location_onDump Fee Guide

Nashville Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators

Middle Tennessee disposal from $65–$75/ton. County-operated facilities and private landfills compete. TN has no state hauler license requirement.

Last updated: Mar 2026

receipt_longAt a Glance

$65–$75/ton

Typical dump fee range

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Fee basis

Per ton

Common materials

MSWC&DYard WasteTiresAppliances

Biggest cost trap

Nashville-area tipping fees of $65–$75/ton sit near the Southeast regional average ($56.27/ton EREF 2024). Multiple county and private facilities compete, but most do not publish rates — call for commercial pricing.

Facilities listed

MSW range

$65–$75/ton

SE avg MSW

$56.27/ton

Updated

Mar 2026

Typical Costs in Nashville

Baseline pricing before you dig into individual facilities.

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MSW

$65–$75/ton

$85 minimum load

Basis: Per ton

infoNashville-area MSW tipping fees run $65–$75/ton at both county and private facilities. Most operators pay $68–$72/ton with established commercial accounts. Volume discounts start around 50+ tons monthly. Weigh-in minimum charges typically $85–$95 for partial loads under 2 tons. Peak summer months (June-August) can push rates 5-10% higher due to increased residential waste volumes.

1Negotiate volume pricing at 50+ tons/month for $3-5/ton discounts

2Use SE regional average $56.27/ton as benchmark in negotiations

3Bundle multiple facilities in one contract to leverage competition

4Track seasonal pricing patterns — winter months typically 5% lower

5Establish backup accounts at 3+ facilities to avoid emergency surcharges

construction

C&D

$58–$70/ton

$75 minimum load

Basis: Per ton

infoClean C&D runs $58–$70/ton at dedicated recycling facilities, typically $5–$8/ton below MSW rates. Mixed C&D with contamination gets charged MSW rates. Concrete and asphalt often $35–$45/ton at specialized processors. Metal contamination can trigger $15–$25/ton surcharges. Wood waste separation can save $10–$15/ton at facilities with chipping operations.

1Pre-sort clean concrete for $20–$30/ton savings versus mixed C&D

2Remove all metal before dump runs to avoid contamination fees

3Route clean wood to biomass facilities for $40–$50/ton rates

4Negotiate seasonal contracts during slow construction months

5Separate drywall for specialized recycling at $45–$55/ton

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Yard Waste

$35–$50/ton

$45 minimum load

Basis: Per ton

infoOrganic waste composting facilities charge $35–$50/ton for clean yard debris. Metro Nashville operates seasonal brush collection that accepts commercial loads at $38–$42/ton. Contaminated loads with plastic or metal get redirected to MSW at full rates. Seasonal demand spikes (spring cleanup, fall leaves) can increase rates 15-20% March-May and October-November.

1Time yard waste runs during off-peak seasons for lower rates

2Remove all non-organic debris to qualify for composting rates

3Coordinate with Metro seasonal programs for volume discounts

4Partner with landscaping companies for shared load efficiency

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Surcharges

$15–$85/item

Per item

Basis: Varies

infoTire disposal runs $5–$15 per passenger tire, $25–$35 for truck tires. Freon appliances (refrigerators, AC units) carry $25–$45 removal fees. Electronics get charged $15–$35 per unit depending on size. Mattresses often $15–$25 each due to recycling requirements. Propane tanks $10–$20 per unit. Paint and hazardous materials require special handling at $2–$5/pound minimum $50 charge.

1Build appliance surcharges into job pricing — average $35/unit

2Partner with scrap dealers for free appliance pickup on Freon removal

3Route electronics to certified e-waste recyclers for lower fees

4Negotiate flat monthly surcharge rates for high-volume accounts

5Track seasonal patterns — tire disposal cheaper in winter months

Facilities in Nashville

Recommended facilities first, then additional options.

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Top Recommended (5)

Metro Nashville Central Landfill

Primary MSW disposal for Davidson County operators

MSWC&DBulky itemsLimited yard waste

Rate

$68–$72/ton for commercial accounts

$85 minimum charge

Hours

Mon-Fri 6:30am-4:30pm, Sat 7am-3pm, closed Sun

Area

Davidson County

Main Metro facility requires Davidson County waste origin verification for commercial accounts. Scale house opens 30 minutes before facility. Avoid Friday afternoons — residential traffic peaks. Commercial account setup requires business license and insurance certificate. Volume discounts available at 75+ tons monthly.

