What it costs to dump in North Dakota: 2026 fees
North Dakota's cities run its big landfills, and each sets its own prices. Among the six we've checked, trash costs $51 to $67 a ton in 2026, and a small load usually pays a minimum of $6 to $23.
2026 cost to dump in North Dakota, by landfill
| Landfill | Small load | Bigger loads | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minot Landfill | $10 minimum | $51 a ton | Winter hours 8 to 4 |
| Williston Landfill | $8 minimum (to 300 lbs) | $54 a ton | Plus a small recycling fee |
| Fargo Landfill | $15 minimum (to 600 lbs) | $57 a ton | No Freon appliances |
| Grand Forks Landfill | $23 minimum | $59.54 a ton | 4 free resident drop-offs a year |
| Bismarck Landfill | $6 minimum | $67 a ton | Sort before you enter |
| Mandan City Landfill | Call | Not posted online | Free fall week for residents |
From each city's own rate sheet or fee page, October 2026, sorted from cheapest to most expensive per ton. Minot's rates took effect January 1, 2025; the others are 2026 rates. Mandan doesn't post its landfill rates online.
Find a landfill near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest disposal sites across North Dakota, then open your city's page for its exact hours, fees and what it accepts.
How dumping works in North Dakota
The big city landfills, Fargo, Bismarck, Minot, Grand Forks and Williston, weigh you in and out and charge by the ton, with a minimum for small loads. Mandan, West Fargo and many smaller cities run transfer stations instead and haul the trash to a landfill. Dickinson, Jamestown, Mercer County (Hazen) and McKenzie County (Arnegard) run their own landfills too.
Most small towns run an inert waste landfill for concrete, brick, trees, untreated wood and other construction debris, with no household garbage allowed. Bismarck makes you sort before you go: garbage to one area, inert material such as shingles, sheetrock and siding to another, at a lower rate.
Free options
- Fargo residents can use the landfill's Residential Transfer Station free year-round for non-Freon appliances (two a month), metal, cardboard and car batteries; untreated wood, trees and pallets are free for everyone.
- Grand Forks residents get four free drop-offs a year for furniture, electronics, brush and appliances.
- Bismarck and Mandan residents get free disposal weeks (Bismarck in April and September, Mandan in September).
- West Fargo residents use their transfer station free, paying only for specialty items.
- Minot takes clean yard waste, clean concrete, household hazardous waste and up to 15 gallons of used motor oil free.
The catches that cost people money
- An unsecured load. Fargo, Bismarck and Mandan charge $25; Williston charges $25 the first time and $50 after that.
- A refrigerator in Fargo. The Fargo landfill doesn't take Freon appliances; West Fargo's transfer station takes them from its residents for $60.
- An unsorted load in Bismarck. Garbage and inert material go to different areas, so sort first.
- A windy day. Fargo turns away light, loose loads in high wind, and Mandan stops taking loose inert loads when winds reach 20 mph.
- Grand Forks' minimum. At $23, it's the highest minimum we found, so combine small loads.
What North Dakota law keeps out of landfills
North Dakota bans lead-acid batteries, used motor oil, wind turbine blades and major appliances from landfills (NDCC 23.1-08-08). Major appliances include washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, stoves, ovens, microwaves, water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners and dehumidifiers, so landfills collect them separately for recycling. Stores that sell car batteries must accept used ones as trade-ins. Tires aren't banned: the state's environmental agency says landfills may legally bury them, though many charge extra or choose not to.