Memphis Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators
Shelby County MSW at ~$62–$65/ton. City-operated and private facilities compete. Low-cost SE disposal market.
Last updated: Mar 2026
$62–$65/ton
Typical dump fee range
Fee basis
Per ton
Common materials
Biggest cost trap
Shelby County tipping fees around $62–$65/ton are near the national average but above the SE regional average of $56.27/ton. Multiple facilities serve the metro but most do not publish commercial rates.
Typical Costs in Memphis
Baseline pricing before you dig into individual facilities.
MSW
$62–$65/ton
1 ton minimum
Basis: Per ton
infoShelby County Landfill charges $64/ton for mixed municipal solid waste. Private facilities like Waste Management's Southeast Regional Landfill range $62–$67/ton. Gate fees increase 3-4% annually. Loads under 1 ton charged minimum rate. Weekend surcharges add $5–$8/ton at some facilities. Peak season (spring cleaning months) may see temporary increases of $2–$5/ton.
1Call all facilities monthly for current rates — Memphis market is competitive with 4-5 major operators
2Establish accounts at 2-3 facilities to compare rates and avoid single-source dependency
3Tennessee has no state hauler license requirement, simplifying market entry for new operators
4Volume discounts kick in at 50+ tons/month at most facilities
C&D
$45–$68/ton
1 ton minimum
Basis: Per ton
infoClean C&D at dedicated recycling facilities runs $45–$52/ton. Mixed C&D with MSW contamination jumps to $62–$68/ton at standard landfills. Concrete-only loads can go as low as $35/ton at specialized facilities. Roofing materials with asphalt shingles typically charged MSW rates. Large commercial C&D jobs over 20 tons qualify for negotiated rates at most facilities.
1Sort clean concrete, brick, and asphalt for $35–$45/ton rates — saves $15–$20/ton vs mixed loads
2Route wood waste to biomass facilities for $25–$35/ton vs $62/ton at standard landfills
3Separate metals on-site — scrap steel brings $200–$350/ton revenue vs $62/ton disposal cost
Scrap Metal
$0.08–$3.50/lb
50 lbs minimum
Basis: Per lb
infoMemphis metal market is active with 12+ scrap yards. Copper #1 runs $3.20–$3.50/lb, aluminum cans $0.65–$0.85/lb, steel $200–$250/ton. Cast iron brings $220–$280/ton. Brass fixtures $2.20–$2.80/lb. Appliances with Freon require $15–$25 processing fee but still net positive after scrap value. Clean copper wire can hit $3.50/lb while insulated wire drops to $1.80–$2.20/lb.
1Separate copper, brass, and aluminum from every job — average 15-20 lbs per residential cleanout worth $35–$65
2Strip insulation from copper wire when time permits — increases value by 40-60%
3Partner with appliance repair shops to handle Freon removal for $10–$15 vs facility fee of $25
4Track metal prices weekly — copper fluctuates $0.20–$0.40/lb seasonally
Surcharges
$5–$85/item
Per item
Basis: Varies
infoTires: $5–$15 each depending on size. Electronics with CRTs $15–$25 each. Freon appliances $25–$35 processing fee. Paint cans $8–$12 each unless dried out. Propane tanks $15–$25. Mattresses $12–$18 each due to recycling requirements. Car batteries $8–$15 each. Large tires (truck/tractor) can reach $45–$85 each. All loads must be properly tarped or face $25–$50 fines.
1Build surcharge costs into customer quotes — average residential job has $15–$35 in surcharges
2Dry out paint cans before disposal to avoid hazmat fees — saves $8–$12 per can
3Route batteries to auto parts stores for free disposal vs $8–$15 landfill fees
4Partner with tire shops for bulk tire disposal at $3–$5/tire vs facility fees of $8–$15
Facilities in Memphis
Recommended facilities first, then additional options.
Top Recommended (6)
Shelby County Landfill - SWANCC
Primary county MSW disposal — reliable rates around $64/tonRate
$64/ton MSW; C&D varies by contamination level
1 ton minimum charge
Hours
Mon-Fri 7am-4:30pm, Sat 7am-12pm, Closed Sunday
Area
Southeast Memphis off Highway 385
County-operated facility with consistent pricing. Commercial accounts require setup paperwork and credit check. Scale house closes 30 minutes before facility closure. Accepts cash, check, or established account billing. Heavy truck traffic Friday afternoons — plan accordingly.
Waste Management Southeast Regional
High-volume operators needing competitive MSW ratesRate
Call for commercial rates — typically $62-$67/ton
Volume discounts at 50+ tons/month
Hours
Mon-Fri 6am-5pm, Sat 6am-2pm, Closed Sunday
Area
North Memphis industrial district
Large private facility with good equipment and fast turnaround. Electronic ticketing system for established accounts. Occasional promotional rates for new commercial customers. Extended hours during peak seasons. Truck wash station available.
