The Buncombe County Transfer Station at 190 Hominy Creek Road in Asheville is the county's in-town drop-off for household trash and recycling. It's run by Buncombe County Solid Waste, which also operates the county landfill out in Alexander. For most residents with a few bags of trash, some cardboard or an old refrigerator, the transfer station is closer and quicker than the landfill, and the pricing is simple: a full household bag costs $2.
Last checked 2026-09-25 against Buncombe County's Transfer Station page and county directory listing. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm before you go.
See the Buncombe County Transfer Station and nearby drop-offs on the map
Buncombe County Transfer Station at a glance
| Operator and owner | Buncombe County Solid Waste (county government) |
| Address | 190 Hominy Creek Road, Asheville, NC |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m.–1 p.m. |
| Closed | Sunday |
| Manager | Nick Edmonds, 828-250-6205 (per the county directory) |
| Payment | Cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover; no tap-to-pay |
The county directory lists the ZIP as 28801; you may see 28806 on some maps. Either should get you there by GPS.
Buncombe County Transfer Station hours
The station is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It's closed Sundays. Saturday closes early, so weekend visitors should aim for the morning.
The county has posted a heads-up that scale maintenance may mean longer waits than usual. Give yourself extra time, especially on Saturdays.
Fees for household trash
Buncombe County prices residential trash in a simple way:
| What you bring | Fee |
|---|---|
| 33-gallon bag of household trash, recyclables removed | $2 per bag |
| Smaller bag | $1 per bag |
| Any load under 380 pounds | $12 minimum |
The key phrase is "recyclables removed." The county expects cans, bottles, paper and cardboard to go into the free recycling area rather than your trash bags.
Commercial and franchise haulers
Haulers pay by weight: $63.50 per ton as of July 1, 2026, as long as cardboard and mulchable untreated wood make up less than 5 percent of the load. Go over that limit and the rate jumps to $127 per ton for a first violation, and $190.50 per ton for repeat violations within six months.
What you can recycle for free
The recycling area takes more than most county drop-offs:
- Co-mingled recyclables: aluminum, steel and tin cans (including empty aerosols); plastic bottles, jugs and containers numbered 1 through 7; glass bottles and jars; aluminum pie tins and trays; milk and juice cartons and juice boxes
- Paper: newspapers and inserts, catalogs, junk mail, magazines, cereal boxes, office paper, envelopes, brown paper bags and paper towel rolls
- Corrugated cardboard
- Lead-acid batteries
- White goods: stoves, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and microwaves
- Textiles: clothing, shoes, purses and similar items, clean, dry and bagged
- Tires: the first 10 are free; each tire after that is $2, and any tire still on its rim is $2
A few things the county specifically doesn't take in residential recycling right now: plastic take-out containers and shredded paper.
Moving box exchange
If you need boxes, the transfer station keeps a free moving box exchange. Drop off good boxes you're done with, or take as many as you need.
Residential sharps
Buncombe County households can drop off needles and lancets. Put them in an approved sharps container from a pharmacy, or in a thick-walled plastic jug with a secured, taped lid. Businesses and medical offices aren't allowed to use this service.
What goes to the landfill instead
The transfer station won't take these; the county says they're accepted only at the Buncombe County Landfill:
- Brush
- Clean concrete
- Wood waste
- Computer monitors and televisions
- Motor oil
Aerosol cans that aren't empty count as household hazardous waste. So do paints and chemicals. Those go to the landfill on the county's scheduled hazardous waste collection days; the county publishes a hazardous waste, TV and paint recycling schedule, so check it before you go.
Safety rules on site
The county asks visitors to:
- Stay right by your vehicle; loitering isn't allowed
- Keep all children under 15 inside the vehicle
- Wear shoes that cover your toes, plus high-visibility clothing
Tips for a smoother visit
- Pull recyclables out at home. It keeps your bag count down and follows the county's rules.
- Bundle small loads. With a $12 minimum under 380 pounds, it can make sense to save up a few bags and bring them together.
- Bring cash, a check or a card. The county says tap-to-pay isn't accepted.
- Separate brush, concrete and old TVs before you leave home; they need a landfill trip instead.
- Plan for a wait while the scale work is ongoing.
Nearby alternative: Buncombe County Landfill
The Buncombe County Landfill is at 81 Panther Branch Road, Alexander, NC 28701. It's open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Loads that take more than 30 minutes to unload must arrive by 4 p.m. on weekdays and by noon on Saturday. It's where brush, concrete, wood waste, TVs, monitors and motor oil go, and it hosts the county's hazardous waste collection days.
Find more transfer stations near you
Look up transfer stations, landfills and recycling centers near any ZIP code on the nationwide dump map, browse our Buncombe County listings, or open the Buncombe County Transfer Station listing. For the basics, see our transfer station near me guide.
Buncombe County Transfer Station FAQ
What are the Buncombe County Transfer Station hours?
Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It's closed on Sunday.
How much does the Buncombe County Transfer Station charge?
Household trash costs $2 per 33-gallon bag (recyclables removed) or $1 for smaller bags, with a $12 minimum for loads under 380 pounds.
Does the Buncombe County Transfer Station take tires?
Yes. The first 10 tires are free, and each extra tire is $2. Tires on rims are $2 each.
Can I drop off a TV at the Buncombe County Transfer Station?
No. The county says TVs and computer monitors are accepted only at the Buncombe County Landfill. Check the county's hazardous waste, TV and paint schedule before you go.
What payment does the Buncombe County Transfer Station accept?
Cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. Tap-to-pay isn't accepted.
Before you go
Hours, fees and rules change. We last checked this page on 2026-09-25 using Buncombe County's Transfer Station page and its directory listing. Confirm details on the official Buncombe County Transfer Station page or call the county before you haul.