SF Bay Area Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators
The most expensive disposal market in the US — $50–$262/ton depending on routing. Facility access, diversion strategies, and margin survival in 2026.
Last updated: Mar 2026
$50–$262/ton
Typical dump fee range
Fee basis
Per ton at all facilities
Common materials
Biggest cost trap
Recology's SF Transfer Station charges $261.95/ton for MSW — over 4x the national average. But direct landfill accounts at Altamont or Vasco Road run $50–$54/ton. The $210/ton spread is the difference between profitability and failure.
Typical Costs in SF Bay Area
Baseline pricing before you dig into individual facilities.
MSW (Household Junk)
$50–$262/ton
$38–$60 (facility-dependent)
Basis: Per ton
infoThe range is massive because routing determines everything. Recology SF Transfer Station: $261.95/ton with a $60 minimum. Altamont Landfill (WM) direct commercial accounts: ~$50–$54/ton per Livermore contract data. Vasco Road (Republic): ~$50/ton contract rate. The $210/ton spread between SF Transfer and direct landfill access is the single most important cost lever for Bay Area operators. Recology rates increased 12.24% in October 2025, with further proposed increases of 10.07% (2026), 6.27% (2027), and 5.74% (2028).
1Establish a direct commercial account at Altamont Landfill (~$50–$54/ton) or Vasco Road (~$50/ton) instead of using Recology SF Transfer ($262/ton) — saves $210/ton per load
2Factor in 2+ hours round-trip and bridge tolls when hauling from SF to Livermore — the per-ton savings justify the drive on loads over 1 ton
C&D (Construction Debris)
$38–$262/ton
$38–$60 (facility-dependent)
Basis: Per ton or per cubic yard
infoZanker Recycling in San Jose charges per cubic yard — competitive for sorted C&D loads. South San Francisco Scavenger has a $38 minimum with per-ton rates by material type. California requires 65% C&D diversion on permitted projects. Route sorted materials to dedicated recycling facilities for the lowest rates.
1Route C&D to Zanker Recycling in San Jose for per-cubic-yard pricing that benefits lighter, bulkier loads
2Keep C&D diversion documentation for all permitted projects — California requires 65% minimum diversion from landfill
Green & Yard Waste
Varies by facility
$38–$60 (facility-dependent)
Basis: Per ton
infoGreen waste rates vary significantly across the 9-county metro. SB 1383 mandates aggressive organic waste diversion. Bay Area jurisdictions are among the most aggressive in California in enforcing organic diversion requirements. Separate all organic material from every load — composting facilities may accept green waste at lower rates than MSW disposal.
1Separate green waste for composting facilities that charge less than MSW disposal rates
2SB 1383 compliance is strictly enforced in Bay Area — separate all organic material from every load to avoid penalties
Surcharges & Specialty Items
$3–$20+ per item
Per-item fees apply
Basis: Per item or per load
infoRecology SF Transfer charges $20/load for uncovered loads. Fluorescent lamps are $3 each over 30/month (first 30 free). E-waste up to 30 items/month is free IF delivered without other waste — mixed with trash means full tipping fee on the entire load. Bay Area bridge tolls (Bay Bridge, San Mateo Bridge, Dumbarton Bridge) add $5–$7 per crossing via FasTrak. Factor tolls into your routing calculations.
1Deliver e-waste separately from other loads at Recology SF — up to 30 items/month free when not mixed with trash
2Factor FasTrak bridge tolls into every cross-bay routing calculation — $5–$7 per crossing adds up fast on daily dump runs
Facilities in SF Bay Area
Recommended facilities first, then additional options.
Top Recommended (4)
Altamont Landfill & Resource Recovery (Waste Management)
Direct commercial accounts — lowest per-ton rate in the Bay Area at ~$50–$54/tonRate
~$50–$54/ton (municipal contract rate per Livermore 2025 bid data); self-haul rates higher
Call for current minimums
Hours
Mon–Fri 6AM–4PM; closed weekends and holidays
Area
Livermore (eastern Alameda County — ~55 miles from SF, ~35 miles from Oakland)
The primary Bay Area landfill and the lowest-cost disposal option for operators who can justify the drive. Municipal contract rates (~$50–$54/ton) are dramatically lower than Recology's SF rate ($262/ton) because they exclude collection and transfer markup. Direct commercial accounts may get better rates than routing through SF's transfer station. Accepts MSW from all 9 Bay Area counties (Alameda, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Contra Costa, San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara). Does NOT accept waste from outside the 9-county Bay Area. Contact WM directly to set up a commercial account.
Vasco Road Landfill (Republic Services)
Direct commercial accounts — competitive alternative to Altamont at ~$50/tonRate
~$50/ton ($50.31/ton total: $19.93 government fee + $30.38 base rate per Livermore 2025 bid)
Call Republic Services for current minimums
Hours
Call Republic Services for current hours
Area
Livermore (eastern Alameda County)
Second major Bay Area landfill, also in eastern Alameda County near Altamont. Republic offered slightly lower rates than WM Altamont in the 2025 Livermore disposal contract bid ($50.31/ton vs. WM's rate). Worth pursuing a direct commercial account, especially if you already have a Republic relationship. Compare terms with Altamont to get the best pricing.
Zanker Recycling (GreenWaste Recovery)
C&D processing and recycling in the South Bay — competitive rates for sorted loadsRate
Call (408) 263-0555 for current rates
Call for current minimums
Hours
Call (408) 263-0555 for current hours
Area
San Jose (South Bay)
Major South Bay recycling and C&D processing facility. Per-cubic-yard pricing benefits lighter, bulkier loads compared to per-ton facilities. California's Bye Bye Mattress program provides free mattress recycling at participating facilities — divert mattresses here instead of landfilling. Zanker's 75%+ diversion rate satisfies California's C&D diversion requirements for permitted projects. Ideal for renovation and construction debris loads from South Bay jobs.
