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Dump Fee Guide

Nashville Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators

Middle Tennessee disposal from $65–$75/ton. County-operated facilities and private landfills compete. TN has no state hauler license requirement.

Last updated: Mar 2026

At a Glance

Fee range

$65–$75/ton

Per ton

Facilities listed
6
MSW range
$65–$75/ton
SE avg MSW
$56.27/ton
Updated
Mar 2026
  • MSW
  • C&D
  • Yard Waste
  • Tires
  • Appliances

Biggest cost trap: Nashville-area tipping fees of $65–$75/ton sit near the Southeast regional average ($56.27/ton EREF 2024). Multiple county and private facilities compete, but most do not publish rates — call for commercial pricing.

Disposal costs

Typical Costs in Nashville

Baseline pricing before you dig into individual facilities.

MSW

$65–$75/ton

Minimum
$85 minimum load
Basis
Per ton
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Nashville-area MSW tipping fees run $65⁠–⁠$75/ton at both county and private facilities. Most operators pay $68⁠–⁠$72/ton with established commercial accounts. Volume discounts start around 50+ tons monthly. Weigh-in minimum charges typically $85⁠–⁠$95 for partial loads under 2 tons. Peak summer months (June-August) can push rates 5-10% higher due to increased residential waste volumes.

  • Negotiate volume pricing at 50+ tons/month for $3-5/ton discounts
  • Use SE regional average $56.27/ton as benchmark in negotiations
  • Bundle multiple facilities in one contract to leverage competition
  • Track seasonal pricing patterns — winter months typically 5% lower
  • Establish backup accounts at 3+ facilities to avoid emergency surcharges

C&D

$58–$70/ton

Minimum
$75 minimum load
Basis
Per ton
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Clean C&D runs $58⁠–⁠$70/ton at dedicated recycling facilities, typically $5⁠–⁠$8/ton below MSW rates. Mixed C&D with contamination gets charged MSW rates. Concrete and asphalt often $35⁠–⁠$45/ton at specialized processors. Metal contamination can trigger $15⁠–⁠$25/ton surcharges. Wood waste separation can save $10⁠–⁠$15/ton at facilities with chipping operations.

  • Pre-sort clean concrete for $20⁠–⁠$30/ton savings versus mixed C&D
  • Remove all metal before dump runs to avoid contamination fees
  • Route clean wood to biomass facilities for $40⁠–⁠$50/ton rates
  • Negotiate seasonal contracts during slow construction months
  • Separate drywall for specialized recycling at $45⁠–⁠$55/ton

Yard Waste

$35–$50/ton

Minimum
$45 minimum load
Basis
Per ton
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Organic waste composting facilities charge $35⁠–⁠$50/ton for clean yard debris. Metro Nashville operates seasonal brush collection that accepts commercial loads at $38⁠–⁠$42/ton. Contaminated loads with plastic or metal get redirected to MSW at full rates. Seasonal demand spikes (spring cleanup, fall leaves) can increase rates 15-20% March-May and October-November.

  • Time yard waste runs during off-peak seasons for lower rates
  • Remove all non-organic debris to qualify for composting rates
  • Coordinate with Metro seasonal programs for volume discounts
  • Partner with landscaping companies for shared load efficiency

Surcharges

$15–$85/item

Minimum
Per item
Basis
Varies
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Tire disposal runs $5⁠–⁠$15 per passenger tire, $25⁠–⁠$35 for truck tires. Freon appliances (refrigerators, AC units) carry $25⁠–⁠$45 removal fees. Electronics get charged $15⁠–⁠$35 per unit depending on size. Mattresses often $15⁠–⁠$25 each due to recycling requirements. Propane tanks $10⁠–⁠$20 per unit. Paint and hazardous materials require special handling at $2⁠–⁠$5/pound minimum $50 charge.

  • Build appliance surcharges into job pricing — average $35/unit
  • Partner with scrap dealers for free appliance pickup on Freon removal
  • Route electronics to certified e-waste recyclers for lower fees
  • Negotiate flat monthly surcharge rates for high-volume accounts
  • Track seasonal patterns — tire disposal cheaper in winter months

Local guide

Facilities in Nashville

Recommended facilities first, then additional options.

Top recommended (5)

Metro Nashville Central Landfill

Primary MSW disposal for Davidson County operators

  • MSW
  • C&D
  • Bulky items
  • Limited yard waste
Rate
$68⁠–⁠$72/ton for commercial accounts
Minimum
$85 minimum charge
Hours
Mon-Fri 6:30am-4:30pm, Sat 7am-3pm, closed Sun
Area
Davidson County
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Main Metro facility requires Davidson County waste origin verification for commercial accounts. Scale house opens 30 minutes before facility. Avoid Friday afternoons — residential traffic peaks. Commercial account setup requires business license and insurance certificate. Volume discounts available at 75+ tons monthly.