Waste Management Hickman County Landfill

High-volume disposal with negotiated commercial rates

MSWC&DIndustrial wasteSpecial waste (approved)

Rate

Call for commercial pricing — typically $65–$70/ton

Negotiated based on volume

Hours

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

Area

45 minutes southwest of Nashville

Accepts waste from all Tennessee counties. Strong negotiation position for volume accounts. Scales certified weekly. Fuel surcharge may apply during high diesel periods. Pre-approval required for loads over 10 tons. Offers monthly billing for established accounts.

Republic Services Cheatham County

Flexible disposal with cross-county acceptance

MSWC&DYard wasteTires (surcharge)

Rate

$66–$74/ton depending on material type

$90 minimum load

Hours

Mon-Fri 7am-4:30pm, Sat 7:30am-2pm, closed Sun

Area

Cheatham County, 35 minutes northwest

Competitive alternative to Metro facilities. Accepts multi-county waste streams. Online account management available. Surcharge-free tire disposal with monthly accounts over $2,000. Extended Saturday hours during construction season (April-October).

Green Earth Composting Facility

Organic waste and yard debris disposal

Yard wasteFood waste (commercial)Untreated woodPaper products (clean)

Rate

$38–$48/ton for organic waste

$50 minimum load

Hours

Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 8am-12pm, closed Sun

Area

Wilson County, 25 minutes east

Tennessee Department of Environment certified composting facility. Seasonal rate increases during peak organic waste season (March-June, September-November). Loads inspected for contamination — plastic bags trigger $25 sorting fee. Offers finished compost purchase for landscaping crews.

Music City Scrap & Recycling

Metal revenue generation and appliance disposal

Ferrous metalsNon-ferrous metalsAppliancesAuto partsWire and cable

Rate

Pays current scrap pricing — steel $0.06-$0.12/lb

No minimum

Hours

Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:30pm, Sat 7:30am-12:30pm, closed Sun

Area

Multiple Nashville locations

Three Nashville-area locations for routing efficiency. Handles Freon removal from appliances at no charge. Copper and aluminum pricing updated daily. Load sorting on-site available. Commercial accounts get monthly statements for tracking revenue offsets against dump fees.

Rules & Restrictions

Know before you go — avoid rejected loads and fines.

blockCommon Restrictions

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Metro Nashville facilities require Davidson County waste origin verification for commercial accounts — out-of-county loads may be rejected or surcharged.

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All facilities prohibit hazardous waste including paint, chemicals, asbestos, and medical waste — violators face $500+ fines and account suspension.

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Load size restrictions apply — most facilities cap single loads at 15 tons without pre-approval and specialized equipment.

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Tennessee does not require state-level waste hauler licensing for standard junk removal, but commercial vehicle registration and DOT numbers may apply for trucks over 10,000 GVWR.

descriptionDocumentation Required

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Commercial account setup requires business license, general liability insurance ($300K minimum), and completed facility application with credit references.

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Load manifests required for special waste, C&D over 5 tons, or any material requiring pre-approval — available from facility scale houses.

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Weight tickets must be retained for 3 years per Tennessee Department of Environment regulations — digital copies acceptable for auditing purposes.

location_cityLocal Quirks

info

Nashville's rapid growth has created capacity constraints at Metro facilities — private landfills often offer more flexible scheduling and extended hours.

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Music City's construction boom drives high C&D volumes — dedicated recycling facilities often beat landfill rates by $10–$15/ton for sorted materials.

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Tourism surge during CMA Fest, NFL season, and summer festivals increases commercial waste generation 15-20% — book disposal slots early during event periods.

Cost-Saving Tips

Margin protection playbook — sorting, timing, and routing.

