Stephenville landfill & dump

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.

Important thing to know before you load up: Stephenville's landfill is a Type IV site, which means it legally cannot take household garbage. Brush, construction debris and clean rubbish only. Turn up with bags of kitchen trash and you'll be turned away. On top of that, the hours change with the season and the site closes entirely when it's wet. Here's what it does take, when it's actually open, and where your household waste goes instead.

Type IV means no household trash — read this first

This is a TYPE IV landfill. It's permitted for brush, construction and demolition debris, and rubbish that is free of putrescible (rotting) and household waste. Regular kitchen/household garbage is NOT accepted.
SEASONAL HOURS — this catches people out every year. Summer (June–August): 7:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Tuesday–Saturday. Standard (September–May): 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Tuesday–Saturday.
Closed Sunday AND Monday, year round.
WET WEATHER CLOSURE: the landfill closes when conditions are wet. Always call (254) 918-1282 ahead after rain — this is a routine occurrence, not a rarity.
Rates: $65 a ton with a $25 minimum for loads up to 800 lbs. Mattresses are $15 each and tires $5 to $50. Cards accepted.
Cover your load. Vehicles with inadequate containment are charged DOUBLE the current rate.
Household hazardous waste: Stephenville residents can drop HHW free year-round at the City of Fort Worth Environmental Collection Center with proof of residency — a genuinely useful perk given the drive.
For household garbage, use your regular city curbside collection rather than the landfill.

Disposal sites in Stephenville

City of Stephenville Landfill

Construction & Demolition Landfill (Type IV)

City of Stephenville Public Works

669 County Road 385, Stephenville, TX 76401 Directions

📞 (254) 918-1282

Hours
Summer (Jun–Aug), Tue–Sat	7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Standard (Sep–May), Tue–Sat	8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sun & Mon	Closed
Wet weather	Closed — call ahead

Fees

$65 per ton; $25 minimum (loads up to 800 lbs)
Mattress or bedding: $15 each ($30 mattress and box spring)
Tires: $5 passenger, $15 truck, $50 tractor
After-hours: $50 minimum. Pull-off: $25
Uncovered or poorly contained loads: DOUBLE the rate
Cards accepted: Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover

Accepts: Brush, Construction & demolition debris, Rubbish free of household/putrescible waste

Won't take: Household garbage, Putrescible (rotting) waste, Hazardous waste, Grease trap waste, Septic waste

Type IV permit (TCEQ MSW-664), so the ban on household waste is a legal limit, not a preference. Hours shift between summer and fall–spring schedules, and wet conditions close the site outright. Closed July 4, Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's Day. Woodchip mulch for sale: $10 a cubic yard or $20 a pickup bed.

Spot a wrong hour or fee? Tell us

Fort Worth Environmental Collection Center

Household Hazardous Waste

City of Fort Worth (open to Stephenville residents)

6400 Bridge Street, Fort Worth, TX Directions

📞 (817) 392-1234

Hours
Thu & Fri	11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sat	9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sun–Wed	Closed

Fees

Free for Stephenville residents with proof of residency

Accepts: Paint, Motor oil, Pesticides, Household chemicals, Batteries

Stephenville has a reciprocal arrangement letting residents use Fort Worth's HHW facility free all year. It's a drive, but it's the proper destination for paint and chemicals the landfill won't touch.

Spot a wrong hour or fee? Tell us

City of Stephenville services

Household garbage goes to the curb, not the landfill

City Service

📞 (254) 968-8173

Because the landfill is Type IV, your regular household trash has to go out with city curbside collection. The landfill is for brush, construction debris and clean rubbish only — plan cleanouts accordingly.

That number is Waste Connections, the City's collection contractor.

Spot a wrong hour or fee? Tell us

Getting rid of something specific in Stephenville?

Common questions

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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