Dump Fee Guide

Boston Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators

Massachusetts has the highest disposal costs in the US at ~$123/ton avg. WTE facilities, C&D processors, and the MA waste ban list in 2026.

See Facilities See Tips

Last updated: Mar 2026

At a Glance

Fee range

$85–$140+/ton (estimated)

Per ton, negotiated per commercial account

Facilities listed: 5
MA avg disposal: ~$123/ton
Mattress surcharge: $75 each
Updated: Mar 2026

MSW
C&D
Yard Waste (banned from disposal)
Mattresses
E-Waste

Biggest cost trap: Massachusetts bans 14+ material categories from disposal — including yard waste, mattresses, textiles, metals, concrete, asphalt, and clean wood. Mixing banned materials into MSW loads triggers penalties or load rejection. Operators must sort and route each material stream separately.

Disposal costs

Typical Costs in Boston

Baseline pricing before you dig into individual facilities.

MSW (Household Junk)

$85–$140+/ton (estimated)

Minimum: Negotiated per account
Basis: Per ton

Show detailsHide details

Massachusetts has the highest MSW disposal costs in the US at approximately $122.63/ton (BioCycle; Waste Business Journal). The national average is $62.28/ton (EREF 2024 Analysis of MSW Landfill Tipping Fees). Boston-area WTE facilities (Reworld, WIN Waste) run $95⁠–⁠$140/ton for commercial accounts per the WasteDoor October 2025 survey, with volume accounts trending to the lower end. Historical Boston municipal bid data (2019): WTE bids $80⁠–⁠$94/ton, Republic transfer station bids $108⁠–⁠$122/ton (Waste Dive). Individual commercial hauler rates are higher than municipal contract rates. J.G. Grant Co. publishes $225/ton with $225 minimum for C&D; Mello Disposal in Georgetown publishes $300/ton retail for MSW — negotiate commercial pricing. Massachusetts waste bans are codified at 310 CMR 19.017 (MassDEP).

Negotiate a commercial account with volume commitments at a WTE facility (Reworld or WIN Waste) for the lowest per-ton rates
WTE facilities generally offer lower per-ton rates than transfer stations — route MSW to WTE when possible

C&D (Construction Debris)

$40–$120/ton (estimated)

Minimum: Varies by material cleanliness
Basis: Per ton

Show detailsHide details

Clean, separated C&D loads can run $40⁠–⁠$70/ton at dedicated C&D recyclers. Mixed C&D is $75⁠–⁠$120/ton. WTE facilities generally do NOT accept C&D — it is non-combustible. Use dedicated C&D processors like ReSource Roxbury and James G. Grant instead of general MSW facilities. Massachusetts bans concrete, asphalt, brick, metal, and clean wood from disposal — these must be recycled.

Route C&D to dedicated processors for $40⁠–⁠$70/ton on clean loads — significantly cheaper than mixed C&D at $75⁠–⁠$120/ton
Concrete, asphalt, brick, metal, and clean wood are banned from MA disposal — recycling them is cheaper and legally required

Green & Yard Waste

$30–$75/ton

Minimum: Varies by facility
Basis: Per ton or per bag

Show detailsHide details

Yard waste is BANNED from disposal in Massachusetts — it must be composted. Mello Disposal charges $75/ton for grass clippings and leaves, $2/bag for leaves. Other composting facilities range $30⁠–⁠$65/ton. This ban means yard waste loads cannot go to landfills or WTE facilities — route to designated composting sites. Factor this separate routing into yard waste job pricing.

Yard waste is banned from disposal — route to composting facilities at $30⁠–⁠$65/ton instead of mixing with MSW and getting rejected
Price yard waste jobs to account for separate disposal routing — it cannot go to the same facility as household junk

Surcharges & Specialty Items

$5–$300+ each

Minimum: Per-item fees apply
Basis: Per item

Show detailsHide details

Mello Disposal published surcharges (only facility with published rates): mattresses $75 each, freon appliances $50 each, dishwasher $20, washer/dryer $30 each, stove $30, car tires $10 ($25 with rim), truck tires $20 ($75 with rim), electronics $5⁠–⁠$10 each. Scale fee $5. City of Boston Commercial Hauler Permit: $300 per truck, renewed every 2 years. College move-in/move-out season (August 25 – September 5) generates enormous waste volumes — price accordingly.

