Search for a City of Phoenix transfer station in Phoenix, AZ and you'll find there are actually two: the 27th Avenue Transfer Station in south Phoenix and the North Gateway Transfer Station near the Dixileta Drive exit in north Phoenix. The city's Public Works Department owns and runs both, and they share the same hours, fees and rules. The big draw for locals is a monthly allowance that lets residential trash customers dump up to a ton for free, if they bring the right paperwork.
Last checked 2026-09-25 against the City of Phoenix Public Works website. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm before you go.
See the 27th Avenue station and nearby drop-offs on the map
The two City of Phoenix transfer stations
| 27th Avenue Transfer Station | North Gateway Transfer Station | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 3060 S. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009 | 30205 N. Black Canyon Hwy., Phoenix, AZ 85085 |
| Landmark | On 27th Avenue, south of Lower Buckeye Road | About half a mile northeast of the Dixileta Drive exit (Exit 220) |
| Operator | City of Phoenix Public Works | City of Phoenix Public Works |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 5:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sat 6 a.m.–3 p.m.; closed Sunday | Same |
Both stations are the city's staging points for trash headed to the State Route 85 Landfill in Buckeye. Recyclables collected at the curb also come here to be sorted at an adjoining materials recovery facility, and green organics go on to the city's 27th Avenue Compost Facility. Pick whichever station is closer: North Gateway on the map is the natural choice at the north end of the city, while 27th Avenue sits closer to central and south Phoenix.
Hours and holiday closures
The early opening is one of the best things about these stations: gates open at 5:30 a.m. on weekdays, so you can make a run before work. Saturday hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and both sites are closed Sundays.
Phoenix closes its transfer stations on more holidays than most cities. The list includes Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Farmworkers Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and the Friday after, Christmas and New Year's Day. On Christmas Eve the stations run a short 6 a.m. to noon day, while New Year's Eve keeps regular hours. Trash collection often runs on these holidays even though the stations don't, which catches people out.
The free monthly ton for Phoenix residents
If you pay the city for full residential trash service, you can bring one load of up to one ton (2,000 pounds) per calendar month at no charge. To get it, you must show at the scale house:
- A copy of your city services bill (the water, sewer and trash bill) showing an active, paid-up account with full-service trash fees, and
- A photo ID whose name or address matches that bill.
The city says no substitutions are allowed, so a different bill or someone else's ID won't work. If your load goes over a ton, you'll leave a deposit, weigh out after dumping and pay the gate rate for the extra weight.
Fees for everyone else
- Gate rate: $55 per ton, with a $40 minimum charge
- Unsecured load penalty: $20 (keep it covered until you're inside)
- Boats and spas: must be cut into quarters or you'll pay a $50 penalty; bring the registration or title
- Extra CRT TVs and monitors: residents get two free per household per month; after that it's $20 each plus the regular disposal rate
Paying, and the cash-deposit catch
The scale houses take cash and credit cards but not checks or money orders. There's one wrinkle: when a deposit is required, it must be paid in cash, because the city's bank won't process card deposits. Deposits kick in when a vehicle and trailer weigh more than 6,000 pounds (9,000 pounds for a residential customer who brings their water bill). For home loads, the city says deposits usually run $65 to $180. Commercial customers without an Express Exit decal also leave cash deposits and must weigh in and out.
What the stations accept
- Household trash and bulky junk
- Appliances, including refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, water heaters, air conditioners, stoves and dishwashers
- Televisions, both CRT and flat-screen (commercial and nonprofit CRTs are refused)
- Up to five car tires per resident per year, with the rims taken off (no semi, motorcycle or off-road tires)
- Clean green waste; frequent haulers of vegetation-only loads can join the city's Certified Green Organics program for cheaper disposal
Staff may direct you to drop different materials in different areas so more can be recycled, so it helps to arrive with the load already sorted.
Reusable building materials at 27th Avenue
The 27th Avenue station has a separate drop-off for gently used building materials, which the nonprofit Stardust Building Supplies collects for resale. Ask at the scale house before you unload cabinets, doors, windows, counters, light fixtures, sinks, tubs, toilets, tile, lumber or bricks. Residents can also buy compost bins made from retired trash containers for $5 by emailing the city's solid waste office.
What they won't take
- Regulated hazardous waste
- PCBs and anything mixed with them
- Radioactive or infectious waste
- Commercial quantities of liquids
- Friable asbestos (non-friable asbestos needs prior approval)
- Industrial or off-spec commercial products without prior approval
- Dead animals without prior approval
Containers of five gallons or more have to be open and empty, and propane or Freon containers need their valves removed. For household chemicals, Phoenix trash customers can schedule one free household hazardous waste pickup at home per calendar year through Public Works.
Tips for a smoother visit
- Bring the water bill and ID every time if you want the free ton. It's the single most common reason people end up paying.
- Carry cash if there's any chance your loaded vehicle tops the deposit threshold.
- Go early. A 5:30 a.m. weekday start means shorter lines and cooler temperatures in summer.
- Tarp before you leave home. The $20 penalty applies at the gate.
- Check the holiday list. Many federal and state holidays close the stations.
Nearby alternatives
The two city stations are the options Phoenix residents use for the free allowance. The Maricopa County listings on Dumpmapper show other transfer stations and landfills around the Valley, several run by private companies with their own prices and rules.
Find more transfer stations near you
Open the nationwide dump map to compare transfer stations and landfills near any ZIP code, or read our transfer station near me guide for a primer on how these sites work and what they charge.
City of Phoenix transfer station FAQ
Where are the City of Phoenix transfer stations?
There are two: the 27th Avenue Transfer Station at 3060 S. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009, and the North Gateway Transfer Station at 30205 N. Black Canyon Hwy., Phoenix, AZ 85085.
What are the City of Phoenix transfer station hours?
Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both are closed Sundays and on a long list of city holidays.
Is the Phoenix transfer station free for residents?
Residents paying full-service city trash fees can drop off one load of up to a ton each calendar month for free by showing their city services bill and matching photo ID. Anything over a ton, and all other customers, pay $55 per ton with a $40 minimum.
Does the city of Phoenix transfer station take credit cards?
Yes, for regular payments, along with cash. Checks and money orders aren't accepted, and any required deposit must be paid in cash.
Can I take hazardous waste to a Phoenix transfer station?
No. Regulated hazardous waste is prohibited. City trash customers can instead book one free household hazardous waste pickup per year.
Before you go
Hours, fees and rules change. This page was last checked on 2026-09-25 against the City of Phoenix's Transfer Station and Materials Recovery Facility page, holiday schedule and household hazardous waste page. Confirm current details on the official City of Phoenix transfer station page or call Public Works at 602-262-6251 before you go.