Where and when
Metro Central is at 6161 NW 61st Ave., Portland, OR 97210. Per the Metro Central page, it's open to the public 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Hazardous waste hours are different. It's closed to the public on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. For Metro's other station, see Metro South.
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.
Fees
- Garbage (home garbage, broken furniture, engineered wood): $51 minimum, $176.70 per ton
- Clean wood: $42 minimum, $97.13 per ton
- Yard debris: $37 minimum, $56 per ton
- Residential compost: $43 minimum, $111.53 per ton
- Coolant appliances (fridges, freezers, ACs, dehumidifiers): $30 each, 5 a day
- Tires: $30 for the first, then $2 each off-rim or $4 on-rim, 15 a day
- Christmas trees: $30 for up to 3
Minimums apply to loads up to 240 pounds. Heavier loads pay the per-ton rate plus a $30 transaction fee at staffed scales. Metro adds a 2% fee to credit card payments. Estimate with the dump fee calculator.
Free for residential customers
Curbside-type recyclables, scrap metal, metal appliances without coolant (washers, dryers, stoves, water heaters, microwaves), Oregon E-Cycles electronics (computers, TVs, monitors, printers, up to 7 a day), and up to 4 mattresses or box springs a day. Futons, crib mattresses and similar items are charged as garbage.
How to pay less
- Cover your load. Uncovered loads pay $25 per ton extra, or $3 on minimum loads. See tarping an open bed.
- Sort out recyclables for a $3 rebate (up to 100 pounds) or $6 (over 100 pounds).
- Combine trips. Bigger loads cost less per pound.
Metro won't accept vehicles or motor homes. Boats under 12 by 8 feet and campers without a chassis may be accepted, but campers older than 2004 need asbestos testing. Leaving asbestos can cost more than $3,000.
Metro Central Transfer Station (Portland) FAQ
How much does Metro Central charge?
Garbage is a $51 minimum for loads up to 240 pounds, then $176.70 per ton plus a $30 staffed-scale transaction fee.
What are Metro Central's hours?
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for the public. Closed July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Can I drop off mattresses free at Metro Central?
Yes. Up to 4 mattresses or box springs per customer per day are free.
Does Metro Central take tires?
Yes, passenger and motorcycle tires, up to 15 a day: $30 for the first, then $2 to $4 each.
Do I get money back for recycling?
Metro gives a $3 rebate for up to 100 pounds of sorted recyclables and $6 for more.
The bottom line
Tarp it, sort out the recyclables for a rebate, and combine trips. Compare: Metro South Transfer Station.
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.
Guides and tools
Dump fee calculator · Find a dump near you · Metro South Transfer Station (Oregon City) · Tarping an Open Bed · How a Minimum Fee Differs from Per-Ton Billing · All material guides
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