Charlotte Dump, Foxhole Landfill & Recycling Centers — Hours, Fees & What They Take
Charlotte's self-haul disposal runs through Mecklenburg County's four full-service disposal & recycling centers, open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents drop off recycling and household hazardous waste free, along with up to five bags of kitchen trash a day and one bulky item per trip. Bigger loads cost money: $15 a load for bulky waste, $25 for construction debris, and $65 a ton once a load is weighed. Here are the sites, the full fee list and the rules.
Mecklenburg County doesn't collect from the curb; that's your city or town. If you have City of Charlotte garbage service, you can also schedule a bulky pickup at the curb (see below).
This is the County's construction and demolition landfill as well as a drop-off center. Loads over 14 cubic yards have to come straight here, not to the other centers. Residents can also bring small amounts of dirt, sod and concrete in a pickup or a trailer up to 10 feet. Anyone who steps out onto the landfill working face needs a high-visibility vest ($7 on site if you don't bring one). Bulk mulch and compost are for sale.
East Charlotte's center. The County has posted a temporary limit here: no yard-waste loads over 3 cubic yards. Take larger yard-waste loads to Compost Central.
Accepts: Furniture, Appliances, Mattresses and box springs, Lawn equipment, Other items too big for the cart
Only for households that get City of Charlotte garbage collection, and it has to be scheduled; unscheduled items left at the curb won't be picked up. Set items out no earlier than the day before and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day, 3 feet apart. For appliances, empty them and remove the door.
All four full-service centers (Foxhole, Hickory Grove, Compost Central and North Mecklenburg) are open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday. The Foxhole landfill itself is open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., so a construction load too big for a drop-off center has to go on a weekday. Stay past closing and you can be charged $50 for each 15 minutes. The centers close for County holidays; check the County's holiday schedule or call (980) 314-3867.
What it costs to dump in Charlotte
Mecklenburg County residents pay the resident rate by showing a blue entry sticker, which is free at any center's fee booth with a driver's license or a utility bill. Without a sticker you pay the out-of-county rate. Resident fees for July 2026 to June 2027:
Recycling and household hazardous waste — no charge.
Kitchen trash — 1–5 bags (32-gallon) free; 6–15 bags $12; 16–25 bags $15. Beyond that, loads are weighed at $42.25 a ton.
Bulky waste — one item (a sofa, chair, table or mattress set) free. More than that: $15 a load for a pickup, van or single-axle trailer up to 10 feet, under 3 cubic yards.
Construction & demolition debris — $25 a load in that same vehicle class.
Weighed loads — trailers over 8 feet, all shingle loads, and anything the attendant chooses to weigh: $65 a ton, with a $22 minimum for bulky waste and $26 for C&D.
Yard waste — fewer than five 32-gallon bags (or six paper bags) free; bigger loads $8 each; loads over 3 cubic yards weighed at $42 a ton ($8 minimum).
Tires — up to 5 (off the rim) free, then $2.50 each.
A “load” is one vehicle or one trailer, so a loaded truck pulling a loaded trailer counts as two. Mixed loads are charged at the C&D rate, so separate yard waste, bulky items and construction debris before you arrive. Uncovered or unsecured loads can be charged up to 50% more. Payment is debit or credit card only (no American Express), and paying with a business card gets you the business rate. Residents of other counties can buy a $120 annual sticker for resident rates.
Haul it yourself, or hire junk removal? — Charlotte
Clearing a whole house, a rental, or a remodel? Two ways people handle the big stuff here:
Haul it yourself — cheapest by a long way if you have a vehicle and can lift it. The gate rates above are the whole cost.
Junk-removal crew — a crew does the loading and hauls it away — check whether the price you are quoted is for curbside or in-home collection. Usually the better call for heavy furniture, appliances, or a cleanout on a deadline.
Not sure which is cheaper for your load? Check an upfront junk-removal price and weigh it against the gate fee — no obligation either way.
Foxhole Disposal & Recycling Center is at 17131 Lancaster Highway, Charlotte, NC 28277. The drop-off center is open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Foxhole landfill Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's Mecklenburg County's construction and demolition landfill, so loads over 14 cubic yards must go here. Payment is by card only.
Is the Charlotte dump open on Sunday?
No. All four Mecklenburg County full-service centers (Foxhole, Hickory Grove, Compost Central and North Mecklenburg) are open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday and County holidays. The Foxhole landfill is weekdays only.
Where can Charlotte residents recycle and drop off bulky waste?
At any of Mecklenburg County's four full-service disposal & recycling centers: Foxhole (17131 Lancaster Hwy), Hickory Grove (8007 Pence Rd), Compost Central (140 Valleydale Rd) and North Mecklenburg (12300 Statesville Rd, Huntersville). Recycling is free. One bulky item per trip is free; more costs $15 a load. City of Charlotte garbage customers can also schedule a curbside bulky pickup through 311.
What are the Foxhole Landfill hours in Charlotte?
The Foxhole landfill is open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The drop-off center on the same site is open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both are closed Sunday.
Is it free to dump in Charlotte?
Partly. Mecklenburg County residents with the free blue sticker can drop off recycling, household hazardous waste, up to five bags of kitchen trash a day and one bulky item at no charge. Beyond that, bulky waste costs $15 a load, construction debris $25 a load, and weighed loads $65 a ton. Yard waste is free under five bags.
Where do I take construction debris in Charlotte?
Any of the four full-service centers take construction debris at $25 a load for a pickup or small trailer (under 3 cubic yards), or $65 a ton when weighed ($26 minimum). Loads over 14 cubic yards must go to the Foxhole landfill, 17131 Lancaster Highway, which is open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How do I get rid of a large or heavy load in Charlotte?
Separate it first, since mixed loads are charged at the C&D rate. Then take it to a full-service center, or to the Foxhole landfill if it's over 14 cubic yards. Trailers over 8 feet are weighed at $65 a ton. If you'd rather not do the lifting, check an upfront junk-removal price.