Waste Management Hickman County Landfill

High-volume disposal with negotiated commercial rates

  • MSW
  • C&D
  • Industrial waste
  • Special waste (approved)
Rate
Call for commercial pricing — typically $65⁠–⁠$70/ton
Minimum
Negotiated based on volume
Hours
Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-12pm, closed Sun
Area
45 minutes southwest of Nashville
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Accepts waste from all Tennessee counties. Strong negotiation position for volume accounts. Scales certified weekly. Fuel surcharge may apply during high diesel periods. Pre-approval required for loads over 10 tons. Offers monthly billing for established accounts.

Republic Services Cheatham County

Flexible disposal with cross-county acceptance

  • MSW
  • C&D
  • Yard waste
  • Tires (surcharge)
Rate
$66⁠–⁠$74/ton depending on material type
Minimum
$90 minimum load
Hours
Mon-Fri 7am-4:30pm, Sat 7:30am-2pm, closed Sun
Area
Cheatham County, 35 minutes northwest
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Competitive alternative to Metro facilities. Accepts multi-county waste streams. Online account management available. Surcharge-free tire disposal with monthly accounts over $2,000. Extended Saturday hours during construction season (April-October).

Green Earth Composting Facility

Organic waste and yard debris disposal

  • Yard waste
  • Food waste (commercial)
  • Untreated wood
  • Paper products (clean)
Rate
$38⁠–⁠$48/ton for organic waste
Minimum
$50 minimum load
Hours
Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 8am-12pm, closed Sun
Area
Wilson County, 25 minutes east
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Tennessee Department of Environment certified composting facility. Seasonal rate increases during peak organic waste season (March-June, September-November). Loads inspected for contamination — plastic bags trigger $25 sorting fee. Offers finished compost purchase for landscaping crews.

Music City Scrap & Recycling

Metal revenue generation and appliance disposal

  • Ferrous metals
  • Non-ferrous metals
  • Appliances
  • Auto parts
  • Wire and cable
Rate
Pays current scrap pricing — steel $0.06-$0.12/lb
Minimum
No minimum
Hours
Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:30pm, Sat 7:30am-12:30pm, closed Sun
Area
Multiple Nashville locations
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Three Nashville-area locations for routing efficiency. Handles Freon removal from appliances at no charge. Copper and aluminum pricing updated daily. Load sorting on-site available. Commercial accounts get monthly statements for tracking revenue offsets against dump fees.

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Nashville C&D Recycling Center

Sorted construction debris at reduced rates

  • Clean concrete
  • Asphalt
  • Wood waste
  • Metals
  • Clean drywall
Rate
$35⁠–⁠$55/ton by material type
Minimum
$75 minimum charge
Hours
Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 8am-1pm, closed Sun
Area
Industrial corridor, 15 minutes from downtown
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Strict sorting requirements — contaminated loads rejected or charged MSW rates. Concrete processing pays $35/ton, clean wood $45/ton. Metal separation required — ferrous metals accepted free. Offers material certificates for LEED projects. Summer hours extended Mon-Wed until 5pm.

Operations

Rules & Restrictions

Know before you go — avoid rejected loads and fines.

Common Restrictions

  • Metro Nashville facilities require Davidson County waste origin verification for commercial accounts — out-of-county loads may be rejected or surcharged.
  • All facilities prohibit hazardous waste including paint, chemicals, asbestos, and medical waste — violators face $500+ fines and account suspension.
  • Load size restrictions apply — most facilities cap single loads at 15 tons without pre-approval and specialized equipment.
  • Tennessee does not require state-level waste hauler licensing for standard junk removal, but commercial vehicle registration and DOT numbers may apply for trucks over 10,000 GVWR.

Documentation Required

  • Commercial account setup requires business license, general liability insurance ($300K minimum), and completed facility application with credit references.
  • Load manifests required for special waste, C&D over 5 tons, or any material requiring pre-approval — available from facility scale houses.
  • Weight tickets must be retained for 3 years per Tennessee Department of Environment regulations — digital copies acceptable for auditing purposes.

Local Quirks

  • Nashville's rapid growth has created capacity constraints at Metro facilities — private landfills often offer more flexible scheduling and extended hours.
  • Music City's construction boom drives high C&D volumes — dedicated recycling facilities often beat landfill rates by $10⁠–⁠$15/ton for sorted materials.
  • Tourism surge during CMA Fest, NFL season, and summer festivals increases commercial waste generation 15-20% — book disposal slots early during event periods.

