EREF 2023 at a glance
Average MSW landfill tipping fee by region (2023)
| EREF region | Avg tip fee ($/ton) | Change vs 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast | $84.44 | +$8.52 |
| Pacific | $62.28 | -$6.74 |
| Midwest | $57.24 | -$4.78 |
| Mountains/Plains | $49.86 | -$0.98 |
| South Central | $45.25 | -$3.45 |
| Southeast | $43.18 | -$1.56 |
How to price around your tip fee
- Get your real rate. Call your landfill or transfer station; ask MSW vs C&D rates, minimums and surcharges (tires, mattresses, appliances).
- Price the included tons. Disposal built into a flat rate = included tons x tip fee. At the $56.80 average, 3 tons is $170; at $84.44 it is $253.
- Set overage above cost. Overage per ton = (tip fee + handling) / (1 - margin). Never set overage at your tip fee - you lose the handling and the truck time.
- Estimate heavy loads. EPA factors: roofing ~731 lbs/cu yd, concrete ~860, dirt ~929. Put heavy debris in smaller cans.
- Bill from the ticket. The certified scale ticket is your evidence; put its number on the invoice.
Turn your tip fee into a price
Builds a price from your own costs: truck time, disposal at your tip fee, container wear and a share of fixed overhead, then applies your target margin. Defaults are placeholders - replace them with your numbers.
Planning estimate only. Your real costs, local market prices and tip fees decide what you can charge. Not financial advice.
Get a printable price sheet (all 5 sizes)
Blank customer-facing price sheet for 10-40 yard containers, plus a print / save-as-PDF copy of your results above.
Software for roll-off operators
Frequently asked questions
What is the average landfill tipping fee?
$56.80 per ton unweighted ($57.63 ton-weighted) for US municipal solid waste landfills in 2023, per EREF.
Which region has the highest tipping fees?
The Northeast, averaging $84.44 per ton in EREF’s 2023 analysis. The Southeast was lowest at $43.18.
What is a transfer station fee?
The per-ton (or per-load) gate fee at a transfer station, where waste is consolidated before going to a landfill. It is set locally and often higher than landfill gate fees in the same area.
Are tipping fees by state available?
EREF publishes regional averages and a facility list. For your state, call the landfills and transfer stations you would actually use - the rate that matters is yours.
Sources
- EREF - Analysis of MSW Landfill Tipping Fees (2023 data) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- US EPA - Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors for Solid Waste (April 2016) (accessed 2026-09-23)