To collect refuse, a portable material container gripper is mounted to lift arms of a refuse collection truck. The portable material container gripper is easily mounted to the lift arms by inserting a tube around the lift arms and locking it in place with a bar passing through an opening in the tube. The portable material container gripper includes a clamp that clamps around a horizontal bar on a refuse or material container to hold the refuse or material container in place while it is dumped into the bed of the refuse collection truck by the lift arms.