Detroit Dump Fees & Landfill Guide for Junk Removal Operators
Current 2026 tipping fees for Detroit-area landfills and transfer stations. J. Fons at ~$65/ton equivalent, statewide avg $77.93/ton, with facility routing strategies.
Last updated: Mar 2026
$65–$80+/ton (estimated — most facilities don't post rates)
Typical dump fee range
Fee basis
Per ton at landfills, per 2,000 lb increment at J. Fons transfer station
Common materials
Biggest cost trap
WM and Republic operate all four major Detroit-area landfills but publish zero tipping fees. J. Fons transfer station (~$65/ton) is the only facility with any posted pricing. Without a negotiated account, you're paying whatever they quote.
Typical Costs in Detroit
Baseline pricing before you dig into individual facilities.
MSW (Household Junk)
$65–$80+/ton
$65 for first 2,000 lbs at J. Fons
Basis: Per ton at landfills, per 2,000 lb increment at J. Fons transfer station
infoMichigan's statewide average MSW tipping fee is $77.93/ton (EREF 2024), above the $62.28 national average despite the state's minimal $0.36/ton surcharge. Detroit-area rates from WM and Republic are not publicly posted — negotiate a commercial account before routing trucks.
1J. Fons transfer station at $65 for the first 2,000 lbs (~$65/ton equivalent) is the only facility with any posted pricing — use this as your negotiating baseline
2Michigan's $0.36/ton state disposal surcharge is among the lowest in the nation — disposal costs are driven by operator pricing, not state fees
3City of Detroit residents get free bulk waste drop-off at three DPW yards — leverage this for estate cleanouts where the homeowner has a Detroit ID
C&D (Construction & Demolition)
Estimated $50–$80/ton
Same as MSW at most facilities
Basis: Per ton — typically same rate as MSW at Detroit-area facilities
infoAll four major landfills (Riverview, Carleton Farms, Eagle Valley, Pine Tree Acres) accept C&D, but none post separate C&D rates. J. Fons accepts C&D at what appears to be the same fee structure as MSW. Call each facility to negotiate C&D-specific pricing.
Green Waste (Yard Debris)
Not separately priced at most facilities
Included in MSW tonnage
Basis: Per ton — bundled with MSW rates
infoRiverview Land Preserve accepts yard waste year-round. City of Detroit DPW yards accept yard waste free for residents (up to 1,000 lbs/day with valid Detroit ID). No dedicated commercial yard waste processing at posted rates — yard waste goes in mixed loads at MSW pricing.
Bulky Items & Surcharges
Not publicly posted at most facilities
Call each facility for surcharge schedules
Basis: Per item or included in tonnage
infoJ. Fons does NOT accept tires or hazardous materials. Riverview accepts Freon appliances for a fee (call for rate). Republic's Carleton Farms charges an 18% Environmental Recovery Fee plus variable Fuel Recovery Fee and Administrative Fee on all commercial accounts — factor these surcharges into your per-ton cost estimate.
Facilities in Detroit
Recommended facilities first, then additional options.
Top Recommended (3)
J. Fons Metropolitan Transfer Center (Priority Waste)
Only facility with posted pricing — best for city-side operators who need predictable disposal costsRate
$65 for first 2,000 lbs, $50 for each additional 2,000 lbs (~$65/ton equivalent for typical loads)
$65
Hours
Mon–Fri 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Sat 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM (City DPW drop-off) · Sun CLOSED
Area
Northeast Detroit (6451 E. McNichols Rd, Detroit, MI 48212)
Acquired by Priority Waste from J Fons Co. in 2020. The only Detroit-area facility with any publicly posted pricing — $65 for the first ton is your baseline for quoting. Saturday hours make this the only commercial weekend option in the metro. Does NOT accept tires, paints, liquids, or hazardous waste. City of Detroit residents get free bulk and yard waste drop-off (Mon–Fri 8 AM–4 PM, Sat 8 AM–noon) with valid Detroit ID — up to 1,000 lbs per day plus 4 tires. No construction debris for free drop-off. Commercial account available through Priority Waste: 1-855-927-8365.
Riverview Land Preserve
Municipal landfill with the best hours for commercial operators in southern Wayne County — recycling center on-siteRate
Call (734) 281-4263 ext. 3 for disposal inquiries
Call for details
Hours
Landfill: Mon–Fri 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM (contract customers 6:30 AM – 4:30 PM) · Recycling Center: Mon & Fri 7:00 AM–4:00 PM, Tue–Thu 7:00 AM–7:00 PM, Sat 8:00 AM–12:00 PM (recycling only) · Sun CLOSED
Area
Downriver / Riverview (20863 Grange Road, Riverview, MI 48193)
Municipally owned since 1968 — serves 15 communities covering approximately 20% of Wayne County's population. Processes roughly 950,000 tons of waste and 8,000 tons of recyclables annually. Contract customers get extended hours (6:30 AM start). Hi-vis apparel required for anyone exiting a vehicle on-site as of August 2024. Critical capacity note: projected to reach capacity around 2031–2033 after a proposed expansion was denied by Wayne County in 2022. Riverview residents get up to 4 free loads per fiscal year with proof of residency.
