SF Bay Area Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators

Direct commercial accounts at Altamont Landfill (WM) or Vasco Road Landfill (Republic Services) in Livermore offer rates of approximately $50–$54/ton — the lowest in the Bay Area. These are roughly $210/ton cheaper than Recology's SF Transfer Station at $261.95/ton. The trade-off is drive time: Altamont is ~55 miles from SF and ~35 miles from Oakland, requiring 2+ hours round-trip plus bridge tolls. For loads over 1 ton, the per-ton savings easily justify the drive. Contact WM or Republic directly to set up a commercial account.

Recology holds a monopoly franchise for waste collection in San Francisco, and their $261.95/ton rate includes collection, transfer, and long-haul transportation costs to Altamont Landfill in Livermore (~55 miles away). The rate also reflects San Francisco's aggressive zero-waste goals and environmental mandates. Rates increased 12.24% in October 2025, with further proposed increases of 10.07% (2026), 6.27% (2027), and 5.74% (2028). The national average MSW tipping fee is $62.28/ton (EREF 2024), making SF over 4x the national average. Direct landfill rates at Altamont are ~$50–$54/ton — the $210/ton markup covers Recology's collection and transfer infrastructure.

Yes, but with caveats. Altamont Landfill accepts MSW from all 9 Bay Area counties and you can set up a direct WM commercial account. However, San Francisco waste technically must go through Recology's franchise system. Verify the franchise rules before routing SF-generated waste directly to Altamont. For waste generated in other Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, etc.), direct hauling to Altamont or Vasco Road is straightforward. Altamont is open Monday through Friday 6AM–4PM only — closed weekends and holidays.

Zanker Recycling in San Jose is the major South Bay C&D processing facility with competitive per-cubic-yard rates for sorted materials. Their 75%+ diversion rate satisfies California's C&D permit requirements. For East Bay operators, several recycling facilities serve the Alameda and Contra Costa County areas. California requires at least 65% C&D diversion on permitted projects — keep all documentation from certified recycling facilities. Clean concrete, wood, and metals should always be separated from mixed C&D for the lowest rates.

Bay Bridge, San Mateo Bridge, and Dumbarton Bridge tolls are $5–$7 per crossing via FasTrak, depending on the bridge and time of day. For operators making daily cross-bay dump runs from SF or the Peninsula to Altamont in Livermore, tolls add $10–$14 per round trip. Over 20 working days per month, that is $200–$280 in bridge tolls alone. Factor this into your routing cost calculations when comparing Recology SF Transfer ($262/ton, no tolls) against Altamont ($50–$54/ton plus tolls, fuel, and 2+ hours of drive time). The landfill savings still dominate on loads over 1–2 tons.

Yes. California's Bye Bye Mattress program, funded by a $10.50 recycling fee on new mattress purchases, provides free collection and recycling at participating facilities across the Bay Area. South SF Scavenger and multiple other transfer stations participate in the program. At $262/ton in SF, a single mattress weighing 100 lbs costs roughly $13 to landfill — diverting it to free recycling eliminates that cost entirely. Never landfill a mattress in California when a free recycling option exists. Check byebyemattress.com for the nearest participating drop-off location.