Columbus, OH Dump & Recycling — Hours, Rates & the Transfer Station Rule
Columbus has two transfer stations that look convenient on a map and you are not allowed to use either of them. SWACO puts it plainly: "To ensure safety, residents are not permitted to use SWACO Transfer Stations." They serve registered refuse vehicles and commercial haulers only.
So in Columbus, self-haul means one destination: the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill in Grove City. The good news is that it is also the cheapest option — $39.75 a ton against $51.75 and $52.75 at the transfer stations you cannot use anyway.
The bad news is a set of gate rules that catch people out, including one almost nobody expects: you need a high-visibility vest.
Disposal sites in Columbus & Franklin County
Franklin County Sanitary Landfill
Municipal Landfill
SWACO — Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio
3851 London Groveport Road, Grove City, OH 43123 Directions ↗
Hand unloaders must check in 30 minutes before closing — that is 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, not 5:00 and noon. Arrive later and you will not be processed.
Every load must be fully tarped before entering any SWACO facility, and you must wear a high-visibility vest if you get out of your vehicle on the landfill. Vests are $5 at the scale house, and an untarped load is a $25 fee.
Franklin County residents only. Fees apply to some items
Accepts: Cardboard, paper, cartons, glass, metal cans, plastic bottles — plus paint (latex, oil-based and spray), appliances including Freon-containing fridges, A/C units and dehumidifiers, electronics and CRT monitors, car batteries, motor oil, antifreeze, oil filters, tires, household and lithium-ion batteries, fluorescent bulbs, food waste, select yard waste, scrap metal, styrofoam, bicycles, clothing, books, document shredding
This is the answer to almost everything the landfill refuses. Yard waste, paint and liquids are turned away at the gate in Grove City but accepted here.
Mattresses and box springs are accepted until November 30, 2026 as a limited-time recycling program. They must be dry and free of bedbugs, mold, blood or heavy staining — rips and mild dirt are fine.
1. Tarp the load, or pay $25. Every load must be fully tarped before entering any SWACO facility. If you arrive uncovered it is a $25 fee — but the scale house sells tarps for $10 small or $15 large, so buying one at the gate is still less than half the penalty. Better to own one.
2. Bring a vest. SWACO requires all customers to wear a high-visibility vest if they exit their vehicle on the landfill. The scale house sells them for $5 if you forget.
3. The real closing time is 30 minutes before the posted one. The gate says 5 p.m. weekdays and noon Saturday, but anyone hand unloading must be checked in at the scale house by 4:30 p.m. or 11:30 a.m. If you are throwing bags off a trailer by hand, that early deadline is yours.
4. Pay by check if you can. Since March 2025 there is a 3% processing fee on credit card payments. Checks do not incur it. On a $200 load that is six dollars for using plastic.
What it costs to dump in Columbus
Material / facility
In-district
Out-of-district
Franklin County Landfill — household waste
$39.75/ton
$43.75/ton
Franklin County Landfill — construction debris
$39.75/ton
$43.75/ton
Jackson Pike Transfer Station (haulers only)
$51.75/ton
$55.75/ton
Morse Road Transfer Station (haulers only)
$52.75/ton
$56.75/ton
Note the inversion: the transfer stations cost $12 to $13 more per ton — and residents are barred from them regardless. The restriction and the pricing point the same way.
Minimum charge is $5, and loads under a ton are prorated. A single mattress or a couple of bags will not cost you much. See how it compares with the rest of the state in our guide to what it costs to dump in Ohio.
Per-item charges: tires are $5 for a passenger tire and $50 for a heavy truck tire; white goods are $20 an item. A dig-out, if your load will not tip, is $45 a truck.
A change worth knowing if you are remodeling: since September 29, 2025 SWACO treats construction and demolition debris separately from household waste, and C&DD is no longer accepted at the transfer stations at all. It must go directly to the landfill.
What the landfill refuses — and where it actually goes
The Grove City gate turns away yard waste, liquids and anything hazardous. That covers a lot of a normal garage clear-out, and the answer is the same place for nearly all of it: the SWACO Recycling Convenience Center at 2566 Jackson Pike, open to Franklin County residents.
Its accepted list is long:
Paint — latex, oil-based and spray
Appliances containing Freon — refrigerators, A/C units, dehumidifiers — as well as washers and dryers
Electronics, including CRT televisions and monitors
Car batteries, motor oil, antifreeze, oil filters and tires
Household and lithium-ion batteries, fluorescent bulbs
Mattresses, but not forever. SWACO is accepting mattresses and box springs of all sizes through November 30, 2026 as a limited-time recycling push. They must be dry and free of bedbugs, mold, blood or heavy staining; rips and mild dirt are fine. After that date, check before you load one.
Some items carry a fee, so call (614) 871-5100 if your load is unusual. See also our paint and appliance guides.
Find a disposal site near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest sites across Ohio, then call ahead — access rules and hours vary a lot here.
No. SWACO states that to ensure safety, residents are not permitted to use its transfer stations. Jackson Pike and Morse Road serve only registered refuse vehicles operated by the City of Columbus and commercial haulers. Since November 2018 SWACO has also required small trucks, trailers and box trucks to haul directly to the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill, where there is more room to unload safely.
How much does it cost to dump in Columbus, Ohio?
The Franklin County Sanitary Landfill charges $39.75 a ton for in-district municipal solid waste and the same for construction debris, with a $5 minimum charge. Out-of-district waste is $43.75 a ton. Tires are $5 for a passenger tire and $50 for a heavy truck tire, and white goods are $20 an item. A 3% processing fee applies to credit card payments.
Do I need to tarp my load in Columbus?
Yes, and it is expensive not to. Every load must be fully tarped before entering any SWACO disposal facility, and an untarped load carries a $25 fee. Tarps are sold at the landfill scale house for $10 small or $15 large, so buying one at the gate still costs less than half the penalty.
Where do I take paint, a fridge or yard waste in Columbus?
The SWACO Recycling Convenience Center at 2566 Jackson Pike, which is open to Franklin County residents only. The landfill refuses yard waste, liquids and hazardous material, but the Convenience Center takes latex, oil-based and spray paint, Freon-containing appliances such as fridges and A/C units, electronics, batteries, food waste and select yard waste. Some items carry a fee.
What time do I have to arrive at the Franklin County landfill?
Earlier than the posted closing time. The landfill is open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 6 a.m. to noon on Saturday, but anyone hand unloading must check in 30 minutes before closing, so 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. You must also wear a high-visibility vest if you leave your vehicle.
