What it costs to dump in Iowa: 2026 fees by area
Dumping in Iowa is mostly priced by the vehicle or with a small minimum: $12 for a car at the Linn County landfill and at Metro Park East near Des Moines, $14 for any load under 600 pounds in Iowa City, a $20 minimum in Dubuque and $30 at the Scott Area Landfill for residents. Bigger loads are weighed at about $40 to $53 a ton.
2026 cost to dump in Iowa, area by area
| Area | Small load (minimum) | Bigger loads | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linn County (Cedar Rapids) | $12 a car, $15 an SUV, $22 a pickup | $53 a ton ($22 minimum) | Hi-vis vest required at the working face |
| Des Moines (Metro Park East) | $12 a car, $17 a van or SUV, $22 a truck | $40 a ton ($22 minimum) | The downtown transfer station is commercial-only |
| Boone County | $12 minimum (500 lbs or less) | $46 a ton | Tarp or strap it, or pay $25 |
| Iowa City | $14 under 600 lbs ($15 outside Iowa City) | $47.50 a ton ($52.50 outside) | Johnson County, Kalona and Riverside only |
| Dubuque | $20 minimum | $52 a ton | Untarped load adds $10 |
| Sioux City | $28.75 minimum (up to 900 lbs) | $67 a ton | No cash; residential loads only |
| Scott County (Davenport) | $30 minimum for residents | $40.25 a ton | Residents get 5 car tires a year free |
| Benton County | Not posted | Not posted | Open the first Saturday of the month only |
Rates verified from each agency's, county's or city's own published pages, October 2026. Appliances, TVs, tires and mattresses cost extra. Confirm with the facility before a big load.
Find a landfill near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest disposal sites across Iowa, then open your city's page for its exact hours, fees and what it accepts.
Why prices vary so much in Iowa
Iowa is split into solid waste planning areas, and most are served by a county or regional landfill agency: the Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency, the Metro Waste Authority around Des Moines, the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency and the Waste Commission of Scott County among them. Several say they run on their fees rather than taxes, so each sets its own prices.
Many charge small vehicles a flat rate (Linn County and Metro Park East price by car, SUV or pickup) and weigh everything bigger. Service areas matter: Iowa City only takes waste from Johnson County, Kalona and Riverside, and Boone County charges its secondary service area more.
Free and nearly free options
- Free tires in Scott County. Scott County residents drop off five car tires a year at the Scott Area Landfill free.
- Free drop-offs in Linn County. Linn County residents drop off household hazardous materials, recycling, scrap metal, batteries, used oil and more free at the Solid Waste Agency, and finished compost and wood chips are free while they last.
- Free recycling. Sioux City's convenience center takes cardboard, plastic, glass, leaves and grass free from residents, and Metro Park East takes mixed recyclables free.
The catches that cost people money
- Tarp the load. Boone County adds $25 for an uncovered load, Sioux City $15, Dubuque $10, and Iowa City $50 after one warning.
- Bring the right payment. Sioux City's convenience center takes no cash or personal checks; Boone County takes no American Express.
- Wear a vest in Linn County. Since July 1, 2026, the landfill requires a Class 2 hi-vis vest at the working face, with a $10 fine if you don't have one.
- Check the day. Linn County's landfill is open Saturdays by appointment only, Benton County's only on the first Saturday of the month, and Iowa City's may close early on windy days.
What Iowa landfills can't take
The Iowa Code bans four things from landfills: yard waste (Iowa Code 455D.9, with narrow exceptions), car batteries (455D.10, since July 1, 1990; stores that sell them must take your old one back), whole tires (455D.11, since July 1, 1991, unless processed) and used oil (455D.13).
Appliances, TVs and computers aren't banned by the Code, but landfills handle them separately and charge for them: appliances run $10 to $22 and TVs $15 to $50. Iowa City won't landfill appliances, screens or cardboard at all.
Iowa has no PaintCare program and no mattress recycling law: mattresses are $20 in Linn County and Scott County.