Columbus Dump Fees & Landfill Guide for Junk Removal Operators
Current 2026 tipping fees for Columbus-area landfills, transfer stations, and C&D facilities. SWACO landfill at $39.75/ton — among the cheapest in the Midwest.
Last updated: Mar 2026
$8.70/cu yd (C&D) – $52.75/ton (transfer stations)
Typical dump fee range
Fee basis
Per ton at SWACO facilities, per cubic yard at C&D landfills
Common materials
Biggest cost trap
As of September 29, 2025, SWACO transfer stations NO LONGER accept C&D debris — construction waste must go directly to the Franklin County Landfill in Grove City or to a licensed C&D facility like Frank Road.
Typical Costs in Columbus
Baseline pricing before you dig into individual facilities.
MSW (Household Junk)
$39.75–$52.75/ton
$5.00 at all SWACO facilities
Basis: Per ton (weighed)
infoSWACO's Franklin County Landfill at $39.75/ton in-district is remarkably cheap compared to the national average of $62/ton. Transfer stations run $51.75–$52.75/ton — $12/ton more than direct-hauling to the landfill in Grove City. Out-of-district rates add $4/ton.
1Franklin County Sanitary Landfill at $39.75/ton in-district is one of the cheapest MSW disposal options in the Midwest
2Direct-haul to the landfill in Grove City saves $12/ton compared to using the Jackson Pike or Morse Road transfer stations
3C&D at Frank Road Recycling Solutions costs only $8.70/cu yd — dramatically cheaper than SWACO's per-ton MSW rate for construction debris
C&D (Construction & Demolition)
$8.70/cu yd (Frank Road) – $39.75/ton (SWACO landfill direct-haul)
$5.00 at SWACO · 2 cu yd minimum at Frank Road
Basis: Per cubic yard at C&D landfills, per ton at SWACO
infoFrank Road charges by volume at $8.70/cu yd for basic C&D — a 20-cubic-yard load costs approximately $174 versus potentially $200–$400+ by weight at SWACO. Critical: SWACO transfer stations stopped accepting C&D on September 29, 2025. C&D must go to the Franklin County Landfill directly or to Frank Road / Full Circle.
Specialty Items & Surcharges
$5–$50 per item at SWACO · $6–$68 per item at Frank Road
$5 per passenger tire
Basis: Per item
infoSWACO appliance disposal: $20/unit (Freon must be removed and tagged 'Freon free'). Frank Road appliance fees: $27.50–$50/unit. Frank Road mattresses: $20–$25 each. Frank Road tire fees: $7–$68 depending on size and rim status. Uncovered load fee: $10 at SWACO.
Clean Fill & Asbestos
$12/cu yd (clean fill at South Side) – $25/cu yd (asbestos at Frank Road)
$15/load for dirt at Frank Road
Basis: Per cubic yard
infoAsbestos disposal at Frank Road requires 24-hour notice, Monday through Friday 7 AM–4 PM only, at $25 per cubic yard. SWACO landfill accepts special waste at density-based pricing from $33–$39.75/ton in-district.
Facilities in Columbus
Recommended facilities first, then additional options.
Top Recommended (4)
Franklin County Sanitary Landfill (SWACO)
Cheapest MSW disposal in Columbus — direct-haul saves $12/ton over transfer stationsRate
$39.75/ton in-district · $43.75/ton out-of-district
$5.00
Hours
Mon–Fri 5:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Sat 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM · Sun CLOSED · Closed major holidays
Area
Grove City (3851 London Groveport Road, Grove City, OH 43123)
Operated by SWACO (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio), serving all of Franklin County and portions of surrounding counties (41 communities total). Receives approximately 3,000 tons per day with roughly 40 years of remaining capacity. At $39.75/ton in-district, this is one of the cheapest MSW disposal options in the Midwest — well below the national average of $62/ton. Appliances must have Freon removed and tagged 'Freon free' before disposal — $20/unit. Credit cards accepted with 3% processing fee (as of 3/1/2025). Set up a SWACO Charge Account through Finance at (614) 871-5100 to avoid the card surcharge. All loads must be tarped — $10 uncovered load fee. Yard waste (leaves, grass, shrubs, trees) NOT accepted. Dedicated tire loads NOT accepted.
