What it costs to dump in Pennsylvania: 2026 fees by county
Pennsylvania's county solid waste authorities mostly charge by the ton with a minimum: $69.80 at the Lycoming County Landfill, $85 in York County and $100 in Lancaster and Chester counties. Harrisburg city trash costs $251.33 a ton, and Philadelphia residents drop off for free.
2026 cost to dump in Pennsylvania, place by place
| Place | Small load | Bigger loads | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | Free for residents: 6 cans or 12 bags of trash a day | Free: 2 bulky items a day, 4 tires | No construction debris; proof of address |
| York County | $20 minimum (up to 470 lbs) | $85 a ton, prorated | $3.50 fee on card payments |
| Centre County (State College) | $25 minimum (up to 560 lbs) | $87 a ton | Free appliances and electronics for residents |
| Chester County (Lanchester) | $3.50 a bag; $25 minimum up to 500 lbs | $100 a ton | No tires or hazardous waste |
| Lycoming County (Williamsport) | $30 minimum | $69.80 a ton at the landfill, $95 at the Williamsport station | No personal checks; tarp every load |
| Lancaster County (LCSWMA) | $40 minimum, or $15 for one item under 200 lbs | $100 a ton | Cards only |
| Harrisburg (Dauphin County) | $40 minimum, or $15 for one item under 200 lbs | $113.49 a ton county, $251.33 city | Cards only; city trash costs double |
Rates verified from each operator's own published pages, October 2026. Tires, appliances and construction debris cost extra almost everywhere. Confirm with the site before a big load.
Find a landfill near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest disposal sites across Pennsylvania, then open your city's page for its exact hours, fees and what it accepts.
Why prices vary in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania counties plan their own waste systems, and many hand the job to a county authority that posts public rates: LCSWMA in Lancaster (which also runs Harrisburg's plant), YCSWA in York, the Chester County Solid Waste Authority, the Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority and Lycoming County Resource Management Services. Several of them burn trash for electricity, which costs more per ton than a landfill.
Where your trash comes from can matter as much as where you take it. LCSWMA charges Dauphin County households $113.49 a ton but City of Harrisburg households $251.33 at the same gate.
Free and nearly free options
- Philadelphia residents drop off trash, bulky items, tires, electronics and mattresses free at six convenience centers, and can book free bulk pickup for up to 4 items a week.
- Centre County takes residents' appliances (refrigerators too) and electronics free.
- Lancaster County residents drop off household hazardous waste, TVs and computers free at LCSWMA's hazardous waste facility.
- Chester County takes up to 3 TVs or computers free from residents, and York County takes cardboard and cans free at its recycling drop-off.
The catches that cost people money
- Bringing cash to LCSWMA. The Lancaster County sites and Harrisburg's plant take credit or debit cards only.
- Untarped loads. LCSWMA and Chester County charge $20 for an untarped load, and Lycoming County requires a tarp on every load.
- Living in the City of Harrisburg. City trash pays $251.33 a ton, and the $40 minimum covers only 300 pounds.
- Bringing tires to the wrong place. Chester County's Lanchester Landfill takes no tires, and York County takes only 10, off the rim and 32 inches or smaller.
- Weekend trips. LCSWMA's Frey Farm Landfill opens only the 2nd and 4th Saturdays, and its waste-to-energy plant only the 1st.
What Pennsylvania law keeps out of the trash
Section 1510 of Act 101 of 1988 bans lead-acid batteries from household trash; they go back to a battery retailer, wholesaler, smelter or recycler. Section 1502 bars landfills from taking truckloads made up mostly of leaves and other yard trimmings (grass clippings aren't included), and requires every landfill and transfer station to run a recycling drop-off for at least three materials.
The Waste Tire Recycling Act of 1996 bars landfills from accepting whole tires unless they're shredded first, and the Covered Device Recycling Act of 2010 bans TVs, computers, monitors and laptops from the trash. Pennsylvania has no landfill ban on appliances (the refrigerant has to be removed), and no paint stewardship (PaintCare) or mattress recycling law.