Baltimore Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators
MSW from $70–$135/ton across 7 county jurisdictions. Baltimore City's small hauler rate is $20/load — the cheapest entry point in the metro.
Last updated: Mar 2026
$70–$135/ton
Typical dump fee range
Fee basis
Per ton at most facilities; $20 flat rate for small haulers in Baltimore City
Common materials
Biggest cost trap
Baltimore City raised large hauler tipping fees to $135/ton in November 2025 — but the small hauler program charges just $20/load for vehicles under 7,000 lbs GVW. If you operate pickup trucks or small box trucks, the small hauler permit saves hundreds per day versus the per-ton rate.
Typical Costs in Baltimore
Baseline pricing before you dig into individual facilities.
MSW (Household Junk)
$70–$135/ton
$8–$20 (facility-dependent)
Basis: Per ton or per load
infoRates vary dramatically by jurisdiction. Carroll County: $70/ton (cheapest, effective Jan 2026). Anne Arundel County: $100/ton. Howard County: $106/ton (FY2026). Baltimore County: $125/ton. Baltimore City large haulers: $135/ton ($127.50 base + $7.50 disposal fee, effective Nov 2025). Baltimore City small haulers (vehicles under 7,000 lbs GVW): $20/load flat rate — the cheapest option for lighter trucks.
1If operating vehicles under 7,000 lbs GVW, get a Baltimore City Small Hauler Permit — $20/load versus $135/ton saves hundreds per day
2Carroll County at $70/ton is $65/ton cheaper than Baltimore City ($135/ton) — worth the ~40-minute drive to Westminster for full truck loads
C&D (Construction Debris)
$85–$106/ton
$8 (Carroll County)
Basis: Per ton
infoCarroll County: $85/ton C&D (effective Jan 2026). Baltimore Recycling Center (BRC): $93/ton (private, C&D-focused). Howard County: $106/ton. Baltimore County does not publish C&D rates separately. Howard County Alpha Ridge Landfill no longer accepts soil or large quantities of stone/brick/block/asphalt/concrete from commercial contractors. Baltimore County requires suitable C&D loads to go to permitted C&D/rubble sites rather than landfill.
1Route C&D to Carroll County Northern Landfill at $85/ton — the cheapest published C&D rate in the metro
2Baltimore Recycling Center (BRC) specializes in C&D recycling at $93/ton — closer to Baltimore than Carroll County
Green & Yard Waste
$0–$40/ton
Free at some facilities
Basis: Per ton
infoMaryland bans separately collected yard waste from landfill disposal. Howard County: $40/ton commercial clean wood/yard trim. Carroll County: $40/ton commercial yard trim, free for own-home residential. Baltimore City yard waste accepted free at residential drop-off centers for residents. Yard waste is a lower-cost stream — always separate from MSW to avoid paying $70–$135/ton on material that could be $0–$40/ton.
1Keep yard waste completely separate from MSW — it is banned from landfill disposal and costs $0–$40/ton versus $70–$135/ton for general waste
2Howard County charges $40/ton commercial for clean wood/yard trim versus $106/ton for MSW — a $66/ton savings on every pound separated
Surcharges & Specialty Items
$3–$292/ton
Per-item fees vary
Basis: Per item or per ton
infoHoward County published surcharges: freon appliances $15 each, commercial auto tires $212/ton, oversized truck tires $292/ton, mattresses mixed with trash $106/ton (standard rate), clean mattress loads $50/ton (recycled), boats/campers $200/ton. Carroll County: bulky waste $75/ton, scrap tires $3 each (residential) or $175/ton (bulk), uncovered load surcharge $25 individual/$100 commercial. Baltimore County $10 minimum per load.
1Howard County charges only $15 per freon appliance — among the cheapest in the region
2Route clean mattress-only loads to Howard County at $50/ton (recycled) versus $106/ton when mixed with trash — less than half the cost
Facilities in Baltimore
Recommended facilities first, then additional options.
