What it costs to dump in Alabama: 2026 fees by area
What you pay to dump in Alabama depends on who runs your landfill. Some charge by the vehicle: a $10 carload in Shelby County and an $8 pickup of household trash in Calhoun County. Others weigh every load: $22 a ton in Coffee County with a $5 minimum, and $33.50 a ton at the Morgan County Regional Landfill near Decatur. And some counties let residents dump free a few days a year.
2026 cost to dump in Alabama, area by area
| Area | Small load (minimum) | Bigger loads | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County (Anniston) | $8 a pickup of household trash up to bed level; $12 above the bed | $50 a ton for garbage, $40 for construction debris | Cash or check only |
| Shelby County (Columbiana) | $10 a car, van or SUV; $14 a pickup | $30 a ton for county residents, $45 from out of county | Hard hat and vest required in the working areas |
| Coffee County (Elba) | $5 minimum | $22 a ton for garbage, $16.50 for construction debris, plus the $1 state fee | Weekdays only; no tires |
| Decatur (Morgan County Regional Landfill) | $25 minimum, up to 740 lbs | $33.50 a ton ($38.50 from outside Morgan County) | No checks; passenger tires $50 each |
| Dothan | Free to city Environmental customers when the city landfill is open | At least $45.09 a ton for commercial and non-city users | The city's own pages disagree on whether it's open |
| Huntsville | Not posted | Not posted | Call (256) 881-8700; city curbside takes furniture and appliances |
| Prattville | No fee posted for residents' extra household garbage | Curbside bulk pickup $50 a trailer load | Bring a City of Prattville water bill |
| Elmore County (Wetumpka) | No fee posted | Not applicable | Takes no household garbage; eligible households only |
| Blount County (Hayden) | Not posted | Not posted | Call the convenience center at (205) 505-0150 |
Rates verified from each county's or city's own published pages and fee sheets, October 2026. “Not posted” means the operator doesn't publish the price online; call first. Confirm with the facility before a big load.
Find a landfill near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest disposal sites across Alabama, then open your city's page for its exact hours, fees and what it accepts.
Why prices vary so much in Alabama
Alabama's public dumps are run by counties and cities, and each sets its own prices. Vehicle pricing is the norm at Shelby and Calhoun county landfills: you pay a flat price for a car or pickup and the scale is for bigger loads. Weight pricing rules at Coffee County and the Morgan County Regional Landfill, with a minimum charge for small loads.
On top of the local fee, the state charges $1 a ton on everything landfilled in Alabama. Some landfills fold it into their posted price (Shelby County's rates include it); others add it to your ticket (Coffee County). It rises to $1.30 a ton on January 1, 2027.
Free landfill days and curbside pickup
Some Alabama counties hold free landfill days for residents. Shelby County holds two a year at its Highway 70 Landfill, and Calhoun County four, when appliances, yard waste, shingles, scrap metal, carpet and remodeling waste go in free (household garbage and tires are still charged).
Some cities also pick up bulky items at the curb. Huntsville's weekly trash collection takes furniture, appliances, boxes and junk; Dothan's takes furniture, appliances and yard waste in one pile per home; and Prattville picks up the first single furniture item free, with bigger loads by the trailer.
The catches that cost people money
- Bring the right payment. Calhoun County takes cash or check only; the Morgan County Regional Landfill takes cash or card but no checks; Coffee County adds 3% for cards.
- Check who it's for. Prattville's Recycle Center is for city residents with a water bill, and Elmore County's collection facility only for households on county curbside service and residents of Deatsville, Eclectic, Elmore and Wetumpka.
- Don't bring household garbage to the wrong place. Elmore County's collection facility takes furniture, mattresses and tires, but not garbage.
- Gear up in Shelby County. Since May 1, 2026, the Highway 70 Landfill requires a hard hat and safety vest in its working areas (not in the residents' convenience area).
- Get there early to unload by hand. At the Morgan County Regional Landfill, hand-unloaders must be through the gate 30 minutes before closing.
What Alabama landfills can't take
Alabama's landfill rules (ADEM rule 335-13-4-.21) keep out free liquids and regulated hazardous, medical and PCB wastes. Whole tires are next: after December 31, 2027, landfills can't bury them unless they're shredded or cut into thirds.
The rules don't ban appliances, electronics or car batteries the way some states do, but local landfills set their own limits. Shelby County refuses tires, car batteries, liquids and unsolidified paint; Coffee County refuses tires, used oil, batteries and fluorescent bulbs; the Morgan County Regional Landfill refuses liquids, oil, paint and batteries.
Alabama has no PaintCare program and no mattress recycling law. In Huntsville, paint, chemicals, batteries and electronics go to the Solid Waste Disposal Authority's drive-through hazardous waste facility on A Cleaner Way.