Stock PPE on every truck — WM facilities require hard hat, safety vest, safety-toe shoes, and eye protection. Drivers without PPE are turned away
Avoid Storrow Drive at all costs — 10-foot clearance with frequent truck strikes. No commercial vehicles allowed.

Local guide

Facilities in Boston

Recommended facilities first, then additional options.

Top recommended (3)

Reworld SEMASS — Rochester, MA

WTE facility serving southeastern MA — lower per-ton rates for volume accounts

MSW
Commercial waste

Rate: Call for commercial rates or use Reworld Customer Gateway at gateway.reworldwaste.com
Minimum: Negotiated per account
Hours: Call for current commercial delivery hours
Area: Rochester, MA (southeastern Massachusetts)

Show full detailsHide details

Reworld-operated waste-to-energy facility. WTE facilities generally offer the lowest per-ton MSW rates in the Boston metro for volume accounts — historical bids suggest $80⁠–⁠$94/ton range for municipal contracts. Does NOT accept C&D (non-combustible). Contact Reworld via 'Talk to an Expert' form at reworldwaste.com or Customer Gateway for account setup.

Republic Services — Quincy Transfer Station

Closest major transfer station to downtown Boston for MSW

MSW
C&D debris
Commercial waste

Rate: Call for commercial rates — not publicly posted
Minimum: Negotiated per account
Hours: Mon–Fri 8AM–5PM, Sat 8AM–12PM, Sun closed
Area: Quincy, MA (south of Boston — closest major TS to downtown)

Show full detailsHide details

Republic Services-operated transfer station and the closest major MSW facility to downtown Boston. Historical municipal bid data suggests Republic transfer station rates of $108⁠–⁠$122/ton — individual commercial rates will vary. Republic also acquired JRM Hauling in the Boston area. Contact facility directly for account setup and rate negotiation.

Donation Centers — Habitat ReStore, Goodwill, Salvation Army

Furniture, appliances, household goods — critical for diversion in MA's high-cost disposal market

Furniture
Working appliances
Household goods
Building materials (Habitat)
Clothing

Rate: Free drop-off; tax-deductible receipts provided
Minimum: No minimum
Hours: Varies by location
Area: Multiple locations across Greater Boston

Show full detailsHide details

At $85⁠–⁠$140+/ton disposal costs, donation diversion is essential for profitability. Habitat for Humanity ReStore accepts furniture, appliances, and building materials. Goodwill and Salvation Army accept clothing, household goods, and small furniture. At $120/ton, diverting a 500-lb couch saves $30 in dump fees. Boston's college move-in/move-out season (late August/early September) generates enormous donation-quality volume — build donation routing into every job.

Show 2 more facilitiesHide 2 additional facilities

WM MJ Connolly Transfer Station — Everett, MA

Early-morning dumps starting at 4:30AM — MSW only, no C&D

MSW only

Rate: Call for commercial rates — not publicly posted
Minimum: Negotiated per account
Hours: Mon–Fri 4:30AM–3:30PM, Sat–Sun closed
Area: Everett, MA (north of Boston)

Show full detailsHide details

WM-operated transfer station with the earliest opening time in the metro at 4:30AM — ideal for dump runs before your first job. MSW only — does NOT accept C&D. All drivers MUST bring own PPE: hard hat, safety vest, safety-toe shoes, eye protection. Drivers without PPE will be turned away. No weekend hours.

Mello Disposal Transfer Station — Georgetown, MA

Only facility with published retail rates — $300/ton MSW retail, negotiate commercial pricing

MSW
Yard waste (grass/leaves)
Mattresses
Tires
Appliances (with/without freon)
Electronics

Rate: $300/ton MSW (retail — negotiate commercial), $75/ton yard waste, mattresses $75 each, freon appliances $50 each
Minimum: $5 scale fee, no per-ton minimum
Hours: Mon–Thu 7:30AM–3PM; Fri–Sun 7:30AM–12PM (NO CONTRACTORS on Fri–Sun)
Area: Georgetown, MA (Essex County — ~30 miles north of Boston)

Show full detailsHide details

The only Boston-area facility with a fully published fee schedule. $300/ton is the retail/walk-in rate — commercial haulers should negotiate volume pricing. Contractors are NOT allowed Friday through Sunday. Published surcharges: mattresses $75 each, freon appliances $50 each, washer/dryer $30 each, car tires $10 ($25 with rim). Does NOT accept TVs, computer monitors, fluorescent bulbs, paints, concrete, or brush.

