Dumps, Landfills & Recycling in Killeen, Texas

Q: What's the difference between a landfill and a dump?

In everyday use people say "the dump," but a modern landfill is an engineered, permitted site with liners and monitoring. A transfer station is a smaller site where waste is collected and hauled to a landfill. Both take household junk; a transfer or collection station is often closer and quicker for small loads.

Killeen doesn't have a landfill of its own. Everything goes through the City's Transfer Station on State Highway 195, which takes household trash, furniture, brush and construction debris by weight. If you have City trash service, you can drop off up to 500 pounds and four mattresses a month at no charge. Without it, you pay $137.60 a ton. Here's what to bring, what it costs, and the $26.25 fee the station charges without warning.

Free monthly allowance for Killeen trash customers

Residential customers with City of Killeen solid waste service can drop off up to 500 lbs of household waste and up to 4 mattresses per calendar month at no charge.
Bring a valid ID and a current City water utility bill showing active solid waste service, every visit. No bill? You can ask for utility service verification, but proving eligibility is on you. Without proof you pay the non-utility rate.
The allowance covers waste from your own primary residence only. Landlords clearing out a rental are classed as commercial and don't get it.
Over 500 lbs: $4.00 per 100 lbs (before tax).
Not covered by the free 500 lbs: A/C units and refrigerators, tires, and the unsecured-load fee.

Transfer Station rates

City solid waste customers (residential beyond the allowance, and commercial): $80.00 a ton, minimum $4.00 per 100 lbs
Non-utility customers (no City trash service at the property): $137.60 a ton, minimum $6.88 per 100 lbs
Freon appliances (A/C units, refrigerators, freezers, water coolers): $21.00 each, all customers
Mattress or box spring: $20 each for non-utility and commercial customers
Tires: $4 up to 12-inch rim, $8 for passenger and pickup tires up to 22-inch rim, $13 for commercial truck tires
Unsecured load: $26.25. The station doesn't give warnings. If your load isn't enclosed, tarped or netted and strapped, the surcharge is added. Weight doesn't matter.
All prices are before tax.

Disposal sites in Killeen

City of Killeen Transfer Station

Transfer Station

City of Killeen Solid Waste

12200 State Highway 195, Killeen, TX 76549 Directions

📞 (254) 501-8971

Hours
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri	8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wed & Sat	8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday	Closed

Fees

Residential City trash customers: 500 lbs + 4 mattresses free per month (ID + current water bill)
City trash customers: $80.00/ton, $4.00 per 100 lbs minimum
Non-utility customers: $137.60/ton, $6.88 per 100 lbs minimum
Freon appliances $21 each; tires $4–$13; unsecured load $26.25

Accepts: Household garbage, Furniture, Construction & demolition debris, Brush, Leaves, Grass & yard waste, Appliances

Won't take: Asbestos, Hazardous waste, Liquids, Medical waste, Pesticides, Fertilizers, Septic waste, Animal carcasses

Closed the 4th Saturday of every month. Also takes recycling (cardboard, glass bottles and jars, metal, paper, #1–#2 plastics, cans) and has a certified public scale ($11.50 weight ticket).

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Killeen Recycling Center

Recycling Facility

City of Killeen

111 E. Avenue F, Killeen, TX 76541 Directions

📞 (254) 554-7572

Hours
Mon–Fri	10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sat–Sun	Closed

Accepts: Paper, Cardboard, #1 & #2 plastics, Steel, tin & aluminum cans, Antifreeze, Motor oil & filters, Lead-acid batteries

Won't take: Household garbage, #3–#7 plastics, Plastic bags, Styrofoam, Milk cartons & juice boxes

The place for used motor oil, filters, antifreeze and car batteries.

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City of Killeen services

Recycling drop-off trailers

City Service

📞 (254) 501-7785

The City parks recycling trailers Monday through Friday at three spots: near the Killeen Rodeo Grounds at 3201 S. W.S. Young Drive, at 2906 E. Rancier Avenue, and at Texas A&M University–Central Texas, 1001 Leadership Place. They take paper, #1 and #2 plastics, steel, tin and aluminum cans, and cardboard. Instructions are printed on each trailer.

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Curbside bulk trash collection

City Service

If you can't haul it yourself, the City's Solid Waste Division collects bulk trash, brush and yard waste at the curb for a fee. Fees are in the City's fee schedule, and the division is at (254) 501-7785, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

📞 (254) 501-7785

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Getting rid of something specific in Killeen?

Common questions

Can I dump for free in Killeen?

Yes, if you have City of Killeen trash service. Residential customers can drop off up to 500 lbs of household waste and up to 4 mattresses a month at the Transfer Station, 12200 State Highway 195, at no charge. Bring a valid ID and a current water bill showing active solid waste service. Over 500 lbs is $4.00 per 100 lbs. A/C units, refrigerators and tires are charged separately.

Does it cost anything to dump at a landfill?

Usually yes. Most Texas landfills charge by weight (a per-ton gate rate) or by the load, and many cities give residents a discount or a set number of free drop-offs if you can show a current utility bill. Small transfer and collection stations sometimes take household trash for free. Exact fees are listed per facility above.

What's the difference between a landfill and a dump?

In everyday use people say "the dump," but a modern landfill is an engineered, permitted site with liners and monitoring. A transfer station is a smaller site where waste is collected and hauled to a landfill. Both take household junk; a transfer or collection station is often closer and quicker for small loads.

What's the cheapest way to get rid of junk for free?

Check whether your city offers free bulk-trash pickup on a set week, use county household-hazardous-waste and cleanup events, and give away usable items. For a landfill drop-off, bring proof of residency to get resident rates. If it's more than you can move yourself, a junk-removal quote is often cheaper than multiple trips plus gate fees.

How do I get rid of large or heavy items?

Bulky items — furniture, appliances, mattresses, construction debris — either go to the landfill (often for an extra per-item fee) or get hauled by a junk-removal service. If you'd rather not rent a truck and pay gate fees, check an upfront junk-removal price.

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