GLR Advanced Recycling
Full-service scrap metal with three metro locations — cash payment on the spotRate
#1 copper up to $3.50/lb · Aluminum avg ~$0.70/lb · Yellow brass ~$2.00/lb · Steel $120–$300/gross ton · Stainless avg ~$0.60/lb · Electronics avg ~$0.74/lb — call for current-day quotes
No minimum listed
Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:45 PM (Roseville metal to 4:00 PM) · Sat 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Roseville) / 8:00 AM – 12:45 PM (Livonia, Detroit) · Sun CLOSED
Area
Roseville HQ: 30835 Groesbeck Hwy, Roseville, MI 48066 (586) 779-1310 · Livonia: 12600 Stark Road, Livonia, MI 48150 (734) 266-2700 · Detroit: 13840 Fenkell, Detroit, MI 48227 (313) 367-0900
Three metro locations covering Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties — there's always one near your route. Cash paid on the spot. Michigan law requires state-issued ID, thumbprint on file, and signed ownership statement for all scrap transactions. Tanks and cylinders must be cut in half and fluid-free. Routine pickup available for commercial clients with container and roll-off services. Junk car hotline: (855) 620-5865. Also accepts catalytic converters — a high-value item that many operators overlook during cleanouts.
Rules & Restrictions
Know before you go — avoid rejected loads and fines.
J. Fons transfer station does NOT accept tires, paints, liquids, or hazardous waste — route tires to Riverview Land Preserve or directly to a tire recycler
City of Detroit DPW free drop-off is for residents only (valid Detroit ID required) — commercial vehicles are excluded. Do not attempt to use resident drop-off for commercial loads.
Michigan law requires state-issued ID, thumbprint on file, and signed ownership statement for all scrap metal transactions — carry your ID to every scrap yard visit
Hi-vis apparel required at Riverview Land Preserve for anyone exiting a vehicle (as of August 2024) — carry safety vests in every truck
WM facilities (Eagle Valley, Pine Tree Acres) require commercial accounts via wmsolutions.com — rates are not available without an account. Special waste requires separate profile-based approval.
Republic's Carleton Farms adds an 18% Environmental Recovery Fee plus variable Fuel Recovery Fee and Administrative Fee to all commercial invoices — your actual cost per ton is significantly higher than the base rate they quote. Always ask for the all-in price.
Michigan's $0.36/ton state disposal surcharge is among the lowest in the nation (Ohio charges $4.75, Wisconsin $6–$13). Despite this, statewide average MSW fees are $77.93/ton — above the $62.28 national average — because operator pricing runs high.
Riverview Land Preserve is projected to reach capacity around 2031–2033 after Wayne County denied a proposed expansion in 2022. When it closes, 950,000 tons/year will need to reroute — expect rate increases at remaining facilities.
Roughly 25% of Michigan landfill tonnage comes from out-of-state and Canadian sources (4.4 million tons from Canada in 2024 alone). Governor Whitmer has proposed raising the state surcharge from $0.36 to $5.00/ton — if passed, this would add $4.64/ton to every load.
Cost-Saving Tips
Margin protection playbook — sorting, timing, and routing.
Sorting Strategy
Pull copper, aluminum, brass, and catalytic converters on every job — GLR Advanced Recycling pays up to $3.50/lb for #1 copper and accepts catalytic converters, which can be worth $50–$300 each depending on type
Separate electronics from mixed loads — GLR pays an average of $0.74/lb for electronics (CPUs, circuit boards), turning e-waste from a disposal cost into revenue
For Detroit estate cleanouts, check if the homeowner has a Detroit ID — they get free bulk waste drop-off at three DPW yards (up to 1,000 lbs/day), which can eliminate your disposal cost entirely on smaller loads
Timing Strategy
Pine Tree Acres opens at 6:00 AM — the earliest of any Detroit-area landfill. Use this for pre-route dump runs on east and north metro routes.
J. Fons Saturday hours (7 AM – 1 PM) make it the only commercial weekend disposal option in the Detroit metro — plan your Saturday route around an early dump run
Avoid Riverview Land Preserve recycling center on Saturdays — limited to recycling only (8 AM–noon), no trash. Tuesday through Thursday evening hours (until 7 PM) at the recycling center are the lightest traffic.
Routing Strategy
Wayne County loads: J. Fons for MSW at ~$65/ton (only posted rate) or Riverview Land Preserve for contract customers. Carleton Farms for Republic account holders.
Oakland County loads: Eagle Valley for WM account holders — closest option for Rochester, Lake Orion, Auburn Hills, Troy routes
Macomb County loads: Pine Tree Acres is the only option — it's the sole active landfill in the county. Open at 6 AM for early dumps. GLR Roseville is 15 minutes away for scrap metal drops.
Best Practice
Detroit's disposal market is opaque — WM and Republic control all four major landfills and publish zero pricing. J. Fons at ~$65/ton is your only public benchmark. This opacity makes dump fee tracking essential. If you're not logging actual disposal costs per job, you're estimating disposal at what you think it costs rather than what it actually costs. ScaleYourJunk tracks dump fees per job, per facility, per truck — giving you the real data to negotiate better rates and price your jobs accurately.
Detroit's Dump Fees Are Opaque — Track the Real Numbers
ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job and per facility so you have actual data to negotiate rates and price jobs accurately.
Dump Fees in Detroit: FAQ
Related Resources
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DataDetroit Metro Junk Removal Market
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GuideDump Run Efficiency Guide
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FeatureLoad-Based Pricing Engine
Build per-job disposal costs into every quote with volume-based pricing tiers.
Stop Guessing on Detroit Disposal Costs — Track Every Load
ScaleYourJunk logs dump fees per job, per facility, per truck — giving you real data to negotiate rates and price jobs accurately in Detroit's opaque disposal market.
Dump fee tracking included in all plans — Starter $149/mo