Charlotte Dump Guide: Mecklenburg County Full-Service Drop-Off Centers and Fees

The four full-service centers

All four are open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the Mecklenburg County Recycling and Disposal Centers page:

• Compost Central, 140 Valleydale Rd., Charlotte 28214
• Foxhole, 17131 Lancaster Hwy., Charlotte 28277
• Hickory Grove, 8007 Pence Rd., Charlotte 28215
• North Mecklenburg, 12300 Statesville Rd., Huntersville 28078. Business loads and dump trailers aren't allowed here on Saturdays.

Staffed and self-service recycling centers are different. They take recyclables only, with no trash.

Checked October 2026. Hours, fees, residency rules and accepted items change, sometimes with little notice. Call the site or check its official page before you load up.

The window sticker

Every vehicle needs a sticker that sets your payment level. Mecklenburg residents get a free blue sticker that doesn't expire. Out-of-county residents can buy an annual sticker for $120. With no sticker, you pay the out-of-county rate. Paying with a business credit card puts you at the business rate. The fee booth at any full-service center issues stickers.

Resident fees (July 2026 to June 2027)

From the county's July 2026 to June 2027 residential fee sheet:

• Kitchen trash: 1 to 5 32-gallon bags free, 6 to 15 bags $12, 16 to 25 bags $15. More than that is weighed at $42.25 per ton. Commercial vehicles don't get the free bags.
• Bulky waste and C&D: a single bulky item, such as a sofa or a mattress set, is free. Multiple items in a small vehicle cost $15 per unit for bulky waste or $25 per unit for C&D, under 3 cubic yards. Weighed loads, all shingle loads and trailers over 8 feet are $65 per ton, with a $22 minimum for bulky waste and $26 for C&D.
• Yard waste: fewer than five 32-gallon bags (or six kraft paper bags) is free. More is $8 per unit, and larger loads are weighed at $42 per ton with an $8 minimum. No plastic bags for yard waste.
• Tires: up to 5 off-rim tires (under a 20-inch bead) free, then $2.50 each. On-rim tires are $3.50 each, and 20- to 26-inch tires are $7.
• Household hazardous waste: free for county residents. No business materials.

Uncovered or unsecured loads can be charged 50% more. See tarping an open bed. The county can charge $50 per 15 minutes if you're still unloading after closing.

Tips

• Carpet and padding count as C&D, and clean unpainted drywall can be recycled.
• Small amounts of dirt, sod and concrete go to Foxhole Landfill only.
• Residents are limited to 2 TVs per visit per month.
• Cards only: no cash, no checks.

Estimate weighed loads with the dump fee calculator, or compare other sites on the Dumpmapper map.

Charlotte Dump Guide FAQ

Is the Charlotte dump free?

Partly. Mecklenburg residents with the free blue sticker can drop off up to five kitchen-trash bags, one bulky item, small yard-waste loads, up to 5 tires and household hazardous waste free. Larger loads have fees.

What are the hours of the Mecklenburg County dumps?

The four full-service centers are open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How much is the out-of-county sticker?

$120 a year, valid through June 2027 on the current fee sheet.

Do Mecklenburg drop-off centers take cash?

No. The fee sheet lists Mastercard, Visa and Discover only, with no cash or checks.

Where do I take dirt or concrete?

Small residential loads of dirt, sod and concrete are accepted only at the Foxhole Landfill.

The bottom line

Get the blue sticker, bring a card, and split big jobs between free bags and a weighed load if that comes out cheaper. Compare with Wake County convenience centers.

Gear for your dump run

Affiliate disclosure: The links in this section are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Dumpmapper earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. We don't list prices or ratings here because they change. Check them on Amazon.

• AmazonCommercial heavy-duty 16-mil poly tarp: Covers the load so nothing blows out on the highway, and helps you avoid the uncovered-load fee many sites charge.
• Rhino USA 1-inch ratchet tie-down straps (4-pack): Holds the tarp and bulky items like furniture in place in a pickup bed or trailer.
• Wells Lamont 3300 leather-palm work gloves: Most drop-off sites are self-unload, so protect your hands from splinters, nails and sharp edges.

Hauling it yourself? If the load won’t fit in the truck bed, a 6×10 ft open-rail utility trailer or a 4×8 ft folding trailer (it folds upright to store in a garage) can cost less than a couple of hauler trips. Tie everything down with ratchet tie-down straps; many sites charge extra for loose or uncovered loads.

As an Amazon Associate, Dumpmapper earns from qualifying purchases.