How to Dispose of an Old RV, Camper or Travel Trailer

What public sites say

• Oregon Metro: doesn't accept vehicles or motor homes. Campers without a chassis may be accepted, but campers built before 2004 need asbestos testing first. Metro warns that leaving asbestos can cost more than $3,000 (per Oregon Metro).
• Kern County, CA: charges $597.85 per travel trailer at county landfills (see Kern County fees).
• Palm Beach County SWA: charges trailers, mobile homes and RVs $90 per ton plus $11 per foot (see SWA fees).
• Wichita's Brooks Landfill: mobile homes and trailers pay the standard fee plus a $100 handling fee, with tires and fuel tanks removed (see Brooks Landfill).

Expect similar restrictions elsewhere. Call ahead with the unit's length, age and weight.

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.

What has to come out first

Sites commonly require removing propane tanks, batteries, fuel, tires and sometimes appliances. Spokane County, for example, takes camper shells only with appliances removed and doesn't take RV refrigerators. Propane and refrigerants are hazardous, so have a professional or the receiving facility handle them rather than cutting lines yourself. See household hazardous waste.

Cheaper options

• Sell it as-is for parts or as a project. Even rough campers often find buyers.
• RV salvage yards buy units for parts and may haul them.
• Donate to a charity vehicle program.
• Scrap the frame through a licensed salvage yard once it's stripped.

Before you pay to dump it, price the landfill trip with the dump fee calculator. A 20-foot unit at $11 a foot plus tonnage adds up fast.

Title paperwork

Motorized RVs and most titled travel trailers need a title transfer or your state's release of liability when they leave your hands, just like a car. See how to dispose of a junk car for the California and Texas examples.

How to Dispose of an Old RV, Camper or Travel Trailer FAQ

Can I take an old camper to the dump?

Sometimes, with restrictions and high fees. Some sites refuse motor homes entirely, and older campers may need asbestos testing.

How much does it cost to dump a travel trailer?

Examples: Kern County charges $597.85 each, and Palm Beach SWA charges $90 per ton plus $11 per foot.

Why do older campers need asbestos testing?

Oregon Metro requires testing for campers built before 2004, and leaving asbestos can cost more than $3,000.

What should I remove first?

Typically propane tanks, batteries, fuel and tires. Check the site's rules.

Is selling better than dumping?

Usually. Selling for parts, salvage or donation often costs nothing and may pay you.

The bottom line

Call the site first, strip what's required, and try sale or salvage before paying to dump. See when a junk hauler is the better call.

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.

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