When to Swap a Concrete Washout Container or Bin
Call for a washout pick-up or swap when the container is getting full, before a big pour day, and before heavy rain. Waiting until it overflows is how sites get written up.
Call before it’s full
The EPA’s guidance on concrete washout is to deal with a washout before it fills up, so the water can’t overflow. An overfilled washout spills wash water and slurry onto the ground, and that’s the part that gets a site written up.
With CleanSite you don’t pump anything yourself. When the container is getting full, call 845-781-4-PAN and we’ll pick it up as fast as we can.
Source: EPA Stormwater BMP: Concrete Washout, p. 5.
The same rule for boxes, bins and containers
Whether your job site uses a concrete washout box, a lined bin or a CleanSite container, the timing is the same. An overfilled washout system spills wastewater and slurry that can contaminate soil and storm drains, and that’s the fastest way out of compliance. Watertight containment only works if there’s room left in it.
From concrete truck chutes to pump truck clean-outs and stucco crews, everything that goes in adds up.
Five signs it’s time to call
| Sign | What to do |
|---|---|
| The container is getting full | Call for a pick-up or swap |
| A big pour is coming | Book the swap before the pour, not after |
| Heavy rain is forecast and it already holds a lot | Call so rain can’t push it over |
| Drivers are rinsing somewhere else because it looks full | Call now |
| The pour phase is done | Final pick-up |
What’s the difference?
A swap means a full container leaves and an empty one takes its place. A pick-up means the container leaves for good.
Either way, call 845-781-4-PAN when it’s getting close and we’ll get there as fast as we can. See delivery, swap and pick-up.
Cold weather and washout
Water in a container can freeze on cold days, which takes up space and makes the load harder to handle. In winter, call for pick-ups a little earlier.
Swap timing FAQ
When should concrete washouts be emptied?
Before they’re full, before heavy rain, and before big pours.
What happens if a washout overflows?
Washout water can reach soil and drains, which breaks stormwater permits and can get a site written up.
Related pages
Request a concrete washout container
Tell us the jobsite, the pour date, the expected yardage and whether you have ready-mix trucks, a pump or both. We will match the size and set up delivery.
Send us your job details
We’ll call you back with a container size and delivery time. In a hurry? Call 845-781-4-PAN.