Republic Services Nonconnah Creek
Alternative MSW disposal with competitive pricingRate
$63-$66/ton depending on volume and contract
Call for minimum loads and pricing tiers
Hours
Mon-Fri 6:30am-4:30pm, Sat 7am-1pm, Closed Sunday
Area
Southwest Memphis near state line
Well-maintained private facility with experienced scale operators. Offers monthly billing for established accounts. Good access roads for large trucks. Less crowded than county facility during peak times. Requires load inspection before dumping.
Memphis C&D Recycling Center
Clean construction debris — rates 20-30% below landfillsRate
$35-$48/ton for clean materials; $55/ton mixed
No minimum for clean loads
Hours
Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 7am-12pm, Closed Sunday
Area
Industrial Road near airport
Specialized C&D processing facility. Materials must be pre-sorted for best rates. Rejects contaminated loads. Produces recycled aggregate sold back to contractors. Cash or credit card accepted for small loads. Account setup required for regular service.
Mid-South Scrap Metal Processors
Metal separation revenue — copper, aluminum, steel processingRate
Market rates updated daily — steel $220-$250/ton
50 lbs minimum for most metals
Hours
Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 7am-12pm, Closed Sunday
Area
Multiple Memphis locations
Established scrap processor with fair scales and quick payment. Will handle appliance Freon removal for $15 fee. Provides market price sheets. Photo ID required for first visit. Checks available same day for account holders.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore Memphis
Free furniture and appliance diversion — tax receipts providedRate
Free disposal plus tax deduction receipt
Items must be in usable condition
Hours
Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Closed Sunday
Area
Multiple Memphis locations including Poplar Ave
Accepts furniture, appliances, and building materials in good condition. Provides pickup service for large items with advance scheduling. Tax receipts can offset disposal costs for business accounting. Quality standards enforced — damaged items rejected.
Rules & Restrictions
Know before you go — avoid rejected loads and fines.
All loads must be properly tarped or covered during transport — $25-$50 fines issued by facilities for unsecured loads.
Hazardous materials strictly prohibited — paint, chemicals, asbestos require special disposal through licensed haulers only.
Tires over 24.5 inches require pre-approval and surcharges ranging from $25-$85 each depending on size.
Mixed loads with over 25% C&D content charged at higher MSW rates rather than C&D recycling rates at most facilities.
Commercial account setup requires business license, insurance certificate, and credit application at county facilities.
Load tickets must be retained for 3 years per Tennessee Department of Environment requirements for commercial haulers.
Photo ID required for all cash transactions over $100 at scrap facilities due to theft prevention regulations.
Memphis tipping fees at $62-$65/ton are $6-$9 above SE regional average of $56.27/ton, affecting profit margins compared to other TN markets.
Shelby County runs periodic amnesty days for residents, creating temporary spikes in facility traffic and wait times.
Spring storm season (March-May) can cause temporary rate increases of $3-$8/ton due to high volume from cleanup contractors.
Cost-Saving Tips
Margin protection playbook — sorting, timing, and routing.
Sorting Strategy
Separate metals on every job — average residential cleanout yields $35-$65 in scrap revenue vs $62/ton disposal cost
Route clean concrete and masonry to C&D recyclers for $35-$45/ton vs $64/ton at standard landfills — saves $20-$25/ton
Divert good-condition furniture to Habitat ReStore for free disposal plus tax deduction — saves $64/ton in dump fees
Strip copper wire when time permits — bare copper brings $3.50/lb vs $1.80/lb for insulated wire, adding $25-$40 per job
Separate appliances for scrap yards even with Freon — net revenue of $15-$45 per unit after processing fees vs disposal cost
Timing Strategy
Avoid Friday afternoons at Shelby County facility — longest wait times with residential traffic, costing 30-45 minutes
Schedule dumps early morning (7-9am) for fastest turnaround — saves 15-20 minutes per run
Track storm season rate increases March-May — budget extra $3-$8/ton during high-volume cleanup periods
Use weekday morning slots for best access to scale operators and fastest processing times
Routing Strategy
Establish accounts at 3+ facilities to avoid single-source dependency and compare rates monthly — can save $2-$5/ton
Route metal-heavy loads through scrap facilities first, then remaining materials to landfills — maximizes revenue per mile
Batch C&D loads for dedicated recycling facilities when volume reaches 5+ tons — saves $15-$20/ton vs mixed disposal
Plan weekly dump runs to consolidate small loads and meet 1-ton minimums efficiently — reduces per-job disposal costs
Best Practice
Track dump fees per job in ScaleYourJunk to monitor costs at ~$62–$65/ton and identify profit margin trends across different facility choices.
Track Every Dump Fee in Memphis
ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job, per facility, and rolls them into per-truck P&L reports. Stop guessing your margins in Memphis.
Dump Fees in Memphis: FAQ
Related Resources
Tennessee Junk Removal Market Guide
Statewide market data, licensing requirements, and competitive landscape for Tennessee operators.
DataNashville Dump Fees
Disposal guide for Nashville.
GuideDump Run Efficiency Guide
Optimize dump run routing, load batching, and material sorting to minimize disposal costs.
FeatureRoute Optimization
Automatically optimize job sequencing and dump run routing to minimize drive time and fuel costs.
Track Every Dump Fee Automatically
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 Memphis.
Dump fee tracking included in all plans — Starter $149/mo