do something about it. While George Roby Dempster is considered to be who invented the dumpster, his brothers and their construction company played a big role in the adoption of the dumpster.

In 1935, the Dempster Brothers patented the dumpster with the Dempster-Dumpster, the first large, portable dumpster bin. Dumpsters reduced the amount of labor necessary to move debris by 75 percent. Three brothers; George, John, and Thomas, formed the Dempster Brothers Construction Company.  

The type of construction jobs they worked on created a lot wasted and George Dempster wanted to solve the issue of storing garbage at the job locations. In 1935, he introduced his solution; an oversized portable garbage receptacle. This was the first of its kind, and he continued refining his design, until he eventually created a version that could sit on the back of a truck. By using an attached hoist and lift system, the dumpster became portable and could be moved to different locations to dispose of the contents.

What is a Dumpster?

Now that we know who invented the dumpster, it’s important to understand what a dumpster really is. A dumpster is a type of transportable waste container designed to be brought and taken away. The word is a generic trademark of “Dumpster”, trademarked by the Dempster Brothers and is an American brand name for their specific design.

When did Dumpster Popularity Start to Grow?

Dumpsters started to grow in popularity in the mid-1900’s and large organizations such as the U.S. Navy began to use them. The dumpster’s ability to provide an easy and on-the-site way to safely dispose of debris, led to a growing demand. As demand grew, many pursued other designs of dumpsters; however, none have had the type of impact that Dempster’s inventions had.

The flexibility of the dumpsters that we use today is undeniable. From small driveway size models, to versions built with a compactor system, the Dempster Brothers and George Dempster made it all possible.

How can you Rent a Dumpster Today?

If you are ready to rent a dumpster, you now have a little more knowledge about them and who invented the dumpster. George Dempster made it possible for dumpsters to become essential to any projects that will produce a lot of waste: home remodels, roofing projects, yard work… the possibilities are endless.

With 40 years of experience, BigDumpster.com® is the only dumpster rental company you will ever need. We provide dumpster rental and disposal services nationwide. With our top-of-the-line, industry standard dumpsters, you can throw away all your unwanted debris and then watch us haul it away for you.

Contact us today for a free dumpster rental quote.