Materials accepted: MSW (by weight), Grass clippings/leaves ($75/ton), Mattresses ($75 each), Tires (car $10, light truck $15, truck $20), Freon appliances ($50 each), Other appliances ($20⁠–⁠$30 each), Electronics ($5⁠–⁠$10 each)

Documentation needed: Commercial account for negotiated rates

Surcharges: Scale fee: $5; Mattresses: $75 each; Freon appliances: $50 each; Car tires: $10 (tire only), $25 (with rim); Truck tires: $20 (tire only), $75 (with rim)

Operations

Rules & Restrictions

Know before you go — avoid rejected loads and fines.

Common Restrictions

Massachusetts waste ban list prohibits 14+ material categories from disposal:
yard waste, mattresses, textiles, metals, concrete, asphalt, brick, clean wood, cardboard, glass, lead-acid batteries, tires, white goods, and CRTs. Mixing banned items into MSW loads triggers penalties or rejection.
City of Boston Commercial Hauler Permit ($300/truck, 2-year renewal) required for ALL commercial hauling vehicles operating in Boston. Apply at boston.gov/departments/public-works/commercial-hauler-permits.
Municipal Board of Health Hauler Permit required under M.G.L. Chapter 111, Section 31A — you need a separate permit from EACH municipality where you collect waste.
Storrow Drive: NO commercial vehicles. 10-foot bridge clearance — frequent truck strikes ('Storrowing'). Numerous Boston bridges have weight restrictions more restrictive than state limits.

Documentation Required

Multi-layered permit system: City of Boston Commercial Hauler Permit ($300/truck) + municipal Board of Health permits for each town where you operate + USDOT number for vehicles 10,001+ lbs GVWR.
WM facilities require all drivers to bring own PPE: hard hat, safety vest, safety-toe shoes, eye protection. No PPE = turned away.
Massachusetts requires 65% C&D diversion. Keep documentation from all C&D recyclers for permit compliance.

Local Quirks

Massachusetts has the highest MSW disposal costs in the US at approximately $123/ton average — roughly double the national average ($62.28/ton). Sorting and diversion are not optional here.
Boston's college move-in/move-out season (August 25 – September 5) is the busiest period for junk removal in the metro. Enormous waste volumes, premium pricing opportunity, but also peak facility congestion.
No Boston-area facility publishes commercial tipping fees except Mello Disposal ($300/ton retail — negotiate down). All major facilities require commercial account setup with rate negotiation.
WM MJ Connolly opens at 4:30AM — earliest in the metro. Early-morning dump runs before jobs save maximum productive time.

Cost-saving guides

Cost-Saving Tips

Margin protection playbook — sorting, timing, and routing.

Sorting Strategy

Massachusetts waste bans make sorting mandatory, not optional. Yard waste, mattresses, textiles, metals, concrete, asphalt, brick, clean wood, cardboard, glass, batteries, tires, and appliances are all banned from disposal. Each must route to a separate recycling or composting stream. Operators who build sorting into their workflow avoid penalties and reduce disposal tonnage by 30⁠–⁠50%.
Route reusable furniture and appliances to Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Goodwill, and Salvation Army. At $85⁠–⁠$140+/ton disposal costs, diversion savings are the highest in the country. A single couch diverted from the waste stream saves $30+ in dump fees at Boston rates.
Separate scrap metals from every load. Massachusetts bans metals from disposal, so recycling is legally required. But it is also profitable — sell copper, brass, and aluminum to local scrap yards for revenue on every job.

Timing Strategy

WM MJ Connolly opens at 4:30AM — the earliest in the metro. Predawn dump runs free up your day for jobs. Republic Quincy opens at 8AM with Saturday hours until noon.
Avoid Monday mornings (weekend backlog) and August 25 – September 5 (college move-in/move-out season) at all facilities. Mid-week and early morning are consistently the fastest windows.

