Disposal Fees by Category

Why this matters

Disposal fees are a major cost in junk removal. Different waste streams have different costs (and different facilities). Understanding the categories lets the contractor route waste efficiently, minimize disposal cost, and maximize margin.

Standard solid waste

Description

Non-hazardous, non-recyclable household and business waste:

• Furniture, miscellaneous
• Yard waste (some areas)
• Construction debris (varies)

Disposal location

• Local transfer station OR
• Sanitary landfill

Cost

• Tipping fee at the gate

For a typical 15 yard truckload: a moderate disposal cost.

Construction and demolition (C and D) debris

Description

• Concrete, asphalt
• Drywall
• Wood (untreated)
• Metal scrap
• Roofing material
• Brick

Disposal location

• C and D recycling facility
• Some transfer stations accept

Cost

• May be lower than standard solid waste at some facilities

Recycling

• Concrete can be crushed and reused
• Metal scrap has cash value
• Some markets pay for clean C and D

Electronics (e-waste)

Description

• Computers, monitors, TVs
• Printers, scanners
• Small electronics

Regulations

• Many states require specific recycling
• CA, NJ, NY, IL, others have specific e-waste laws
• Cannot go to standard landfill

Disposal location

• E-waste recycling facility
• Manufacturer take-back programs
• Specific drop-off events

Cost

• Some items free recycling (TVs may have fees due to lead)
• Specific monitors and TVs: a modest disposal fee

Appliances with refrigerant

Description

• Refrigerators
• Freezers
• Air conditioners (window units, dehumidifiers)

Regulations

• EPA Section 608 requires refrigerant recovery
• Cannot go to landfill with refrigerant
• Specific facility for refrigerant recovery

Disposal cost

• Plus standard appliance disposal

Process

• Refrigerant recovered by certified technician
• Empty appliance recycled (typically scrap metal)

Mattresses

Description

• Bed mattresses (all sizes)
• Box springs

Regulations

• Several states have specific mattress recycling laws (CA, CT, RI, more spreading)
• Some areas prohibit mattress in landfill

Disposal location

• Mattress recycling facility (in regulated states)
• Standard landfill (where allowed)

Cost

• Higher in regulated states

Tires

Description

• Vehicle tires (all sizes)
• Tractor tires (larger)

Regulations

• Cannot go to standard landfill
• Specific tire recycling required

Disposal location

• Tire recycling facility
• Auto parts stores sometimes accept

Cost

Hazardous waste

Description

• Paint (oil-based; some latex restricted)
• Chemicals
• Pesticides
• Batteries (especially auto, lithium)
• Fluorescent bulbs (mercury)
• Smoke detectors (americium)
• Asbestos

Regulations

• Federal RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act)
• State-specific
• Cannot go to standard waste

Disposal location

• Household hazardous waste facility
• Special hazmat disposal

Cost

• Variable; often per pound
• Some items: a modest per item
• Bulk: per quote

Typical contractor approach

• Decline hazardous materials on standard route
• Refer customer to household hazardous waste program
• Or provide specific hazmat service (separate truck, certification)

Yard waste (organic)

Description

• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Branches (under specific size)
• Plant material

Disposal location

• Compost facility
• Yard waste recycling
• Standard landfill (where allowed)

Cost

• Some areas free (municipal compost program)

Recyclables

Description

• Metal (steel, aluminum, copper)
• Cardboard (clean)
• Paper

Approach

• Separate from general waste
• Some items have cash value
• Reduces landfill volume

Income

• Scrap metal: pennies per lb, varies by metal and current market
• Aluminum cans: highest per-lb yield of the common steel/iron scrap categories
• Copper wire: substantially more than aluminum per lb, when separated and stripped
• Cardboard: free disposal (or modest revenue)

For some loads, recyclable revenue can be meaningful.

Specific disposal facility considerations

Local transfer station

• Variable fees by waste type
• May refuse specific items
• Verify what's accepted

Sanitary landfill

• Higher tipping fees
• Some items prohibited (electronics, hazmat, refrigerators)

C and D landfill

• Specific to construction debris
• Lower fees than sanitary

Recycling facilities

• Specific to waste stream
• Hours / requirements

Specialty facilities

• Hazmat, e-waste, mattress, tire
• Specific requirements

Disposal logistics

For each truckload:

Sorting at the load

• Separate easy-to-sort items
• Recyclables in separate area of truck
• Mattresses / appliances marked

Multiple disposal stops

• One stop per disposal stream
• Plan route
• Add to job time

Most efficient

• Sort during loading
• Direct route to multiple facilities
• Minimize backtracking

Margin management

For profitable junk removal:

Minimize disposal cost

• Sort efficiently
• Use lowest-cost facility for each waste type
• Recycle for revenue

Maximize price

• Standard volume pricing
• Specific item upcharges
• Specialty handling charges

Operational efficiency

• Right truck size for the job
• Efficient routing
• Minimize disposal travel

Specific issues

Customer wants to throw everything in one bin

• Mixed waste streams
• Costs more to dispose (mixed sorted at facility OR sorted by contractor)
• Customer should be informed

Hazmat snuck in by customer

• Specific items the customer thinks are OK
• Discovery at disposal facility = rejected load
• Inspect load before leaving home

Construction debris in residential pickup

• Often specifically declined
• Or charge per-yard
• Verify with customer

Asbestos suspected (older home)

• Specifically prohibited
• Customer's responsibility to test / address
• Decline if asbestos suspected

Documentation

For each load:

• Waste types
• Volume per type
• Disposal locations
• Receipts (if applicable)
• Customer agreement

This documentation:

• Supports billing
• Demonstrates compliance
• Protects contractor

References

• EPA waste regulations.
• State-specific waste regulations.
• Local jurisdiction tipping fee schedules.
• Industry standards for waste removal.
• Manuall internal: Junk Removal Truck Capacity Math, Junk Removal Hazmat Exclusions.