What it costs to dump in Colorado: 2026 fees by area
Colorado's county landfills are some of the cheapest places to dump that we track: $32 a ton in Mesa County, $46 in Garfield County, and a flat $20 a carload in Larimer County. The big landfills around Denver and Colorado Springs are a different story: they're run by WM, which doesn't post its public rates, so you'll need to call for a price.
2026 cost to dump in Colorado, area by area
| Area | Small load (minimum) | Per ton after that | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction and Mesa County | $10 covers up to 380 lbs | $32 a ton; demolition debris $32 | Out-of-county waste not accepted; uncovered loads pay double |
| Garfield County (Rifle) | $8 minimum | $46 a ton in-county; $100 out-of-county | Closed Sundays from October through March |
| Chaffee County (Salida and Buena Vista) | $20 minimum | $64 a ton, or $20 a cubic yard for household loads | Closed Wednesdays; out-of-county $245 a ton (1-ton minimum) |
| Summit County (SCRAP) | $20 covers up to 300 lbs | $72 a ton; bags $5 each | Unsorted construction debris $150 a ton, sorted $85 |
| Fort Collins and Larimer County | $20 a carload, $37 a pickup | Not weighed: trailers pay $13.25 a cubic yard | The landfill closed August 3, 2026; Fort Collins now uses the Trilby Road transfer station |
| Colorado Springs (WM landfills) | Not posted | Not posted | WM doesn't publish its public rates; call first |
| Denver (DADS, Aurora) | Not posted | Not posted | Denver Large Item Pickup takes 5 items every nine weeks |
Rates verified from each operator's own published pages, October 2026. Tires, mattresses, appliances and electronics are billed separately from trash. Confirm with the facility before a big load.
Find a landfill near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest disposal sites across Colorado, then open your city's page for its exact hours, fees and what it accepts.
Why prices vary so much in Colorado
Most of Colorado still hauls straight to a county landfill, and counties set their own prices. Some weigh every load (Mesa, Garfield, Summit), some charge by the vehicle (Larimer: $20 a carload, $37 a pickup) and some do both (Chaffee: $64 a ton or $20 a cubic yard, at the scale attendant's call).
Around Denver and Colorado Springs, the big landfills are private. WM runs the Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site in Aurora and the Colorado Springs and Midway landfills, and none of them posts public gate rates online. Denver residents can skip the drive for bulky items: the city's Large Item Pickup takes 5 items and 10 bags every nine weeks.
Where residents pay less
Out-of-county rates are steep. Garfield County charges $100 a ton for out-of-county waste against $46 in-county, and Chaffee County $245 a ton with a one-ton minimum against $64. Mesa County doesn't take out-of-county trash at all. Bring a driver's license or photo ID that shows you live in the county.
The catches that cost people money
- Cover the load. Mesa County, Larimer County and Summit County's SCRAP all charge double for an uncovered load.
- Sort construction debris. SCRAP charges $150 a ton for unsorted debris and $85 for sorted, since January 1, 2026.
- Check the day. Chaffee County's landfill is closed Wednesdays, Garfield County's is closed Sundays from October to March, and Mesa County's rural transfer stations open only a few days a week or month.
- Watch the wind. Colorado landfills close in high winds; Mesa, Garfield and Chaffee counties all say to call first on a windy day.
- Get the freon out. Larimer County charges $36 for an appliance with freon; Summit County takes appliances free only once a technician has removed it.
What Colorado landfills can't take
Colorado's health department lists five kinds of household waste that can't go to a disposal site: lead-acid batteries, liquids (unless the site is approved for them), used oil, waste tires (unless you've done your due diligence and found no other option) and electronics.
Electronics have been banned since July 1, 2013 (C.R.S. Title 25, Article 17, Part 3). There's no free statewide program, so expect a recycling fee: Mesa County charges $0.80 a pound, Larimer County $0.65 a pound for computers.
Batteries: the Colorado Battery Stewardship Act (SB 25-163) will fund free recycling of most household and rechargeable batteries, with collection starting in 2028. Car batteries are already banned from landfills.
Paint has a free route now: Colorado is a PaintCare state, so participating drop-off sites take leftover house paint at no charge. Colorado has no mattress recycling law; Larimer County charges $40 to recycle a mattress.