Richmond Dump Fees & Disposal Guide for Junk Removal Operators

Richmond-area facilities: $88.50⁠–⁠$98/ton based on research data. Above national average $62.28/ton. Multiple facilities serve Henrico County ($88.50/ton), Chesterfield County ($92/ton), and City of Richmond ($98/ton). Minimum loads typically 1,000-1,500 lbs at most facilities. Private facilities like Waste Management may offer volume discounts for operators doing 15+ tons/month. Expect gate fees plus scale house charges of $2-4 per transaction.

• Compare county and private facility rates — $9.50/ton spread between low/high saves $190/month on 20-ton volume
• Virginia no state hauler license simplifies entry — save $500-1,200 annually vs other states
• Henrico County offers quarterly payment terms for established commercial accounts, improving cash flow
• Weekend surcharges add $8-12/ton at some facilities — schedule Monday-Friday dumps when possible

C&D accepted at area facilities with rates typically $10-15/ton below MSW. Chesterfield Resource Recovery facility quotes $75/ton for clean C&D, $88/ton for mixed loads. Concrete and asphalt often accepted at $45-55/ton. Sorting wood, metal, and concrete on-site can reduce disposal costs by 30-40%. Some facilities charge contamination fees of $25-50/ton for C&D loads with >10% household waste mixed in.

• Separate clean C&D for $15-20/ton savings over MSW rates
• Route concrete/asphalt to specialized processors at $45/ton vs $88 MSW rate
• Pre-sort wood for biomass facilities — potential $25/ton savings
• Bundle C&D loads to hit 3-ton minimums and avoid per-load fees

Richmond scrap yards pay current market rates: steel $0.05-0.08/lb, aluminum $0.65-0.85/lb, copper $2.85-3.15/lb, brass $1.45-1.65/lb. Major yards include Atlantic Scrap Metal, Commonwealth Scrap Metal, and James River Recycling. Most require 50+ lb minimums. Appliance disposal through scrap yards generates $15-35 per unit vs paying $5-15 disposal fees. Clean loads get premium pricing — contaminated metal penalized 20-30%.

• Metal diversion essential at $88⁠–⁠$98/ton disposal costs — saves $176-196 per ton diverted
• Strip copper and aluminum from appliances for premium pricing — adds $25-60 per appliance
• Batch metal loads to 500+ lbs for better per-pound rates
• Separate ferrous/non-ferrous on truck for faster processing and higher prices

Tire surcharges $3-5 each for passenger tires, $8-15 for truck tires. Freon appliances $10-25 each for removal certification. Electronics $5-12 per unit at some facilities. Mattresses $8-15 each due to recycling mandates. Paint cans $2-5 each for hazardous waste processing. Propane tanks $5-8 each. Budget 8-12% of total disposal costs for surcharges on typical mixed loads. Some facilities waive surcharges for high-volume commercial accounts.

• Budget for per-item surcharges on tires and appliances — typically $25-45 per truck load
• Route electronics to Best Buy/Staples for free disposal vs paying facility fees
• Separate mattresses for dedicated recyclers — avoid $15/each disposal surcharges
• Remove Freon from appliances before disposal to avoid $25/unit fees

Henrico's primary facility offers area's lowest MSW rate. Commercial accounts available with monthly billing. No weekend surcharge on Saturday. Scale house processes loads efficiently — typical wait times under 10 minutes. Accepts cash, check, or account billing. Popular with local operators for consistent pricing and reliable hours.

County-operated facility with good C&D rates and concrete recycling program. Requires commercial account setup for billing. Contaminated C&D loads subject to MSW rates. Well-maintained scales and fast processing. Saturday hours convenient for weekend cleanouts. Separate concrete/asphalt area for direct unloading.

Private facility 25 minutes south of Richmond. Offers volume discounts for 20+ tons/month. Longer hours than county facilities. Accepts wide range of materials. Commercial account setup required. Good backup option during county facility closures. Extended Saturday hours help with weekend overflow.

Richmond's largest scrap processor with competitive rates and fast service. Certified scales and immediate payment. Separate processing for clean vs contaminated loads. Popular with junk removal operators — knows the business. Appliance processing available with Freon removal service. Good location for combining with Henrico landfill runs.

Free diversion saves $88-98/ton in disposal costs. Habitat ReStore accepts building materials, appliances, furniture in good condition. Tax receipts available for customer use. Some locations offer free pickup for large donations. Plan route to hit donation center before dump run. Quality standards vary — call ahead for large items.