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location_onDump Fee Guide

Knoxville Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators

Knox County Solid Waste at $70–$80/ton MSW. Convenience centers supplement the primary landfill system.

Last updated: Mar 2026

receipt_longAt a Glance

$70–$80/ton

Typical dump fee range

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Fee basis

Per ton

Common materials

MSWC&DYard WasteTiresElectronics

Biggest cost trap

Knox County disposal at $70–$80/ton is above the SE regional average ($56.27/ton). The county operates convenience centers but commercial haulers primarily use the main landfill and transfer station system.

Facilities listed
6
MSW range
$70–$80/ton
SE avg
$56.27/ton
Updated
Mar 2026

Typical Costs in Knoxville

Baseline pricing before you dig into individual facilities.

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MSW

$70–$80/ton

$25 minimum load

Basis: Per ton

infoKnox County solid waste facilities charge $70–$80/ton for municipal solid waste, significantly above the SE regional average of $56.27/ton. Higher fees make aggressive sorting critical for margin protection. Minimum loads typically $25–$35. Scale houses weigh inbound and outbound, charging on net weight. Operators report actual costs ranging $72–$78/ton at the main landfill depending on material density and contamination levels.

1Call Knox County Solid Waste at (865) 215-2000 for current commercial rates and account setup

2Above SE average — every pound of diversion saves $0.035–$0.040 vs disposal

3Target 25–30% diversion rate to offset higher disposal costs with donations and recycling

4Heavy loads (appliances, furniture) hit higher per-ton costs — separate when possible

5Clean loads process faster and avoid contamination surcharges

construction

C&D

$65–$75/ton

$30 minimum

Basis: Per ton

infoConstruction and demolition debris accepted at Knox County facilities at $65–$75/ton, slightly lower than MSW rates. Clean concrete, asphalt, and brick qualify for reduced rates at private processors ($35–$45/ton). Mixed C&D with contamination (drywall with nails, painted wood) pays full rates. Operators save $20–$30/ton routing clean materials to specialty processors versus county disposal.

1Route clean concrete and masonry to Tennessee Valley Materials for $35–$40/ton savings

2Separate metal roofing, HVAC units, and structural steel before disposal

3Wood waste under 4 feet qualifies for yard waste rates at some facilities

4Asphalt shingles accepted at specialized processors for $45–$50/ton vs $70+ at landfill

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Scrap Metal

$0.10–$0.45/lb

50 lbs minimum

Basis: Per pound

infoKnoxville scrap metal markets pay competitive rates: steel $0.10–$0.15/lb, aluminum $0.40–$0.45/lb, copper $2.50–$3.00/lb, brass $1.80–$2.20/lb. Tennessee Valley Recycling and Knox Metals offer consistent pricing. Appliances with refrigerant removal certificates bring $15–$25 each. Clean auto parts, farm equipment, and structural steel command premium rates. Contaminated or mixed loads face 20–30% price reductions.

1Separate ferrous from non-ferrous metals for maximum revenue potential

2Remove copper wiring from appliances before scrapping — adds $5–$15 per unit

3Clean steel brings $0.03–$0.05/lb premium over contaminated material

4Aluminum siding, gutters, and window frames average $0.42/lb when separated

tv

Electronics

$0.15–$0.35/lb

25 lbs minimum

Basis: Per pound

infoElectronics recycling required by Knox County ordinance. CRT TVs and monitors cost $0.25–$0.35/lb at certified processors like East Tennessee Electronics Recycling. Flat screens, computers, and small electronics often free or $0.15–$0.20/lb. State law prohibits landfill disposal of most electronics. Copper-bearing items (old TVs, stereos) may qualify for scrap metal pricing when processed properly.

