Shady Grove Transfer Station (Montgomery County, MD): Free Under 500 Pounds

Entrances and hours

Per the county's Shady Grove page:

• Residential entrance: 16101 Frederick Road, Derwood, MD 20855
• Commercial and truck entrance: 16055 Shady Grove Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
• Hours: Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (both entrances). Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., commercial and truck entrance only.

Phone 311 or 240-777-0311.

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

From the county user fee page:

• Trash under 500 pounds: no charge
• Trash 500 pounds and over: $70 per ton
• Yard waste under 500 pounds: no charge. 500 pounds and over: $46 per ton.
• C&D material or open-top roll-offs: $105 per ton
• Concrete, dirt or rubble: $75 per ton

The drop-off area also takes recyclables, scrap metal and appliances, reusable building materials, clothing, bulbs and resident hazardous waste at no charge (yard trim excepted). The transfer station takes credit and debit cards only, including American Express, and may hold a deposit until you weigh out. Price a heavy load with the dump fee calculator.

Rules that trip people up

• Proof of county residency: a Maryland license or ID with a Montgomery County address, a current utility bill, or a mortgage or lease. Per the proof of residency page, contractors working for a resident can bring a work order or a letter from the resident.
• PPE on the tipping floor: a high-visibility vest and closed-toe shoes. Without them you'll be sent away.
• Separate recyclables from trash. Mixed loads aren't accepted.
• Since July 1, 2026, commercial loads of mattresses need a residential manifest.

Keep a vest in the truck, along with a tarp.

Shady Grove Transfer Station (Montgomery County, MD) FAQ

Is the Montgomery County dump free?

Trash and yard waste loads under 500 pounds are free for county residents at Shady Grove. Trash over 500 pounds is $70 per ton.

What are Shady Grove Transfer Station hours?

Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the commercial and truck entrance only.

Does Shady Grove take cash?

No. Credit and debit cards only, or a county account.

Do I need a safety vest?

Yes. A high-visibility vest and closed-toe shoes are required on the main tipping floor.

What counts as proof of residency?

A Maryland license or ID with a Montgomery County address, a current utility bill, or a mortgage or lease in your name.

The bottom line

Keep loads under 500 pounds, sort out recyclables, and bring a vest and a card. See what a scale ticket lists.

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.