Dumpster Controls · agent page

This is the agent-optimized version of https://dumpstercontrols.io/help/api/authentication-and-api-keys: the same content as the human page, without scripts, styles, animations or navigation. People should open the full page.

Canonical page
https://dumpstercontrols.io/help/api/authentication-and-api-keys
Last updated
2026-08-22
Tokens
1,221 tokens (cl100k_base), within the 2,000-token budget for a help page
Size
9.3 KB for this page, against 21 KB for the human page (56% smaller)
Markdown
https://dumpstercontrols.io/help/api/authentication-and-api-keys.md, or send Accept: text/markdown to the canonical URL
Cite as
Authentication and API keys. Dumpster Controls. https://dumpstercontrols.io/help/api/authentication-and-api-keys (accessed 2026-10-05).
More for agents
Facts sheet · llms.txt · llms-full.txt · All agent pages · Product manual

Developer API · updated 2026-08-22

Authentication and API keys

Every request authenticates with an API key sent as a Bearer token. This article covers how keys work, how they are stored, and how to manage their whole lifecycle: create, revoke, schedule auto-revocation, and recover from a leak.

  1. ## How authentication works
    Send the key in the Authorization header of every request:
    ```
    Authorization: Bearer dc_live_...
    ```
    The server hashes the presented key with SHA-256 and matches it against the stored fingerprint. The raw key is never stored anywhere on our side, which is why it can only be shown once at creation. Every request also re-checks that your company's API access is still approved, so a revocation takes effect on the very next call.
  2. ## Key anatomy
    Keys look like dc_live_ followed by 64 hex characters (256 bits of randomness). The dc_live_ prefix plus the first characters are kept visible in your key list so you can tell keys apart; the rest exists only in your copy.
  3. ## Create and name keys
    Settings, API, "Create key". You can hold up to 5 active keys per company. Use one key per integration so you can revoke one system without breaking another.
  4. ## Revoke immediately
    The Revoke button stops a key on the next request. Revocation is permanent: re-enabling access later never resurrects old keys, you mint new ones.
  5. ## Schedule automatic revocation
    Each key has an optional auto-revoke date ("Auto-revoke" button). Perfect for contractors or temporary integrations: the key dies at the end of the chosen day without anyone having to remember.
  6. ## If a key leaks
    Revoke it immediately in Settings, API, and create a replacement. Every key creation, revocation and schedule change is logged in the platform audit trail, so our support team can reconstruct exactly what a leaked key was used for if you need it. Under our Terms of Service the key is your responsibility, so rotate early when in doubt.

Troubleshooting

Can I recover a key I lost?

No. Only the fingerprint is stored. Revoke the lost key and create a new one; it takes seconds.

Why only 5 keys?

The cap keeps the attack surface small and pushes one-key-per-integration hygiene. If you genuinely need more, tell us in a support ticket.

Related guides

© 2026 Dumpster Controls. All rights reserved. Made in the USA.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dumpster Controls really free?

Yes. The software is free: dispatch, online booking, the driver app, invoicing, the Tresha AI assistant and every other feature, with no monthly fee, no trial period and no credit card to sign up. The only cost on the free plan is optional card processing when a customer pays by card through the platform: 2.99% plus $3.99 per transaction on the free plan. An optional Unlimited plan at $169 per month lowers that to 2.99% plus $0.30. Prices as published on dumpstercontrols.io/pricing on 2026-09-23.

Do you charge per driver, per truck or per order?

No. There is no per-driver, per-truck, per-user or per-order fee, and no order limit. A company with one truck and a company with twenty pay the same for the software: nothing.

Is there a contract?

No. There is no contract, no minimum term and no setup fee. You create the account yourself, and on the free plan there is nothing to cancel because nothing is billed. The optional Unlimited plan is billed month to month.

Which countries and languages are supported?

Dumpster Controls serves hauling companies in the United States and Canada. The app interface and the Tresha AI assistant are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The public pages, such as the blog, the help center and the landfill finder, are in English.

How do I switch from another dumpster software?

Create a free account at dumpstercontrols.io/login, with no sales call and no credit card. Then import your customers from a CSV file using the template provided in the app; past orders can also be imported from a CSV. Container sizes and pricing are set up in Settings. The landfill database, with 1,750 active US and Canadian landfills as counted on 2026-10-01, is already loaded, so disposal sites do not need to be typed in. Step-by-step guides are at dumpstercontrols.io/help.