Guide · Waste & disposal
Landfill prices near me: what US dumps actually charge
Tipping fees vary from $22 to $186 per ton across US counties. This guide explains how landfills price loads, what to expect for household trash, construction debris, and appliances, and shows real 2024–2025 rates from public transfer stations tracked in our database.
TL;DR Most US landfills charge $30–$90 per ton of mixed household waste, with a $10–$30 minimum for small loads. Construction debris runs higher. Fridges and tires are billed per item.
How landfills price your load
Every landfill or transfer station uses one of three pricing methods — sometimes all three at the same site, depending on what you're bringing in.
- Per-ton (tonnage) rates. Your vehicle is weighed empty and full on a certified scale. You pay for the difference. This is the standard for commercial haulers and any load big enough to register on the scale.
- Flat minimum charges. Loads under the scale minimum (typically 320–500 lbs, roughly a pickup bed) are charged a flat rate — often $10–$30. This covers the fixed cost of processing a transaction that's too small to weigh.
- Per-item fees. Refrigerators, mattresses, tires, and electronics carry a fixed price per item because they need special handling (refrigerant reclaim, shredding, e-waste recycling) that tonnage pricing wouldn't cover.
What you'll pay by item type
National ranges from the county fee schedules we track:
Mixed municipal solid waste (MSW)
$30 – $90
per ton
Household trash; the base rate at most facilities.
Construction & demolition (C&D)
$60 – $120
per ton
Wood, drywall, concrete, shingles. Higher than MSW almost everywhere.
Yard waste / green waste
$25 – $50
per ton
Often diverted to composting; some counties accept free from residents.
Small load minimum
$10 – $30
per load
Charged when the load is under the scale minimum (~320 lbs).
Appliances (fridge, freezer, AC)
$15 – $35
per item
Extra fee to reclaim refrigerant (Freon) before crushing.
Tires (passenger)
$3 – $8
per tire
Truck / off-road tires cost 2–4× more.
Mattresses
$15 – $40
per item
Recycling surcharge in states with mattress stewardship laws.
Electronics (TVs, monitors)
$10 – $30
per item
Often accepted at separate e-waste events for free.
Why prices vary so much between counties
The same load can cost 5× more in one county than another 200 miles away. Four factors do most of the work:
- Hauling distance. Rural transfer stations that ship waste hundreds of miles to a regional landfill pass that fuel cost on.
- State disposal taxes. California, Washington, and several Northeast states add per-ton surcharges that fund cleanup programs.
- Public vs private operator. Publicly owned county landfills tend to price at cost; privately operated regional landfills price to market.
- Waste stream mix. Sites that accept C&D, tires, and hazardous items need extra permits and equipment, which shows up in the base rate.
Real 2024–2025 rates from US counties
A sample from the CountyFees.com database — click any county to see its full fee schedule with source links and last-verified dates.
County
Item
Price
Unit
Ways to lower what you pay
- Separate your load. Yard waste, metal, and clean wood are often 30–70% cheaper than mixed waste when dumped separately.
- Use resident-only rates. Many counties offer a discounted "resident" tipping fee with proof of address. Non-resident and commercial rates can double the price.
- Check for free amnesty days. Household hazardous waste, bulky items, and e-waste often have free collection events a few times a year.
- Beat the minimum. If you're paying a flat minimum on a small load, it may be cheaper to combine trips with a neighbor.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to dump at a landfill?
- US landfill tipping fees typically run $30–$90 per ton for mixed municipal solid waste, with a minimum charge of $10–$30 for small loads under ~320 lbs. Construction debris is usually $60–$120 per ton. Appliances with refrigerant are billed per item, generally $15–$35 each.
- Why are dump prices near me different from a nearby county?
- Prices reflect hauling distance, state disposal taxes, public vs private operation, and the mix of waste the site accepts. Urban coastal counties often charge 2–3× more per ton than rural inland ones.
- Do I pay by the ton or by the load?
- Loads big enough to register on the scale (usually 320+ lbs) are billed per ton. Smaller loads are billed at a flat minimum charge, and specific items like fridges or tires have their own per-item fee.
- Where can I find the exact tipping fee for my county?
- Look up your county on CountyFees.com — every fee record links back to the official county or transfer-station source, with the date it was last verified.
Look up your county
Browse the full index of US county fee schedules to find current landfill, transfer station, and waste disposal prices where you live.