Top Recommended (3)
Carroll County Northern Landfill
Cheapest MSW in the metro at $70/ton — transparent published rates effective January 2026Rate
$70/ton MSW, $75/ton bulky waste, $85/ton C&D, $40/ton commercial yard trim
$8 minimum disposal fee
Hours
Mon–Fri 7AM–4:30PM, Sat 7AM–3PM; closed major holidays
Area
Westminster, Carroll County (~40 min northwest of downtown Baltimore)
Cheapest published MSW rate in the Baltimore metro at $70/ton (effective January 1, 2026). Bulky waste (mattresses, furniture, appliances) at $75/ton. C&D at $85/ton. Uncovered load surcharge: $25 individual, $100 commercial. Cash and cards accepted. Contact (410) 386-4550 for commercial account setup. The ~40-minute drive from downtown Baltimore is justified for full truck loads — on a 3-ton load, the $65/ton savings versus Baltimore City ($135/ton) equals $195 per trip.
Baltimore City — Northwest Transfer Station & Quarantine Road Landfill
Baltimore City disposal — $20/load for small haulers under 7,000 lbs GVW, $135/ton for large haulersRate
$135/ton large haulers (effective Nov 2025); $20/load small haulers (≤7,000 lbs GVW)
$20/load small haulers
Hours
NW Transfer Station: Mon–Sat 7AM–5PM; Quarantine Road Landfill: Mon–Fri 7AM–5PM, Sat 7AM–12PM
Area
Baltimore City (NW Transfer Station relieves congestion at Quarantine Road)
Two-tier pricing system. Small Hauler Program ($20/load for vehicles under 7,000 lbs GVW) requires a valid Small Hauler Permit from Baltimore City Health Department ($35–$100/year per vehicle). Large hauler rate increased to $135/ton in November 2025 ($127.50 base + $7.50 disposal fee). Northwest Transfer Station opened in 2017 to relieve long wait lines at Quarantine Road. Waste hauler license required — apply at Environmental Inspection Services, 1001 E. Fayette Street. No collection allowed 11PM–7AM. Vehicle must display hauler name and phone on both sides.
Donation Centers — Habitat ReStore, Goodwill, Salvation Army
Furniture, appliances, household goods — essential diversion in a $70–$135/ton marketRate
Free drop-off; tax-deductible receipts provided
No minimum
Hours
Varies by location — Habitat: Tue–Sat, Goodwill: daily 9AM–7PM, Salvation Army: call for hours
Area
Multiple locations across the Baltimore metro
At $70–$135/ton disposal costs, donation diversion directly improves profitability. Habitat for Humanity ReStore accepts furniture AND appliances. Goodwill of the Chesapeake accepts furniture (good condition), clothing, and household items. Salvation Army offers free pickup at 1-800-SA-TRUCK. Build donation routing into every job workflow — customers value eco-friendly service and you avoid tipping fees.
Rules & Restrictions
Know before you go — avoid rejected loads and fines.
Baltimore City requires a Waste Hauler License ($35–$100/year per vehicle) from the Health Department — no commercial hauling without it. Apply at Environmental Inspection Services, 1001 E. Fayette St.
Baltimore County requires a separate Solid Waste Collection Permit and commercial account. Waste must originate within Baltimore County. Email swmcommercialaccount@baltimorecountymd.gov.
Maryland bans separately collected yard waste from landfill disposal. Route yard waste to composting facilities.
Scrap tires require an MDE Scrap Tire Hauler License for transport. Tires have been banned from landfills since 1994 — must go to MDE-permitted facilities.
Each jurisdiction has separate licensing: Baltimore City (Health Dept), Baltimore County (Bureau of Solid Waste), Howard County ($40/vehicle commercial permit), Carroll County (scale house account). Set up accounts in each county where you operate.
Baltimore City vehicles must display hauler name and phone on both sides (large haulers) or license visible inside (small haulers). No waste collection allowed 11PM–7AM in Baltimore City.