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Sorting Strategy

Separate ferrous metals for Music City Scrap pickup — typical junk load yields $15–$35 in scrap revenue to offset dump fees

Route clean concrete to C&D recyclers at $35/ton versus $68–$72/ton at MSW facilities — saves $30+ per ton

Pre-sort yard waste for Green Earth Composting at $38–$48/ton versus MSW rates — saves $20–$30/ton on landscape debris

Remove appliances for free scrap pickup after Freon evacuation — eliminates $25–$45 surcharge fees

Donate reusable furniture to Habitat ReStore or Goodwill — tax deduction plus avoided dump fees save $200–$500 per truck load

schedule

Timing Strategy

Schedule dump runs Tuesday-Thursday mornings to avoid Monday backup and Friday residential peaks — reduces wait times by 15-20 minutes

Target off-peak months (January-February, July-August) for negotiating annual disposal contracts — potential 5-8% rate reductions

Avoid festival and event weeks when commercial waste volumes spike — CMA Fest, NFL games create 2-3 hour facility delays

Time C&D disposal during winter construction lulls (December-February) when recycling facilities offer promotional rates

route

Routing Strategy

Establish accounts at Metro Nashville for Davidson County loads and WM/Republic for multi-county flexibility — eliminates origin restrictions

Route high-volume days to Hickman County WM facility for better commercial pricing — drive time offset by $3–$5/ton savings

Use Music City Scrap locations for efficient metal separation before dump runs — three locations minimize routing detours

Coordinate yard waste runs with Metro seasonal programs for volume pricing — saves $5–$10/ton during off-peak periods

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Best Practice

Track dump fees per job in ScaleYourJunk with facility-specific cost codes. Nashville's non-published pricing makes historical data essential for identifying the most cost-effective facilities and negotiating better rates with volume leverage.

Track Every Dump Fee in Nashville

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Dump Fees in Nashville: FAQ

Nashville dump fees range $65–$75/ton for MSW at both Metro and private facilities. C&D runs $58–$70/ton at recycling centers. Most facilities don't publish rates — call for commercial pricing. Volume accounts over 50 tons monthly typically get $3–$5/ton discounts.

WM Hickman County offers competitive rates around $65–$70/ton for commercial accounts, about 45 minutes southwest. Green Earth Composting charges $38–$48/ton for yard waste. Music City Scrap pays for metals rather than charging dump fees.

Tennessee requires no state waste hauler license for standard junk removal. You need business licensing, insurance, and commercial vehicle registration. Trucks over 10,000 GVWR may need DOT numbers. Metro Nashville may require local permits for commercial waste collection.

Nashville C&D Recycling Center takes sorted materials at $35–$55/ton. Metro Nashville and private landfills accept mixed C&D at MSW rates ($65–$75/ton). Clean concrete goes to specialized processors for $35–$45/ton. Remove metals first to avoid contamination fees.

Metro Nashville: Mon-Fri 6:30am-4:30pm, Sat 7am-3pm. WM Hickman: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-12pm. Republic Cheatham: Mon-Fri 7am-4:30pm, Sat 7:30am-2pm. Most facilities closed Sundays. Call ahead during holidays or severe weather.

A typical 3-ton junk removal truck load costs $195–$225 at Nashville MSW facilities ($65–$75/ton). Minimum charges run $85–$95 for partial loads. Add $15–$85 for specialty items like appliances or tires. Sorted C&D or yard waste can reduce costs to $105–$225 per load.

Yes, Green Earth Composting accepts yard waste at $38–$48/ton. Metro Nashville seasonal brush collection takes commercial loads at $38–$42/ton. Remove all plastic bags and non-organic debris or face contamination fees and MSW rates.

Tire disposal runs $5–$15 per passenger tire, $25–$35 for truck tires at Nashville facilities. Some operators partner with tire shops for free pickup. Music City Scrap accepts tires with monthly commercial accounts. Budget $10–$20 per tire for disposal planning.

Related Resources

Guide

Tennessee Junk Removal Market Guide

Statewide market data, licensing requirements, and competitive landscape for Tennessee operators.

Data

Memphis Dump Fees

Disposal guide for Memphis.

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Dump Run Efficiency Guide

Optimize dump run routing, load batching, and material sorting to minimize disposal costs.

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Route Optimization

Automatically optimize job sequencing and dump run routing to minimize drive time and fuel costs.

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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 Nashville.

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