1Route working electronics to Knox County ReUse Center for free disposal

2Extract copper transformers and wiring before recycling for scrap value

3Bundle electronics with metal-heavy items to hit minimum weights

4Avoid CRT disposal fees by routing to specialized processors

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Surcharges

$5–$75/item

Per item

Basis: Varies

infoStandard surcharges apply across Knox County facilities: tires $5–$15 each depending on size, mattresses $10–$15 each, refrigerators $25–$35 with proper refrigerant removal, paint/chemicals $35–$75 per container. Oversize items exceeding truck bed dimensions face $25–$50 handling fees. Contaminated loads (mixed hazmat, medical waste) trigger rejection or premium processing charges up to $150/ton additional.

1Budget $8–$12 per mattress and $30 per refrigerator in job pricing

2Route tires to specialty recyclers to avoid per-tire fees

3Separate paint and household chemicals for hazmat collection events

4Break down oversized furniture to avoid handling surcharges

Facilities in Knoxville

Recommended facilities first, then additional options.

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Top Recommended (5)

Knox County Central Landfill

Primary MSW disposal — commercial accounts welcome
MSWC&DBulky itemsYard waste

Rate

$72–$78/ton typical range

$25 minimum load

Hours

Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 7am-12pm

Area

South Knoxville (Brown Gap Road)

Primary county landfill with truck scales and commercial accounts. Scale house processes payments. Arrive before 3:30pm weekdays to avoid delays. Best access for larger trucks. Monthly accounts available with NET 30 terms for established operators.

Knox County Dutchtown Transfer Station

North Knoxville area disposal and recycling
MSWC&DMetalsElectronicsAppliances

Rate

$70–$75/ton

$30 minimum

Hours

Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-2pm

Area

North Knoxville (Dutchtown Road)

Transfer station with sorting capabilities. Metals separated on-site. Electronics accepted at no charge. Faster processing than main landfill. Good option for mixed loads with recyclables. Staff helps identify valuable materials.

Tennessee Valley Materials

C&D recycling and concrete processing
Clean concreteAsphaltBrickBlockClean fill dirt

Rate

$35–$45/ton clean materials

1 ton minimum

Hours

Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-12pm

Area

East Knoxville (Cherry Street)

Specialty C&D processor. Clean materials only — no mixed debris. Produces recycled aggregate. Significant savings vs landfill disposal. Quick turnaround for concrete-heavy loads. Reject contaminated loads.

Knox Metals & Recycling

Scrap metal revenue and appliance processing
Ferrous metalsNon-ferrous metalsAppliancesAuto partsIndustrial scrap

Rate

Market rates — steel $0.10–$0.15/lb, aluminum $0.42/lb

50 lbs

Hours

Mon-Fri 7:30am-5pm, Sat 8am-12pm

Area

Central Knoxville (Magnolia Avenue)

Full-service scrap yard with truck scale. Handles refrigerant removal for appliances. Pays competitive market rates. Separate materials for best pricing. Cash or check payment same day. Good relationships with junk removal operators.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Free donation disposal for reusable items
FurnitureAppliances (working)Building materialsHome goodsTools

Rate

Free donation with tax receipt

No minimum

Hours

Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm

Area

Multiple Knoxville locations

Two locations in Knoxville accept donations. Items must be in good condition. Free pickup available for large items. Tax receipts provided. Call ahead for large loads. Saves disposal costs on quality items.

Rules & Restrictions

Know before you go — avoid rejected loads and fines.

blockCommon Restrictions
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Tennessee requires no state-level waste hauler licensing for junk removal operations under 10,000 lbs GVW.

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Knox County prohibits electronics disposal in landfills — certified recycling required for TVs, computers, monitors.

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Refrigerated appliances must have refrigerant professionally removed before disposal or face $50+ surcharges.

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Liquid paint, chemicals, and hazmat materials prohibited at all facilities — route to county collection events only.

descriptionDocumentation Required
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Commercial haulers need business license and liability insurance to establish accounts at county facilities.

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EPA refrigerant removal certification required for appliance disposal — $25-$35 fee if not pre-removed.

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Load manifests recommended for mixed C&D loads to expedite processing and avoid contamination issues.

location_cityLocal Quirks
info

Knoxville disposal at $70–$80/ton is 25% above SE average ($56.27/ton) — every pound of diversion saves $0.035–$0.040.

info

Knox County convenience centers restrict commercial access — established haulers use main landfill and transfer stations.