All loads must be covered/secured. Carroll County charges $25 individual/$100 commercial for uncovered loads.
The $65/ton spread between Carroll County ($70/ton) and Baltimore City ($135/ton) is the largest in the metro. On a 3-ton load, routing to Carroll County saves $195 per trip despite the ~40-minute drive.
Baltimore City's Small Hauler Program at $20/load for vehicles under 7,000 lbs GVW is the cheapest disposal option in the entire metro — but requires a separate Small Hauler Permit.
Howard County charges $50/ton for clean mattress-only loads (recycled) versus $106/ton mixed with trash — less than half the cost. Always separate mattresses into dedicated loads.
Baltimore City and Baltimore County are separate jurisdictions with different licensing, fees, and facility access. A Baltimore City hauler license does NOT authorize you in Baltimore County and vice versa.
Cost-Saving Tips
Margin protection playbook — sorting, timing, and routing.
Sorting Strategy
Separate yard waste from MSW on every job. Maryland bans yard waste from landfill disposal, and composting rates are $0–$40/ton versus $70–$135/ton for MSW. Howard County charges $40/ton for commercial yard trim versus $106/ton MSW — a $66/ton savings per pound separated.
Route clean mattress-only loads to Howard County Alpha Ridge at $50/ton (recycled) versus $106/ton when mixed with general trash. Carroll County charges $75/ton for bulky waste including mattresses. Always dedicate mattress loads separately from MSW.
Pull scrap metals from every load and sell to local yards. Maryland does not publish scrap prices centrally — call for current rates. At $70–$135/ton disposal costs, metal diversion both generates revenue and avoids tipping fees.
Timing Strategy
Avoid Saturday mornings and Monday mornings at all facilities — peak residential and weekend-backlog traffic. Mid-week mornings (Tuesday–Thursday) have the shortest waits.
Baltimore County ESL: must be in the gate by 3:15PM (closes 3:30PM sharp). Plan your last Baltimore County dump run to arrive by 2:45PM for buffer.
Routing Strategy
For full truck loads, Carroll County Northern Landfill at $70/ton is $65/ton cheaper than Baltimore City ($135/ton). On a 3-ton load, the ~40-minute drive to Westminster saves $195 per trip — easily justified for full loads.
For Baltimore City jobs with vehicles under 7,000 lbs GVW, the Small Hauler Program at $20/load beats every per-ton rate in the metro. Get the Small Hauler Permit ($35–$100/year) from the Health Department.
For C&D-heavy jobs, Baltimore Recycling Center ($93/ton) is closer to the city than Carroll County ($85/ton). Compare total trip cost including drive time, not just per-ton rate.
Best Practice
Track dump fees per job, per facility, and per jurisdiction in ScaleYourJunk. The Baltimore metro spans 7+ county jurisdictions with rates from $20/load to $135/ton — your routing decisions across these jurisdictions directly determine profitability. The platform logs every dump run so you can compare cross-county costs and optimize your disposal strategy.
Track Every Dump Fee Across the Baltimore Metro
ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job, per facility, and per jurisdiction. With rates from $20/load to $135/ton, routing determines your margin.
Dump Fees in Baltimore: FAQ
Related Resources
Maryland Junk Removal Market Guide
Statewide market data, licensing by jurisdiction, and competitive landscape for Maryland operators.
DataPhiladelphia Dump Fees & Disposal Guide
Facility-level dump fees and disposal strategies for the Philadelphia metro.
GuideDump Run Efficiency Guide
Optimize routing across jurisdictions to minimize disposal costs and drive time.
FeatureRoute Optimization
Automatically optimize job sequencing and dump run routing across county boundaries.
Track Every Dump Fee Automatically
ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job, per facility, across every jurisdiction. In the Baltimore metro with rates from $20/load to $135/ton, routing IS your profit margin.
Dump fee tracking included in all plans — Starter $149/mo