Cost-saving guides

Cost-Saving Tips

Margin protection playbook — sorting, timing, and routing.

Sorting Strategy

  • Separate ferrous metals for Music City Scrap pickup — typical junk load yields $15⁠–⁠$35 in scrap revenue to offset dump fees

  • Route clean concrete to C&D recyclers at $35/ton versus $68⁠–⁠$72/ton at MSW facilities — saves $30+ per ton

  • Pre-sort yard waste for Green Earth Composting at $38⁠–⁠$48/ton versus MSW rates — saves $20⁠–⁠$30/ton on landscape debris

  • Remove appliances for free scrap pickup after Freon evacuation — eliminates $25⁠–⁠$45 surcharge fees

  • Donate reusable furniture to Habitat ReStore or Goodwill — tax deduction plus avoided dump fees save $200⁠–⁠$500 per truck load

Timing Strategy

  • Schedule dump runs Tuesday-Thursday mornings to avoid Monday backup and Friday residential peaks — reduces wait times by 15-20 minutes

  • Target off-peak months (January-February, July-August) for negotiating annual disposal contracts — potential 5-8% rate reductions

  • Avoid festival and event weeks when commercial waste volumes spike — CMA Fest, NFL games create 2-3 hour facility delays

  • Time C&D disposal during winter construction lulls (December-February) when recycling facilities offer promotional rates

Routing Strategy

  • Establish accounts at Metro Nashville for Davidson County loads and WM/Republic for multi-county flexibility — eliminates origin restrictions

  • Route high-volume days to Hickman County WM facility for better commercial pricing — drive time offset by $3⁠–⁠$5/ton savings

  • Use Music City Scrap locations for efficient metal separation before dump runs — three locations minimize routing detours

  • Coordinate yard waste runs with Metro seasonal programs for volume pricing — saves $5⁠–⁠$10/ton during off-peak periods

FAQ

What are dump fees in Nashville TN?

Nashville dump fees range $65⁠–⁠$75/ton for MSW at both Metro and private facilities. C&D runs $58⁠–⁠$70/ton at recycling centers. Most facilities don't publish rates — call for commercial pricing. Volume accounts over 50 tons monthly typically get $3⁠–⁠$5/ton discounts.

Cheapest landfill near Nashville?

WM Hickman County offers competitive rates around $65⁠–⁠$70/ton for commercial accounts, about 45 minutes southwest. Green Earth Composting charges $38⁠–⁠$48/ton for yard waste. Music City Scrap pays for metals rather than charging dump fees.

Do I need a license for junk removal in Nashville?

Tennessee requires no state waste hauler license for standard junk removal. You need business licensing, insurance, and commercial vehicle registration. Trucks over 10,000 GVWR may need DOT numbers. Metro Nashville may require local permits for commercial waste collection.

Where can I dump construction debris in Nashville?

Nashville C&D Recycling Center takes sorted materials at $35⁠–⁠$55/ton. Metro Nashville and private landfills accept mixed C&D at MSW rates ($65⁠–⁠$75/ton). Clean concrete goes to specialized processors for $35⁠–⁠$45/ton. Remove metals first to avoid contamination fees.

What are Nashville dump hours?

Metro Nashville: Mon-Fri 6:30am-4:30pm, Sat 7am-3pm. WM Hickman: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-12pm. Republic Cheatham: Mon-Fri 7am-4:30pm, Sat 7:30am-2pm. Most facilities closed Sundays. Call ahead during holidays or severe weather.

How much does it cost to dump a truck load in Nashville?

A typical 3-ton junk removal truck load costs $195⁠–⁠$225 at Nashville MSW facilities ($65⁠–⁠$75/ton). Minimum charges run $85⁠–⁠$95 for partial loads. Add $15⁠–⁠$85 for specialty items like appliances or tires. Sorted C&D or yard waste can reduce costs to $105⁠–⁠$225 per load.

Can I dump yard waste in Nashville?

Yes, Green Earth Composting accepts yard waste at $38⁠–⁠$48/ton. Metro Nashville seasonal brush collection takes commercial loads at $38⁠–⁠$42/ton. Remove all plastic bags and non-organic debris or face contamination fees and MSW rates.

Nashville tire disposal cost?

Tire disposal runs $5⁠–⁠$15 per passenger tire, $25⁠–⁠$35 for truck tires at Nashville facilities. Some operators partner with tire shops for free pickup. Music City Scrap accepts tires with monthly commercial accounts. Budget $10⁠–⁠$20 per tire for disposal planning.

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