SA Recycling & Independent Scrap Yards
Scrap metal, appliances, and ferrous/non-ferrous recycling — get paid instead of payingRate
Market rates — multiple Bay Area locations
No minimum
Hours
Varies by location
Area
Multiple locations across the Bay Area (Oakland, Richmond, San Jose)
SA Recycling has multiple Bay Area locations. Schnitzer Steel (SIMS) operates in Oakland and Richmond with roll-off service available for regular accounts. At $262/ton disposal costs in SF, diverting metals to scrap yards is not optional — it is existential for profitability. California scrap rules: photo ID required for all transactions, check payment for copper and certain materials per Penal Code §21608.5. Keep documentation for all scrap sales.
Rules & Restrictions
Know before you go — avoid rejected loads and fines.
Recology holds exclusive franchise rights in San Francisco — all waste generated in SF technically must go through Recology's system. Understand the franchise rules before routing waste outside the system.
Altamont Landfill does NOT accept waste from outside the 9 Bay Area counties (Alameda, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Contra Costa, San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara).
It is illegal to dispose of electronic waste in California landfills. CRTs, monitors, TVs, computers, and other covered devices must go to certified e-waste recyclers.
California Vehicle Code §23115 requires all vehicles hauling refuse or recyclables to cover loads. Penalties range from $20/load (South SF Scavenger) to higher amounts at other facilities. State law — not just facility rules.
Set up direct commercial accounts at Altamont (WM) and/or Vasco Road (Republic) for contract rates of ~$50–$54/ton — dramatically cheaper than Recology SF Transfer ($262/ton).
California SB 1383 requires 75% reduction in organic waste disposal by 2025. Bay Area jurisdictions are among the most aggressive enforcers. Separate all organics from every load.
California requires 65% C&D diversion on permitted projects. Keep all diversion documentation from Zanker Recycling and other certified facilities for permit compliance.
The $210/ton spread between Recology SF Transfer ($262/ton) and direct landfill accounts ($50–$54/ton) is the single most important cost lever in the Bay Area. Your routing strategy determines profitability.
Recology proposed rate increases of 10.07% (2026), 6.27% (2027), and 5.74% (2028) on top of the October 2025 12.24% increase. SF disposal costs will continue climbing.
Bay Area bridge tolls (Bay Bridge, San Mateo Bridge, Dumbarton Bridge) add $5–$7 per crossing via FasTrak. Factor tolls into every cross-bay routing calculation.
San Francisco has a zero-waste-to-landfill goal — aggressive diversion requirements create demand for operators who can sort and route materials properly. Position yourself as a diversion-first operator to command premium pricing.
Cost-Saving Tips
Margin protection playbook — sorting, timing, and routing.
Sorting Strategy
At $262/ton in SF, sorting is not optional — it is existential. A single unsorted 3-ton junk load costs $786 in dump fees at Recology. Separate metals, wood, green waste, recyclables, and reusable items from every job before heading to any facility. Every pound diverted directly improves margin.
Route reusable items to Habitat for Humanity ReStore (East Bay and Silicon Valley locations), Goodwill (multiple Bay Area affiliates), or Building REsources in SF (3130 Cesar Chavez — specializes in building materials, hardware, and fixtures). Tax-deductible donation receipts provided.
Divert mattresses to participating Bye Bye Mattress program facilities for free recycling — California's $10.50 recycling fee on new purchases funds this program. Never landfill a mattress in California when a free recycling option exists.
Timing Strategy
Altamont Landfill is open Monday through Friday only (6AM–4PM), closed weekends and holidays. Plan your dump runs during the week. For weekend jobs, stage loads and haul Monday morning.
Recology SF Transfer closes at 6PM weekdays and 5PM Saturdays — plan your last SF dump run to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing to clear the scale.
Routing Strategy
Direct landfill accounts at Altamont (~$50–$54/ton) or Vasco Road (~$50/ton) save $210/ton versus Recology SF Transfer ($262/ton). The drive from SF is ~55 miles (2+ hours round-trip), but the per-ton savings justify the trip on any load over 1 ton. Even from Oakland (~35 miles), the savings are massive.
For Peninsula jobs (San Mateo County), South SF Scavenger avoids bridge tolls and long drives to Livermore. The $38 minimum is the lowest in the metro. Compare per-ton rates against the total cost (toll + fuel + time) of driving to Altamont.
For South Bay jobs, Zanker Recycling in San Jose offers competitive per-cubic-yard rates for C&D and is the go-to for C&D processing with certified diversion documentation.
Best Practice
Track dump fees per job and per facility in ScaleYourJunk to monitor your true disposal cost as a percentage of revenue. In the Bay Area, the difference between routing through Recology SF ($262/ton) versus direct landfill accounts ($50–$54/ton) can mean the difference between a profitable operation and going broke. The platform logs every dump run so you can compare routing strategies and optimize your disposal costs across the 9-county metro.
Track Every Dump Fee Across the Bay Area
ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job, per facility, and rolls them into per-truck P&L reports. At $50–$262/ton, your routing strategy IS your profit margin.
Dump Fees in SF Bay Area: FAQ
Related Resources
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Track Every Dump Fee Automatically
ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job, per facility, and rolls them into per-truck P&L reports. In the Bay Area at $50–$262/ton, your routing strategy IS your profit margin.
Dump fee tracking included in all plans — Starter $149/mo