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University of Tennessee area generates high electronics volume — partner with campus recycling for steady stream.

Cost-Saving Tips

Margin protection playbook — sorting, timing, and routing.

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Sorting Strategy

Separate all metals before disposal — steel at $0.10–$0.15/lb beats $70+/ton disposal costs by $65–$75/ton

Route reusable furniture and appliances to Habitat ReStore for free disposal — saves $70–$80/ton vs landfill

Extract copper wiring from appliances and electronics — adds $5–$15 revenue per major appliance

Sort clean concrete and masonry for Tennessee Valley Materials at $35–$45/ton vs $70+/ton at landfill

Bundle working electronics for free recycling vs paying disposal fees — saves $15–$35 per TV/monitor

schedule

Timing Strategy

Arrive at county facilities before 3:30pm weekdays to avoid end-of-day delays and overtime charges

Schedule Tuesday-Thursday dump runs for fastest processing — Mondays busiest, Fridays backed up

Use Saturday morning hours (7am-12pm) for smaller loads to avoid weekday commercial traffic

Knox Metals processes payments fastest 8am-11am before afternoon rush — saves 15-20 minutes per trip

route

Routing Strategy

Combine metal-heavy loads with Dutchtown Transfer Station trips for on-site metal separation

Route concrete/masonry loads to Tennessee Valley Materials first, then MSW to county facilities

Plan Habitat ReStore donations during weekday morning hours for fastest drop-off processing

Use Knox County Central Landfill for large MSW loads, Dutchtown Transfer for mixed recyclable loads

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Best Practice

Track dump fees per job in ScaleYourJunk — Knoxville's $70–$80/ton rates require precise cost tracking to protect margins. Log facility-specific costs, disposal weights, and diversion revenue to optimize routing decisions.

Track Every Dump Fee in Knoxville

ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job, per facility, and rolls them into per-truck P&L reports. Stop guessing your margins in Knoxville's above-average disposal market.

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Dump Fees in Knoxville: FAQ

Knox County facilities charge $70–$80/ton for MSW disposal, above the SE regional average. Tennessee Valley Materials offers the lowest rates at $35–$45/ton for clean concrete and masonry. Scrap metal brings revenue of $0.10–$0.45/lb depending on material type.
Tennessee requires no state waste hauler license for junk removal operations under 10,000 lbs GVW. Knox County requires business licensing and liability insurance for commercial facility accounts. Standard business licenses apply for local operations.
Knox County Central Landfill operates Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 7am-12pm. Dutchtown Transfer Station runs Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-2pm. Private facilities vary — WM Chestnut Ridge runs Mon-Fri 6am-5pm, Sat 6am-12pm.
Knox County facilities accept C&D at $65–$75/ton. Tennessee Valley Materials takes clean concrete, brick, and masonry at $35–$45/ton. Mixed C&D with contamination pays full MSW rates at county facilities.
Knox County's $70–$80/ton MSW rates are 25% above the SE regional average of $56.27/ton. This makes Knoxville one of the higher-cost disposal markets in Tennessee, requiring aggressive sorting and diversion to maintain margins.
Knox County prohibits electronics in landfills. Dutchtown Transfer Station accepts electronics free. East Tennessee Electronics Recycling charges $0.15–$0.35/lb for CRT items. Working electronics qualify for free disposal at various locations.
Yes, but refrigerated appliances need professional refrigerant removal first or face $25–$35 surcharges. Knox Metals accepts appliances for scrap value. Non-refrigerated appliances (washers, dryers) go to regular disposal at ton rates.
Knox County prohibits liquid paint, chemicals, hazmat materials, medical waste, and electronics in landfills. Refrigerated appliances need refrigerant removal. Tires accepted with per-tire fees. Route prohibited items to specialized processors or collection events.

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ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job, per facility, and rolls them into per-truck P&L reports. Stop losing margin to untracked dump fees in Knoxville's above-average disposal market.

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