Seattle Dump Fees & Landfill Guide for Junk Removal Operators
King County self-haul at $243.38/ton — among the highest in the US. Contract haulers pay $191.47/ton. Snohomish at $160/ton. 6 facilities mapped.
Last updated: Mar 2026
$40.25 minimum (KC self-haul) – $243.38/ton (KC self-haul MSW)
Typical dump fee range
Fee basis
Per ton (weighed at scale) with flat minimum for small loads
Common materials
Biggest cost trap
King County self-haul rate is $243.38/ton in 2026 — nearly 4x the national average. Contract hauler rate is $191.47/ton. Fees projected to exceed $413/ton by 2034. Every pound on the scale matters more in Seattle than almost any other US metro.
Typical Costs in Seattle
Baseline pricing before you dig into individual facilities.
MSW (Household Junk)
$40.25 minimum (KC) – $243.38/ton (KC self-haul 2026)
$40.25 per vehicle at King County stations (covers up to 320 lbs)
Basis: Per ton (weighed at scale); flat minimum for small loads
infoKing County operates 8 transfer stations with a 2026 self-haul MSW rate of $243.38/ton — among the highest in the nation, nearly 4x the national average of $62/ton. The $40.25 minimum covers up to approximately 320 lbs. Contract haulers (operators who qualify through KC Solid Waste Division) pay $191.47/ton — a $52/ton savings. Cedar Hills Regional Landfill is NOT open to the public; all waste routes through transfer stations. Snohomish County's Southwest Transfer Station charges $160/ton ($30 minimum) — significantly cheaper for operators working the north side. Fees are projected to exceed $413/ton by 2034. Mandatory recycling sort since 2018: cardboard, metal, and yard waste banned from garbage.
1Contract hauler rate ($191.47/ton) saves $52/ton versus self-haul ($243.38/ton) — qualify through KC SWD at (206) 477-4466
2Snohomish County at $160/ton is $83/ton cheaper than KC self-haul — route north-side jobs to Southwest Transfer Station in Mountlake Terrace
3Mandatory free recycling at all KC stations (cardboard, metal, yard waste) — every pound diverted saves $0.12+ at these rates
Yard Waste & Clean Wood
$20.70 flat (sedans) – $129.38/ton (other vehicles)
$20.70 for sedans
Basis: Flat rate for sedans; per ton for larger vehicles
infoKing County charges $129.38/ton for yard waste and clean wood from non-sedan vehicles — 47% cheaper than the $243.38/ton garbage rate. Sedans pay only $20.70 flat for yard waste. This makes yard waste separation the highest-ROI sorting activity in the Seattle market. On a 2-ton load with 30% yard waste, separating the green waste saves approximately $68. Snohomish County Southwest Transfer Station has SUSPENDED yard waste acceptance since September 2022 — yard waste from Snohomish County jobs must go elsewhere.
Specialty Items & Surcharges
$25/vehicle (unsecured load) – $30/mattress surcharge
$25 unsecured load fee
Basis: Per item or per vehicle
infoKing County mattress surcharge: $30 per unit, limit 6 per day. Tires: limit 4 car tires per load (included in minimum fee). Appliances with refrigerant: fee per unit — call to confirm. Electronics/e-waste: NOT accepted at transfer stations — use Factoria HHW facility. Unsecured load fee: $25 per vehicle. Cardboard and scrap metal recycling: FREE (mandatory sort). Vehicle length limit: 40 feet at Bow Lake, Factoria, and Shoreline; 30 feet at Houghton. Snohomish County unsecured load fine: $20.
Scrap Metal Revenue
Revenue — copper $3.80–$4.30/lb at West Seattle Recycling
N/A — generates revenue
Basis: Per pound at scrap yards
infoAt $243.38/ton, every pound of metal diverted from the KC scale is worth more in Seattle than in almost any other metro. West Seattle Recycling (3881 16th Ave SW, Mon–Sat 10 AM–5:30 PM) pays: copper #1 $3.80–$4.30/lb, copper #2 $3.70–$3.90/lb, insulated copper wire $2.70–$3.30/lb, brass $2.00–$3.25/lb, aluminum cans $0.24–$0.30/lb, stainless steel $0.17–$0.23/lb, steel/iron at 2¢/lb (300+ lbs). Print their online coupon for +3¢/lb bonus on aluminum, copper, and brass. Car batteries: $4 each. Does NOT accept glass, plastic, TVs, computers, refrigerators, tires, or catalytic converters.
Facilities in Seattle
Recommended facilities first, then additional options.