Jackson Pike Transfer Station (SWACO)
South and central Columbus MSW loads — saves drive time versus Grove City landfill for inner-city routesRate
$51.75/ton in-district · $55.75/ton out-of-district
$5.00
Hours
Mon–Fri 5:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Sat, Sun, Holidays CLOSED
Area
South Columbus (2566 Jackson Pike, Columbus, OH 43223)
COMMERCIAL HAULERS ONLY — must have a SWACO credit agreement on file. Transfer station rates are $12/ton more than direct-hauling to the landfill in Grove City. This premium is worth it for operators working central and north Columbus jobs where the 25-minute drive to Grove City would cost you a full job slot. Remember: NO C&D accepted since September 2025 — construction debris loads must go directly to Franklin County Landfill or to Frank Road / Full Circle.
Frank Road Recycling Solutions
Cheapest C&D disposal in Columbus at $8.70/cu yd — volume-based pricing dramatically undercuts SWACO for lightweight construction debrisRate
Basic C&D: $8.70/cu yd (2 cu yd min + fees) · Bulk items (stumps, railroad ties, large concrete): $25.00/cu yd · Single railroad ties: $6.00 each · Asbestos: $25.00/cu yd (24-hr notice, Mon–Fri 7–4 only)
2 cubic yard minimum for basic C&D · $15/load for dirt
Hours
Mon–Fri 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Sat & Sun CLOSED
Area
South Columbus (2230 Brown Road, Columbus, OH 43223)
Private C&D landfill with volume-based pricing that dramatically undercuts SWACO for lightweight construction debris. A 20-cubic-yard load of basic C&D costs approximately $174 here versus potentially $200–$400+ by weight at SWACO. CRITICAL: if MSW items are mixed into your C&D load, Frank Road charges a $22/cu yd solid waste chargeback — keep your loads clean. Does NOT accept paper/cardboard, garbage, bagged material, paint cans, contaminated soils, pallets, leaves/yard clippings, furniture (full loads), or sludge. Rate card effective 1/1/2026.
Full Circle Disposal and Recycling
C&D with Saturday hours — the only Columbus C&D facility open on weekendsRate
Call (614) 443-7134 — customer reviews note competitive/affordable pricing
Call for details
Hours
Mon–Fri 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM · Sat 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM · Sun CLOSED
Area
South Columbus (1489 Harmon Avenue, Columbus, OH 43223)
Formerly Scott's C&D Landfill, now operated by Full Circle Disposal (subsidiary of Iron City Waste Holdings, Pittsburgh). The Saturday hours (7 AM–noon) are a significant advantage — Frank Road is weekday-only. Road conditions within the facility are rough — use caution with low-clearance vehicles. No MSW accepted. Call for current rates.
Rules & Restrictions
Know before you go — avoid rejected loads and fines.
SWACO transfer stations (Jackson Pike and Morse Road) NO LONGER accept C&D debris as of September 29, 2025. Construction waste must go directly to the Franklin County Landfill in Grove City or to Frank Road / Full Circle.
SWACO landfill does NOT accept yard waste (leaves, grass, shrubs, trees) or dedicated tire loads. Yard waste goes to composting facilities; tires are accepted only as incidental items in mixed loads.
Frank Road charges a $22/cu yd solid waste chargeback if MSW items are found in C&D loads — keep construction debris loads clean of household junk, furniture, paper, and garbage.
SWACO transfer stations require a credit agreement for all commercial haulers — set up before your first load by calling Finance at (614) 871-5100.
