Pittsburgh Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators

PA state average MSW tipping fee is $85.45/ton (±$22.26) per EREF 2024. Northeast regional average is $80.67/ton. No Pittsburgh-area facility publishes tipping fees — all rates are negotiated through commercial accounts. Direct-to-landfill is typically $10⁠–⁠$15/ton cheaper than transfer stations. Independent operators like Iron City Express may offer more competitive rates than WM/Republic corporate facilities. West Virginia landfills average $45.92/ton — some western PA waste ships cross-border.

• Call all facilities (Imperial, Monroeville, Kelly Run, Arden, Iron City Express) for competing quotes — rates are negotiated and vary by volume
• Direct-to-landfill is typically $10⁠–⁠$15/ton cheaper than transfer stations — route larger loads to landfills when feasible

C&D rates are not published by any Pittsburgh facility. Imperial Landfill (Republic), Monroeville (WM), Kelly Run (WM), and Arden (WM) all accept C&D. Iron City Express has dedicated C&D processing but requires pure C&D loads — contaminated loads are rejected at scale-in. Separate recyclable metals, clean concrete, and wood from mixed C&D to reduce tonnage.

• Route C&D to Iron City Express for dedicated C&D processing — but loads must be pure C&D with no contamination
• Pull scrap metals from C&D loads and sell to American Steel Processing — copper at $4.00/lb turns disposal cost into revenue

American Steel Processing (Crescent, PA) publishes current pricing: Copper #1 $4.00/lb, Copper #2 $3.80/lb, Yellow Brass $2.20/lb, Red Brass $2.30/lb, Aluminum $0.70/lb, Stainless Steel $0.42/lb, Clean Radiators $1.80/lb, Sealed Units $0.17/lb. Ferrous pricing: P&S Prepared $14.00/100 lb, #1 Prepared $12.00/100 lb, Cast Iron $11.00/100 lb. D&D Metal Recycling in Lawrenceville and Tarentum also serves the metro.

• Route to American Steel Processing for published, transparent scrap pricing — accepts Apple Pay and credit cards for convenience
• Separate HVAC scrap (AC units, coils, compressors) at $0.17⁠–⁠$1.70/lb — common in residential cleanouts and worth extracting

ACHD Waste Hauler Vehicle Permit: required for ALL commercial haulers in Allegheny County regardless of vehicle size — per-vehicle permit, expires April 30 annually. PA DEP Act 90: $100/truck, $50/trailer for vehicles over 17,000 lbs GVW — sticker and cab card required at all PA disposal facilities. Monroeville Landfill requires PPE (hard hat, steel-toe boots, hi-vis vest). Kelly Run accepts check and credit accounts only — no credit/debit cards. All loads must be tarped at both state and county level.

• Obtain ACHD vehicle permits BEFORE your first job — operating without a permit in Allegheny County is a violation regardless of vehicle size
• PA Act 90 exempts vehicles under 17,000 lbs GVW and trailers under 10,000 lbs — most junk removal box trucks and pickups qualify for exemption

Republic Services-operated landfill. Open to both commercial haulers and public. Saturday hours (7AM–10AM) provide weekend disposal access. Broad material acceptance including non-friable asbestos, contaminated soil, and medical waste. Contact (724) 695-0900 for commercial account setup and rate negotiation. Compare rates against WM's Monroeville and Kelly Run landfills.

WM-operated landfill serving the east side of the metro. PPE required to exit vehicle: hard hat, steel-toe boots, and high-visibility vest. Manual unloading customers must arrive by 2PM on weekdays — plan accordingly. Credit/debit cards and credit accounts accepted. Saturday hours until noon. Closed New Year's, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

Materials accepted: MSW, C&D debris, Yard waste, Tires, Auto shredder fluff, Biosolids, NORM/TENORM, Sandblast media, Non-RCRA industrial sludges

Documentation needed: ACHD Waste Hauler Vehicle Permit; PA Act 90 sticker (if vehicle >17,000 lbs GVW); PPE: hard hat, steel-toe boots, hi-vis vest

Surcharges: Rates negotiated per account

Family-owned, woman-owned scrap yard relocated to a larger facility in July 2025. Published pricing on website — rare transparency for a scrap yard. Accepts Apple Pay, Android Pay, and credit cards. Full-service unloading with shearing machines, magnets, skid steers, and weighing stations. Roll-off containers (20⁠–⁠40 yd) available for commercial accounts. Free transport services available with restrictions. No appointment needed. Handles any size from single items to industrial loads.

Accepts furniture AND working appliances — including refrigerators, freezers, washers, and dryers that Goodwill SWPA does NOT accept. Free pickup available for appliances, furniture, and large approved items — scheduled within ~2 weeks. Items must be disassembled and ready outside. Paid priority pickup through ReSupply partner available as soon as 1 business day. All items must be in working order with all parts. Does NOT accept mattresses, used toilets, TVs, or items with damage/odors/pet damage. Warning: leaving unapproved items is illegal and may result in fines.