Top Recommended (4)
Bow Lake Recycling & Transfer Station
Busiest KC station with 24-hour weekday access — handles approximately 1/3 of total KC tonnageRate
MSW: $243.38/ton self-haul · $191.47/ton contract haulers. Yard waste: $20.70 flat (sedans) · $129.38/ton (other). Mattress: $30/unit. Unsecured load: $25.
$40.25 per vehicle (covers up to ~320 lbs)
Hours
Mon–Thu 24 hours · Fri 12:00 AM – 11:30 PM · Sat–Sun 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Area
Tukwila (18800 Orillia Rd S, Tukwila, WA 98188)
Busiest station in the KC system — handles approximately one-third of total tonnage. The 24-hour weekday access is unique and valuable for operators running late-day or early-morning dump runs. Accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, cash, and Apple Pay. Waste charge accounts available through KC SWD at (206) 477-4466. 40-foot maximum vehicle + trailer length. Mandatory recycling sort — cardboard, metal, and yard waste must be separated from garbage. Avoid Saturday mornings — consistently the busiest time. Weekday mornings (Mon–Wed) are least crowded.
Factoria Recycling & Transfer Station (+ HHW)
Only KC station with integrated HHW collection — essential for operators encountering hazardous items on the EastsideRate
MSW: $243.38/ton self-haul. HHW: FREE for KC residents (30 gal limit).
$40.25
Hours
Station: Mon–Fri 6:30 AM – 4:00 PM · Sat–Sun 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM | HHW: Tue–Fri 8 AM – 4 PM · Sat–Sun 9 AM – 5 PM · Closed Mon
Area
Bellevue (13800 SE 32nd St, Bellevue, WA 98005)
The ONLY KC facility with integrated HHW collection — junk removal operators encounter hazardous items (paint, solvents, batteries, propane) on virtually every residential cleanout. Batch-drop HHW here between Eastside jobs. Seattle residents may also use HHW. Same MSW pricing as all KC stations. HHW free for King County residents, limit 30 gallons. Latex paint is NOT hazardous — use PaintCare drop-off locations (free) instead.
Snohomish County Southwest Transfer Station
$83/ton cheaper than King County at $160/ton — the go-to for operators working north of SeattleRate
MSW: $160/ton + tax. G-Certificated haulers: $149/ton. Unsecured load: $20.
$30 (covers up to 360 lbs)
Hours
7 days/week 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Area
Mountlake Terrace (21311 61st Place West, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043)
Snohomish County-operated — at $160/ton, this is $83/ton cheaper than King County self-haul ($243.38/ton) and $31/ton cheaper than KC contract hauler rate ($191.47/ton). For operators working the north side (Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline border), routing here instead of a KC station saves significant money. G-Certificated haulers pay $149/ton. Open 7 days a week. IMPORTANT: yard waste has been SUSPENDED since September 2022 — not accepted. Trailers over 18 feet restricted before 3:30 PM weekdays and 1 PM weekends. Credit/debit preferred, cash and check accepted.
West Seattle Recycling (Scrap Metal)
Turn scrap metal into revenue — copper at $3.80–$4.30/lb is especially profitable at Seattle disposal ratesRate
Copper #1: $3.80–$4.30/lb. Copper #2: $3.70–$3.90/lb. Insulated wire: $2.70–$3.30/lb. Brass: $2.00–$3.25/lb. Aluminum cans: $0.24–$0.30/lb. Stainless: $0.17–$0.23/lb. Steel/iron: $0.02/lb (300+ lbs).
No minimum — bring any amount
Hours
Mon–Sat 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM · Closed Sun
Area
West Seattle (3881 16th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106)
At $243.38/ton disposal, every pound of metal diverted from the KC scale is worth more here than in almost any other metro. Print the online coupon for +3¢/lb bonus on aluminum, copper, and brass. Does NOT accept glass, plastic, TVs, computers, refrigerators, tires, or catalytic converters. For appliance recycling, Habitat for Humanity Store in Bellevue (13500 Bel-Red Rd) accepts working appliances 10 years or newer — free donation with potential pickup via Resupply partner.
Rules & Restrictions
Know before you go — avoid rejected loads and fines.
King County mandatory recycling sort since 2018 — cardboard, metal, and yard waste are BANNED from garbage at all KC transfer stations. Separate these materials before arriving or face rejection.
Seattle and Milton residents CANNOT use King County transfer stations (except Factoria HHW). KC stations serve the 37-city KC service area only. Operators must live or do business in the service area to qualify for waste charge accounts.
