Gastonia Landfill, Dump & Recycling — Hours, Fees & What They Take
Before you load anything in Gastonia: tarp it. The Gaston County Landfill charges a $200 surcharge for an uncovered or unsecured load, on top of the disposal fee and several times what a typical pickup load costs. It's the most expensive mistake you can make here, and a tarp and two straps avoid it.
For ordinary household trash you may not need the landfill at all. Gaston County's convenience centers take bagged trash, yard waste and recycling seven days a week on a pay-as-you-throw system: $5 GarbCards, no cash. Here are both, plus yard waste and hazardous waste.
Disposal sites in and around Gastonia
Gaston County Landfill
County Landfill
Gaston County Public Works — Solid Waste & Recycling
3155 Philadelphia Church Road, Dallas, NC 28034 Directions ↗
The minimum is a half-ton charge, so a small load pays $23 however light it is. Construction debris can't go to the convenience centers, so it comes here. The address is in Dallas, NC, north of Gastonia. Mulch from ground yard waste is sometimes sold to residents on Saturdays at $2 a scoop; call to check.
5 sites take trash: Crowders Creek (1120 CP Groves Rd, Gastonia), Hardin (3155 Philadelphia Church Rd, Dallas), Riverbend (140 Mountain Island Rd, Mount Holly), Tryon (2755 Tryon Courthouse Rd, Bessemer City), New Hope (235 Lake Wylie Rd, Belmont) Directions to Crowders Creek ↗
Buy GarbCards from local vendors before you go; the County has a vendor map. No construction debris at any center. The Duke Street (3100 Duke St) and Farmers Market (410 E Long Ave) sites in Gastonia take recycling only and are closed Sunday. New Hope in Belmont is being rebuilt and is expected to open in early-to-mid October 2026; until then Duke Street is taking household trash. Closed on County holidays.
Four events a year (in 2026: March 7, May 16, September 12 and November 14), 8 to 11:30 a.m., rain or shine. Nothing is taken after 11:30. Between events: fluorescent bulbs and latex paint go to the landfill by appointment on weekdays, and motor oil and rechargeable batteries go to the convenience centers.
The Gaston County Landfill is open Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed Sunday. The full Saturday afternoon is worth planning around if a weekday trip is hard.
The convenience centers keep longer hours: Monday to Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. The landfill and centers close on New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and at noon on Christmas Eve. The centers also close on Easter.
What it costs to dump in Gastonia
It depends on where you go. For household trash, the convenience centers are usually cheaper: one $5 GarbCard covers up to 10 bags, and a pickup load is $10. The landfill charges by weight with a half-ton floor:
Household trash — $46/ton, $23 minimum
Construction & demolition debris — $46/ton, $23 minimum (landfill only)
Yard waste — $26/ton, $13 minimum
Out-of-county waste — $60/ton, $30 minimum
Two things follow. First, a few bags of trash cost $5 at a center versus the $23 landfill minimum, so the landfill only makes sense for construction debris or big, heavy loads. Second, yard waste is billed at roughly half the rate, so pull limbs and leaves out of a mixed load.
And the one that hurts: an uncovered or unsecured load at the landfill is a $200 surcharge on every vehicle. A $15 tarp and a pair of ratchet straps pay for themselves the first time. Loads more than 30% recyclables also draw a $100 surcharge. See what it costs to dump across North Carolina for how Gaston compares.
Haul it yourself, or hire junk removal? — Gastonia
With a $23 landfill minimum and a $200 penalty for a load that shifts on the way there, hauling it yourself in Gastonia rewards doing it properly: bags to a convenience center, and one full, well-strapped load to the landfill rather than four small ones. When the job is bigger than that, two options:
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.
At the Gaston County convenience centers, household trash is paid with $5 GarbCards: one card for up to 10 bags, two for a pickup load. At the landfill, trash and C&D are $46/ton with a $23 minimum, yard waste is $26/ton with a $13 minimum, and out-of-county waste is $60/ton with a $30 minimum.
What are the Gaston County Landfill hours?
Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed Sunday. The convenience centers are open Monday to Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Do I have to cover my load?
Yes. An uncovered or unsecured load at the landfill is a $200 surcharge on top of disposal fees, for every vehicle. A container more than 30% recyclables is another $100 plus disposal fees.
Where does household hazardous waste go in Gaston County?
To one of four collection events a year at 200 Leisure Lane in Dallas, 8 to 11:30 a.m., free for residents. The 2026 dates are March 7, May 16, September 12 and November 14. Between events, fluorescent bulbs and latex paint go to the landfill by appointment on weekdays; call (704) 922-7729.
Is yard waste cheaper than trash here?
Yes. At the landfill it's $26/ton versus $46/ton, with a $13 minimum instead of $23. At a convenience center a pickup load of yard waste is two GarbCards ($10), the same as trash.
How do I get rid of a large or heavy load in Gastonia?
Bags and bulky items can go to a convenience center with GarbCards. Construction debris and big, heavy loads go to the landfill: one full, tarped load beats several small ones given the $23 minimum. For a whole-house cleanout, rent a roll-off or get a junk-removal crew to carry it out and haul it. If you'd rather not do the lifting, check an upfront junk-removal price.
