Memphis Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators
Shelby County MSW at ~$62–$65/ton. City-operated and private facilities compete. Low-cost SE disposal market.
Use the guidance with your local numbers.
Resource pages explain the planning model, but local disposal rates, labor costs, truck setup, service area, and customer demand still decide the final operating choice.
Typical disposal costs
Six modules, one focused interface. No add-ons, no upgrade prompts, no per-feature pricing — just the tools that run your business.
Facilities and transfer stations
Six modules, one focused interface. No add-ons, no upgrade prompts, no per-feature pricing — just the tools that run your business.
Restrictions and paperwork
Six modules, one focused interface. No add-ons, no upgrade prompts, no per-feature pricing — just the tools that run your business.
Cost-saving playbook
Track dump fees per job in ScaleYourJunk to monitor costs at ~$62–$65/ton and identify profit margin trends across different facility choices.
Next pages that support this topic.
Read next
Questions this resource should answer.
Honest answers. If your question isn't here, ask us directly.
Memphis area dump fees range from $62-$65/ton for mixed municipal solid waste at major facilities like Shelby County Landfill and private operators. This is slightly above the Southeast regional average of $56.27/ton but competitive with other major Tennessee markets. Clean C&D materials can be disposed for $35-$48/ton at specialized recycling facilities.
Shelby County Landfill typically offers the most consistent pricing at around $64/ton for MSW. However, sorting materials can dramatically reduce costs — C&D recycling facilities charge $35-$48/ton for clean materials, and scrap metal actually generates revenue of $0.08-$3.50/lb depending on type. Habitat ReStore accepts good-condition items for free.
Tennessee does not require state-level waste hauler licenses, simplifying market entry. You'll need standard business licensing, vehicle registration, commercial insurance, and may need to establish commercial accounts at disposal facilities. Shelby County requires account setup with credit check for regular commercial service.
Memphis C&D Recycling Center accepts clean construction materials for $35-$48/ton, significantly cheaper than the $62-$65/ton charged at standard landfills. Major facilities like Shelby County and Waste Management also accept mixed C&D but charge higher rates. Separating materials by type achieves the lowest disposal costs.
Most Memphis area facilities operate Monday-Friday 7am-4:30pm and Saturday mornings. Shelby County Landfill closes at 4:30pm weekdays and 12pm Saturday. Private facilities like Waste Management and Republic Services have similar hours but may offer extended hours during peak seasons. All major facilities are closed Sundays.
A typical junk removal truck load (2-3 tons) costs $125-$195 in dump fees at standard Memphis facilities charging $62-$65/ton. However, proper sorting can reduce this significantly — routing clean C&D materials to recyclers ($70-$144 per load) and separating metals for scrap revenue can cut total disposal costs by 30-50%.
Yes, but appliances with Freon (refrigerators, AC units) incur $15-$35 processing fees at most facilities. However, scrap yards will accept appliances and typically provide net positive value even after Freon processing fees. Working appliances can be donated to Habitat ReStore for free disposal plus tax deduction benefits.
No truly free dump sites exist for commercial operators, but several options minimize costs: Habitat ReStore accepts good-condition items for free, scrap metal generates revenue rather than costs, and some auto parts stores accept batteries for free disposal. County amnesty days are for residents only, not commercial haulers.
Still have questions?
Track Every Dump Fee Automatically
ScaleYourJunk logs disposal costs per job, per facility, and rolls them into per-truck P&L reports. Stop losing margin to untracked dump fees in Memphis.