Before you head to the dump
The closest site isn't always the right one. A two-minute check before you load up can save you a wasted trip.
What to bring
- Proof of where you live. A driver's license, a utility bill or a county permit sticker. Many county-run sites are for residents only.
- A way to pay. Some scale houses take cards, some take only cash or checks, and a few bill by account. Bring both if you're unsure.
- A tarp and straps. Lots of sites, and many state roads, require loads to be covered or tied down. Some charge extra if they aren't.
- Gloves and sturdy shoes. You'll usually unload by hand, and the ground around the drop area is often rough.
- A sorted load. Keep metal, yard waste, cardboard and trash in separate parts of the truck. Sorted loads are faster to unload and sometimes cheaper.
Why it pays to call ahead
Hours change with the seasons and on holidays, and many sites stop letting cars in 15 to 30 minutes before they close. Rules also differ from place to place: some don't take trailers or business loads, some won't accept tires, mattresses or construction debris, and some only take bagged household trash. A quick call or a look at the county's website tells you whether your load will be accepted and what it will cost.
How dump fees work
Larger landfills and transfer stations usually weigh your vehicle on the way in and out and charge by the ton, with a minimum charge for small loads. Smaller sites may charge a flat price per carload, per truck bed or per bag. Tires, mattresses, appliances and electronics often carry a separate per-item fee. Some counties cover resident drop-offs through taxes or a yearly sticker, so the trip may cost nothing at all. To get a rough number before you go, try our dump fee calculator.
Dump, transfer station or recycling center?
People say "the dump" for all three, but they do different jobs and take different things.
Landfill (the dump)
Waste is buried on site. Landfills are usually the place for big cleanouts, bulky loads and, at some sites, construction debris. Expect a scale, a fee and a drive, since they tend to sit outside town.
Transfer station
Trash is dropped off, packed into large trailers and hauled to a landfill elsewhere. They are often closer to home than a landfill. Small rural ones, called convenience centers, take bagged household trash and basic recycling.
Recycling center
Takes clean, sorted materials such as cardboard, paper, metal, glass and certain plastics. Some take scrap metal or electronics too. Mixed trash isn't accepted.
None of them want paint thinner, pesticides, pool chemicals, propane tanks or car batteries in the regular pile. Those go to a household hazardous waste drop-off. See our guides to household hazardous waste, paint, batteries and electronics.
Questions people ask
How do I find a landfill near me?
Tap Find dumps near me at the top of this page, or type your ZIP code, then choose Landfills. The list puts the closest landfill first and shows how far away it is, the street address when we have one, and a Directions button. Many landfills only accept loads from residents of their own county, so check the rules before you drive a long way.
How do I find a transfer station near me?
Run the same search and choose Transfer stations. In many rural counties the nearest one is a small convenience center that takes bagged household trash and some recycling, while bigger transfer stations also take furniture and other bulky items. Open the listing to see what we know about it, then call to confirm before you go.
Where is the nearest recycling center near me?
Choose Recycling after you search. A recycling center wants clean, sorted materials such as cardboard, metal, glass and some plastics, not mixed trash. For paint, batteries, chemicals or electronics, use our guides to find a hazardous waste or e-waste drop-off instead.
Is the dump free?
Sometimes. Some counties let residents drop off household trash for free or for a small yearly permit, because property taxes or a trash fee already pay for it. Most landfills and larger transfer stations charge by weight or by load, often with a minimum charge, and extra for tires, mattresses and appliances.
Why doesn't my location work?
Your browser asks permission before it shares your location. If you said no, or your phone's location services are off, type a 5-digit ZIP code or a city and state into the search box instead. We use your location only in your browser to sort the list, and we don't store it.
Locations come from OpenStreetMap, state facility lists and the US EPA landfill database. We only show hours, phone numbers and addresses when a source lists them. See data sources.