All loads at SWACO facilities must be tarped — $10 uncovered load fee per occurrence. Columbus City Code requires proper containment.
Credit cards accepted at SWACO with a 3% processing fee (as of 3/1/2025). Set up a SWACO Charge Account to pay by check and avoid the surcharge.
SWACO manages waste for 41 communities across Franklin County and portions of surrounding counties. In-district rates ($39.75/ton) are $4/ton cheaper than out-of-district — verify your hauling origin qualifies for in-district pricing.
Franklin County Landfill has approximately 40 years of remaining capacity — no near-term closure concerns, unlike Detroit's Riverview or Twin Cities' HERC.
Morse Road Transfer Station is under construction until approximately May 2026. Call before routing trucks — access may be restricted. Jackson Pike and the Grove City landfill are fully operational alternatives.
Cost-Saving Tips
Margin protection playbook — sorting, timing, and routing.
Sorting Strategy
Route all C&D to Frank Road Recycling at $8.70/cu yd instead of SWACO at $39.75/ton — a 20-cubic-yard load of basic C&D costs $174 at Frank Road versus $200–$400+ at SWACO depending on weight. This single routing decision can save $100+ per load on construction jobs.
Separate scrap metal from every load and sell to local yards like Ace Iron & Metal at (614) 443-5196. SWACO charges $20/item to recycle appliances — selling them as scrap generates $100–$250+ per ton instead of costing you a disposal fee.
Donate usable furniture, appliances, and building materials to Habitat for Humanity MidOhio ReStore at 3140 Westerville Road — free drop-off with tax deduction. At $39.75/ton, diverting even 1 ton per week saves approximately $2,067 per year in tipping fees.
Timing Strategy
Franklin County Landfill opens at 5:00 AM on weekdays — the earliest of any Columbus disposal site. Dump before starting your route to maximize jobs per day.
Full Circle Disposal has Saturday hours (7 AM–noon) for C&D — the only weekend C&D option in Columbus. Frank Road is weekday-only.
SWACO transfer stations close at 3:00 PM — plan your dump run before 2:30 PM or go directly to the landfill in Grove City which stays open until 5:00 PM.
Routing Strategy
Central and north Columbus MSW jobs: Jackson Pike Transfer Station ($51.75/ton) saves drive time versus the 25-minute trip to Grove City. Accept the $12/ton premium when time is more valuable than the per-ton savings.
South Columbus jobs: Direct-haul to Franklin County Landfill ($39.75/ton) — it's the cheapest option and close to south-side job sites. Combine with Frank Road (2230 Brown Road) and Full Circle (1489 Harmon Avenue) for C&D, both within 10 minutes of the landfill.
Construction-heavy jobs anywhere in Columbus: Frank Road at $8.70/cu yd for C&D + SWACO landfill for any MSW remainder. Never mix MSW into a Frank Road load — the $22/cu yd contamination chargeback will cost more than just hauling it to SWACO separately.
Best Practice
Columbus has two completely different pricing systems — SWACO charges by weight (per ton) while Frank Road charges by volume (per cubic yard). This means lightweight bulky materials (lumber, drywall, roofing, insulation) cost far less per load at Frank Road than at SWACO. Track your actual disposal cost per job in ScaleYourJunk to know which facility saves you money on which job types — the answer changes depending on material density.
Two Pricing Systems, One Goal — Track Every Dollar
ScaleYourJunk tracks disposal costs per job whether you pay by ton or by cubic yard — so you always know which facility is cheapest for each load type.
Dump Fees in Columbus: FAQ
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FeatureLoad-Based Pricing Engine
Build accurate disposal costs into every quote with volume-based pricing tiers.
Columbus Has Two Pricing Systems — Track Both Automatically
ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job whether you're paying by ton at SWACO or by cubic yard at Frank Road — so you always route to the cheapest option.
Dump fee tracking included in all plans — Starter $149/mo