Electronics/e-waste are NOT accepted at KC transfer stations. Use Factoria HHW (Tue–Sun) or Seattle HHW facilities (North: 12550 Stone Ave N; South: 8105 5th Ave S).
KC waste charge accounts available at (206) 477-4466. Contract haulers qualify for $191.47/ton vs. $243.38/ton self-haul — must prove eligibility (live/do business in KC's 37-city service area).
Unsecured load fee: $25 per vehicle at KC stations, $20 at Snohomish County. Always tarp — at these rates, the $25 fee is the least of your concerns.
Vehicle length limits: 30 feet at Houghton, 40 feet at Bow Lake/Factoria/Shoreline. Snohomish County restricts trailers over 18 feet before 3:30 PM weekdays and 1 PM weekends.
King County's $243.38/ton self-haul rate is nearly 4x the national average and projected to exceed $413/ton by 2034. This makes Seattle the most expensive disposal market in the continental US. Every diversion dollar has outsized impact.
Snohomish County at $160/ton is $83/ton cheaper than KC self-haul — a 34% savings. For a 2-ton load, that is $166 saved per trip. North-side operators should route to Mountlake Terrace whenever job origin allows.
Bow Lake operates 24 hours Monday through Thursday — the only facility in the metro with overnight access. Use for early-morning or late-night dump runs that no other station can accommodate.
Cost-Saving Tips
Margin protection playbook — sorting, timing, and routing.
Sorting Strategy
Separate yard waste from every load — at $129.38/ton versus $243.38/ton for garbage, yard waste separation saves $114/ton. On a 2-ton load with 30% green waste, that is approximately $68 saved per load. This is the single highest-ROI sorting activity in the Seattle market.
Divert ALL metals to West Seattle Recycling or other scrap yards. At $243.38/ton disposal, even low-value steel at $0.02/lb generates net savings of approximately $0.24/lb ($0.02 scrap revenue + $0.22 avoided disposal). Copper at $3.80–$4.30/lb makes metal separation extraordinarily profitable in this market.
Donate usable furniture and working appliances (10 years or newer) to Habitat for Humanity Store in Bellevue, Auburn, or Tukwila — free pickup via Resupply partner. Mattresses are NOT accepted. At KC rates, every 100 lbs donated saves approximately $12 in disposal fees.
Timing Strategy
Bow Lake operates 24 hours Monday through Thursday — dump at 5 AM before starting your route, or at 10 PM after finishing late jobs. No other metro facility offers this flexibility.
Avoid Saturday mornings at all KC stations — consistently the busiest time. Weekday mornings (Mon–Wed) are least crowded. Snohomish County is open 7 days starting at 7 AM.
Factoria HHW is closed Mondays. Schedule hazardous waste batch-drops for Tuesday through Sunday. North Seattle HHW (Stone Ave) is open Sunday–Tuesday; South Seattle HHW (5th Ave S) is open Thursday–Saturday.
Routing Strategy
North Seattle and border jobs (Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace): route to Snohomish County Southwest Transfer Station at $160/ton instead of KC stations at $243.38/ton. The $83/ton savings is $166 on a 2-ton load — worth the drive from anywhere in north Seattle.
South Seattle, Tukwila, and south-end jobs: Bow Lake Transfer Station with 24-hour weekday access and 40-foot vehicle limit. The busiest station but the most flexible hours.
Eastside jobs (Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond): Factoria for MSW + HHW combo drops. Houghton for smaller rigs (30-foot limit only). Always check if the job origin qualifies for Snohomish County routing.
Best Practice
At $243.38/ton, Seattle has the highest disposal costs in the continental US — making diversion the single most important margin lever. Every pound of yard waste separated ($114/ton savings), every pound of metal sold ($3.80+/lb for copper), and every load routed to Snohomish County ($83/ton savings) directly impacts profitability. ScaleYourJunk logs dump fees per job automatically so you can track your actual blended cost across KC and Snohomish facilities — and quantify exactly how much sorting and routing optimization saves per week.
$243/Ton Makes Every Pound Count — Track Everything
ScaleYourJunk tracks disposal costs per job so you know exactly how much yard waste separation, metal diversion, and Snohomish routing saves you each week.
Dump Fees in Seattle: FAQ
Related Resources
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Facility data and disposal options for operators also servicing the Portland market, 175 miles south on I-5.
FeatureLoad-Based Pricing Engine
Build accurate disposal costs into every quote with volume-based pricing tiers.
$243/Ton — The Most Expensive Disposal Market in the Continental US
ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job so you can quantify exactly how much sorting, metal diversion, and Snohomish County routing saves your operation each week.
Dump fee tracking included in all plans — Starter $149/mo