Routing Strategy

For MSW, negotiate a WTE facility account (Reworld or WIN Waste) for the lowest per-ton rates. WTE bids historically $80⁠–⁠$94/ton versus transfer station bids at $108⁠–⁠$122/ton.
For C&D, use dedicated processors rather than general MSW facilities — WTE plants do not accept C&D. Clean, separated C&D loads can run $40⁠–⁠$70/ton at recyclers versus $75⁠–⁠$120/ton mixed.
For jobs inside Boston proper, Republic Quincy is the closest major transfer station. For north-side jobs, WM MJ Connolly in Everett is closest with 4:30AM access.

FAQ

How much does it cost to dump junk in Boston?

Massachusetts has the highest MSW disposal costs in the US at approximately $122.63/ton average — roughly double the national average of $62.28/ton (EREF 2024). Boston-area tipping fees are estimated at $85⁠–⁠$140+/ton depending on facility type and volume. WTE facilities tend toward the lower end ($80⁠–⁠$94/ton for volume accounts based on historical municipal bid data), while transfer stations range higher ($108⁠–⁠$122/ton). Mello Disposal in Georgetown publishes $300/ton retail — commercial operators should negotiate significantly lower rates. No other Boston facility publishes commercial pricing.

What materials are banned from disposal in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts bans 14+ material categories from disposal including yard waste (banned since 1990), mattresses, textiles, metals, concrete, asphalt, brick, clean wood, cardboard, glass, lead-acid batteries, tires, white goods (appliances), and CRT devices. These materials cannot go to landfills or WTE facilities — each must route to a separate recycling, composting, or donation stream. Mixing banned materials into MSW loads can trigger penalties or load rejection at the facility. This ban list makes aggressive on-truck sorting mandatory for profitability in the Boston market.

Do I need a permit for junk removal in Boston?

Yes — Boston has a multi-layered permit system. The City of Boston Commercial Hauler Permit costs $300 per truck and must be renewed every 2 years. Apply at boston.gov/departments/public-works. Additionally, you need a Municipal Board of Health Hauler Permit from each municipality where you collect waste — this is a separate permit for every town you operate in. Vehicles over 10,001 lbs GVWR need a USDOT number. There is no single statewide waste hauling license in Massachusetts — requirements vary by municipality.

What are the dump hours in Boston?

WM MJ Connolly in Everett opens earliest at 4:30AM on weekdays (closing 3:30PM), no weekends. Republic Quincy is open Monday through Friday 8AM–5PM and Saturday 8AM–12PM. Mello Disposal in Georgetown is open Monday through Thursday 7:30AM–3PM and Friday through Sunday 7:30AM–12PM — but contractors are NOT allowed Friday through Sunday. WTE facilities (Reworld, WIN Waste) have varying commercial delivery hours — call to confirm. Most facilities close by 3:30⁠–⁠5PM on weekdays.

When is the busiest season for junk removal in Boston?

Boston's college move-in/move-out season from approximately August 25 to September 5 generates enormous waste volumes — Boston has one of the largest student populations in the US. This is both the highest-demand period for junk removal (premium pricing opportunity) and the most congested period at disposal facilities. Spring and fall cleanup seasons also see elevated volumes. Monday mornings are the busiest at all facilities due to weekend backlog. Mid-week mornings and early morning arrivals (4:30AM at WM Connolly) offer the shortest wait times.

Resources

Related Resources

Guide

Massachusetts Junk Removal Market Guide

Statewide market data, waste ban list, and competitive landscape for Massachusetts operators.

Data

NYC Dump Fees & Disposal Guide

Transfer station rates, BIC licensing, and disposal strategies for the NYC metro.

Guide

Pricing Strategy Guide

Build the highest disposal costs in the US into profitable junk removal pricing.

Feature

Route Optimization

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

Track Every Dump Fee Automatically

ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job, per facility, and rolls them into per-truck P&L reports. At the highest disposal costs in the country, every untracked dump run destroys margin.

Included in Starter ($149/mo) and Growth ($299/mo). Annual billing is available.

Get Started View Pricing

No long-term contract

Cancel anytime

No per-user fees