Atlanta Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators

Cobb County TS: ~$60/ton resident, $70/ton non-resident. DeKalb Seminole Road: $95/ton (tripled from $33 in 2023). Merk Miles (South Fulton): $110/ton. GA statewide average $55.76/ton. WM/Republic unpublished rates typically $75-$95/ton. Private Gwinnett facilities run $80-$105/ton. North Fulton TS charges $85/ton for non-residents. Cherokee County maintains lower $58/ton rate but requires Cherokee origin proof.

• Cobb at ~$60/ton cheapest documented public rate — save $35/ton vs DeKalb
• DeKalb 2023 tripling pushed operators to explore private alternatives — negotiate WM/Republic accounts for predictable pricing
• Weekend surcharges add $10-15/ton at some facilities — plan Tuesday-Thursday runs
• Volume discounts kick in at 500+ tons/year with private haulers — potential 10-15% savings for high-volume operators

WM Chadwick Road Roswell: $50 min for loads up to 2,000 lbs — best C&D deal in metro. Cobb: ~$60/ton. DeKalb: $95/ton at Seminole Road only. Cherokee C&D facility: $62/ton. Private C&D processors in Gwinnett: $70-$85/ton. Clean concrete recyclers: $15-25/ton. Mixed C&D with gypsum/hazmat: $120-$150/ton surcharge. Separated wood waste: $35-$45/ton at dedicated processors.

• WM Chadwick Rd $50 min best C&D option — save $10-45/ton vs alternatives
• DeKalb TSs reject C&D — route to Seminole Road or pay private facility premiums
• Separate clean concrete to save $35-80/ton vs mixed C&D disposal
• Wood waste separation saves $25-65/ton at dedicated wood recyclers vs MSW rates

SA Recycling Atlanta: copper ~$4.65/lb, aluminum ~$0.75/lb, steel ~$0.12/lb. Schnitzer Northeast: copper $4.50/lb, aluminum $0.72/lb. PSC Metals: competitive rates but requires 500+ lb minimums. At $60⁠–⁠$110/ton disposal, metal separation offsets tipping fees and generates $200-500/ton revenue on metal-heavy jobs. Appliance compressors: $15-25 each. Copper pipe: $3.50-4.65/lb. Aluminum siding: $0.65-0.85/lb.

• SA Recycling copper at ~$4.65/lb generates meaningful revenue — $100+ per water heater job
• Separate appliance compressors and copper pipe for premium pricing vs mixed metals
• Steel separation saves $60-110/ton disposal while earning $0.12/lb — net $300+ savings per ton
• Route aluminum-heavy jobs (siding, gutters) separately — premium rates justify extra trip

Freon appliances: $48 DeKalb, $5 Cobb, $25 Cherokee, $35 private facilities. Tires: $10 DeKalb (max 10/visit, personal only — commercial banned), $15 Cobb, $12 Cherokee. Mattresses: $15 Cobb, $20 DeKalb, $25 private facilities. DeKalb min scale fee $48 (under 999 lbs). Paint disposal: $5-8/gallon at CHaRM. Electronics: $0.40-0.70/lb at certified recyclers. Propane tanks: $15-25 each. Used oil filters: $2-4 each.

• Cobb $5/unit Freon appliance cheapest in metro vs $48 DeKalb — route appliance jobs accordingly
• DeKalb bans commercial tires entirely — use Cherokee ($12) or private tire recyclers
• Mattress consolidation saves surcharges — combine multiple jobs to one facility
• Paint separation to CHaRM saves $40-70/ton vs hazmat disposal rates

GFL-operated facility at 1700 County Services Pkwy, Marietta. Cheapest documented public rate in metro. Freon appliances only $5 vs $48 at DeKalb. Accepts MSW + C&D in same load. Requires Cobb County business license or residency proof for resident rates. Scale house accepts cash/check. Long lines Saturday mornings — avoid 7-10AM weekends. Commercial accounts get priority lane access.

WM C&D landfill specializing in construction debris. $50 min hard to beat for small C&D loads. Over 2,000 lbs charged at $50/ton — still competitive. Clean concrete accepted at $25/ton. No MSW accepted. Requires commercial WM account setup — 2-3 business days processing. Scale house closes 15 minutes early. Rejects loads with >10% non-C&D contamination. Popular with contractors — plan around 2-4PM rush.

Largest scrap operation in Southeast. Doraville location most convenient for north metro jobs. Separate metals from every load — typical water heater yields $35-55. They provide sorting guidance and material identification. Cash payment same day. Bring photo ID for first visit. Prices fluctuate weekly based on commodity markets. Track aluminum vs steel pricing — some weeks aluminum siding pays better separated vs mixed metals.

County-operated facility 35 miles north of Atlanta. Accepts out-of-county waste at reasonable $68/ton rate — no origin restrictions like other counties. C&D accepted at same MSW rate. Electronics recycling available. Tire disposal $12 vs $15 at Cobb. Clean, efficient operation with minimal wait times. Worth the drive for large loads from north metro jobs. Cash or check accepted.

Free pickup available with 1⁠–⁠2 week scheduling lead time. At $60⁠–⁠$110/ton disposal costs, diversion essential for margin protection. Decatur location most central for metro coverage. Items must be in sellable condition — working appliances, clean furniture. They reject particle board furniture and broken items. Building materials like cabinets, doors, windows accepted if reusable. Provides tax receipts for donated items. Call ahead for large furniture pickup scheduling.