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LandfillFees

How dump and landfill fees work in Colorado

Every Colorado disposal site prices loads in one of four ways, then adds item fees and rules. If you know which one your site uses, you can estimate your bill before you load the truck.

1. Flat fee by vehicle and load height

Many transfer stations charge a flat price based on your vehicle and how high the load is piled. Examples from 2026 schedules:

Load height matters. Piling above the bed rails or the cab can move you into a higher price tier.

2. By weight (per ton), with a minimum

Sites with a scale weigh you on the way in and again on the way out, and charge for the difference. A ton is 2,000 lb, so a 600 lb load at $64/ton is $19.20. But nearly every scale site has a minimum charge, and for small loads the minimum is often what you actually pay. Minimums range from $6 (Eagle County) and $16 (Gunnison County) up to $196 (Front Range Landfill, Erie).

3. By volume (per cubic yard)

Trailers and rental trucks are often measured in cubic yards: length × width × height of the waste in feet, divided by 27. Larimer County charges $13.25/yd³ with a 2-yard minimum. Delta County's North Fork station charges $25/yd³ and caps loads at 3 yards. You pay for the waste, not the empty space in the truck.

4. Per item

Mattresses, tires, appliances, TVs and electronics usually carry their own fee on top of the load fee. That's because they're recycled, need refrigerant removed, or are hard to bury. 2026 mattress fees on this site range from $5 (Morgan County, plus weight) to $40 (Larimer County). Colorado limits loads to 9 tires per trip, a state-law limit cited by Larimer and Chaffee counties. Appliances with freon need certified refrigerant removal; Eagle County requires a technician's proof.

Who can use the site: resident vs. non-resident

Rural county landfills often charge far more for out-of-county waste, or refuse it:

Uncovered loads cost double

Colorado law (C.R.S. 42-4-1407) requires loads to be covered and secured. Most sites here charge double for an uncovered load. Others add a flat fee: Eagle County adds $40, Garfield County $20, and Gunnison County charges $159/ton for un-tarped loads. A $15 tarp pays for itself.

The Colorado solid waste user fee

The state charges every landfill a solid waste user fee, and sites pass it on as a "surcharge" line on your ticket. From July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, for Front Range counties it is $0.25 per non-commercial vehicle, $1.16 per cubic yard or $3.87 per ton. For other counties it is $0.29 per non-commercial vehicle, $0.52 per cubic yard or $1.74 per ton (CDPHE). Some posted prices include it and some add it, so check the fee page wording.

Free and discounted options

First trip checklist

  1. Check what the site accepts and whether you qualify for resident rates. Bring ID.
  2. Separate mattresses, tires, appliances, electronics and yard waste. Many sites unload them in different areas, and Morgan County charges double if they're dumped with trash.
  3. Tarp and tie down the load.
  4. Arrive well before closing. Some sites stop accepting hand-unloaded loads 30 minutes early.
  5. Keep your scale ticket. It shows exactly what you were charged for.

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