Sanders County's dump is the Thompson Falls Transfer Site at 5376 Montana Highway 200, east of the overpass, open Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Roll-off sites in Plains, Trout Creek, Noxon and Heron, plus Hot Springs and Dixon, keep shorter schedules.
The sites run on county tax dollars, so they're for county residents: household garbage goes in free, and bulky items have set fees, from $10 for a small mattress to $25 for an appliance.
Sanders County Refuse District
5376 MT Hwy. 200, Thompson Falls, MT 59873 Directions
| Wed, Thu & Sat | 9:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. |
| Sunday | 11:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. |
| Mon, Tue & Fri | Closed |
Accepts: Household garbage; recycling for aluminum cans, metal, cardboard (clean, flattened), car batteries and used oil; dried-out paint with household trash
East of the overpass. All refuse sites close on federal holidays, with no makeup days.
Sanders County Refuse District
122 Old Hicks Rd., Plains, MT 59859 Directions
| Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun | 9:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. |
| Mon, Tue & Fri | Closed |
Accepts: Household garbage; aluminum cans, metal, car batteries and used oil for recycling
Sanders County Refuse District
61 Vinson Mill Rd., Trout Creek, MT 59874 Directions
| Thu & Sat | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. |
| Mon–Wed & Fri | Closed |
Accepts: Household garbage, metal, car batteries, and concrete (the only county site that takes it, $20 a yard)
| Site | Address | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Thompson Falls Transfer Site | 5376 MT Hwy. 200 (east of the overpass) | Wed, Thu & Sat 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. |
| Plains | 122 Old Hicks Rd. | Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. |
| Trout Creek | 61 Vinson Mill Rd. | Thu & Sat 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sun 1 – 5 p.m. |
| Noxon | 23 Government Mountain Rd. | Fri 1 – 5 p.m.; Sun 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Heron | 249 MT Hwy. 200 | Thu 1 – 5 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Hot Springs | 38 Little Bitterroot Rd. | Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| Dixon | N. Valley Creek Rd., 1 mile from Hwy. 93 | Every day, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. |
All sites close on federal holidays, and there are no makeup days. Hot Springs and Dixon are run by their own refuse districts under the same board.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Household garbage (county residents) | No charge |
| Minimum fee for other items | $10 |
| Mattress or couch: small / large | $10 / $20 |
| Appliance, with or without Freon | $25 |
| Construction and other non-typical waste | $20 a yard |
| Brush and yard waste | $5 a yard |
| Concrete (Trout Creek only) | $20 a yard |
| Tire: car or light truck / truck or off-road / large tractor | $5 / $10 / $45 |
| Animal: small / medium / large | $10 / $25 / $45 |
| Hot tub / boat or slide-in camper | $100 / $150 minimum |
| Container rental: 20 / 40 yard | $390 / $780 |
From the district's non-typical fee sheet, effective December 15, 2023; the district notes Republic Services' hauling rates rise every year. Stumps are no longer accepted.
Every Montana rate we've verified is side by side in our guide to what it costs to dump in Montana.
If your vehicle has county “35” license plates, you don't need proof. Otherwise, show proof of county residence (a tax or utility bill or voter registration) at the site to get a household permit sticker. Household trash from outside the county isn't accepted without a special use permit; out-of-county contractors pay a $160 yearly fee plus $10 a yard. Questions: (406) 827-6942.
The county no longer recycles plastic, paper or glass, and it doesn't collect household hazardous waste. Leftover paint can go in with household trash at the Transfer Site once the lid is off and it has dried out.
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest sites across Montana, then call ahead — hours and access rules vary a lot here.