Tacoma & Pierce County • 2026 Guide
Tacoma Dump Fees & Transfer Station Guide (2026)
Fees verified from City of Tacoma, Pierce County, and LRI official rate schedules — updated July 2026.
Thinking about hauling your own junk to the dump? Smart move to check prices first. Tacoma actually has two separate dump systems — the City of Tacoma's transfer station and Pierce County's LRI stations — with different rates, and the fees add up faster than most people expect. Here's everything verified for 2026: where to go, what it costs, what they won't take, and when it's cheaper to just have us haul it (starting at $99 — call (253) 323-5993).
Where to Take Junk in Tacoma & Pierce County
City of Tacoma residents: Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center (TRTC)
The TRTC at 3510 S Mullen St, Tacoma, WA 98409 is open 7 days a week, 8:00 AM–5:30 PM (closed New Year's Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). City of Tacoma solid-waste customers get the lowest rates — but you MUST bring proof of residency, or you'll be charged the higher non-city rate. Phone: (253) 502-2100. The site also has a free Recycle Center and a Household Hazardous Waste drop-off (open Friday–Monday, 8 AM–5:30 PM).
Everyone else in Pierce County: LRI transfer stations
If you live outside Tacoma city limits, you'll use one of LRI's stations (info line for all: (253) 847-7555):
- Hidden Valley Transfer Station — 17925 Meridian St E, Puyallup. Open 7 days, 8:00 AM–5:45 PM. Full service: garbage, yard waste, recycling, e-waste, motor oil, commercial loads.
- Purdy Transfer Station — 14515 54th Ave NW, Gig Harbor. Open 7 days, 9:00 AM–4:45 PM. Garbage, yard waste, recycling, e-waste, motor oil, commercial loads.
- Prairie Ridge Drop Box — 11710 Prairie Ridge Dr E, Bonney Lake. Open 7 days, 9:00 AM–4:45 PM. Residential only, 1-ton max.
- Key Center Drop Box — 5900 Key Peninsula Hwy. Open Wed–Sun, 9:00 AM–4:45 PM. Residential only, 5 cubic yard max, no scale (charged by the cubic yard).
- Anderson Island Drop Box — 9607 Steffensen Rd. Limited seasonal hours (Sundays and Mondays only). Residential only, 5 cubic yard max.
Heads up: the LRI Landfill in Graham is NOT open to the public. Only commercial customers can self-haul there — households must use the transfer stations above.
2026 Dump Fees: What You'll Actually Pay
Both fee schedules are current for 2026 (Tacoma's rates took effect January 1; LRI's took effect March 1).
Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center rates
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Garbage — Tacoma resident | $20 minimum (first 400 lbs), then $7.25 per 100 lbs |
| Garbage — non-city resident | $40 minimum (first 400 lbs), then $8.50 per 100 lbs |
| Yard waste — Tacoma resident | FREE |
| Fridge/freezer/AC (compressor appliances) | $20 each in-city / $40 each outside city, plus tonnage |
| Large furniture | $11 for the first four pieces (in-city), plus tonnage |
| Tires (passenger) | $3.25 each in-city / $6.75 outside, plus tonnage |
| Mattresses & box springs | Charged at the standard garbage tonnage rate (no separate per-item fee published) |
Weights round UP to the next 100 lbs, and unloading longer than 30 minutes costs $12.25 per extra half hour. Payment: cash, card, or check.
LRI (Pierce County) transfer station rates
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Garbage minimum (Hidden Valley, Purdy, Prairie Ridge) | $40.50 per trip (up to 400 lbs) |
| Garbage over 400 lbs | $202.35 per ton |
| Garbage at Key Center / Anderson Island (no scales) | $40.45 minimum for up to 1 cubic yard |
| Yard waste | FREE under 1 ton; $115/ton at 1 ton or more |
| Fridge/freezer/AC/water cooler (Freon appliances) | $68 each |
| Televisions | $85 each at Hidden Valley (FREE at Prairie Ridge & Purdy via E-Cycle) |
| Computer monitors/towers | $26 each at Hidden Valley |
| Tires | $16 each without rim / $21 with rim |
| Mattresses & box springs | 4 or fewer: garbage rate; 5 or more: $66 PER PIECE |
| Propane tanks | $25 each |
LRI's prices include Washington's 3.6% state refuse tax — Pierce County's website lists the same rates pre-tax ($39.06 minimum / $195.32 per ton), so don't be confused if the numbers look slightly different. Payment is cash or card only — no checks. Item fees are from the Hidden Valley price sheet; call (253) 847-7555 to confirm at smaller stations.
What the Dump WON'T Take
Both systems ban the same things from regular garbage: liquids, wet or oil-based paint, chemicals and solvents, gasoline, hazardous waste, ammunition, medical waste, and contaminated soil. TVs, computers, and monitors can't go in the trash either — they're e-waste. And Freon appliances can't be tossed in a scrap bin; they have to be processed (that's what the $68 fee covers).
Free hazardous waste drop-off (residents only)
- Tacoma residents: HHW facility at the TRTC (3510 S Mullen St), Friday–Monday 8 AM–5:30 PM. Free, up to 15 gallons/220 lbs per visit. Takes oil-based paint, automotive fluids, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, pesticides, pool chemicals.
- Pierce County residents: HHW at Hidden Valley, Tuesdays & Thursdays 8 AM–noon and 1–5 PM. Free, max 35 items/35 gallons per vehicle.
- Latex (water-based) paint isn't accepted at HHW — dry it out completely and put it in regular trash.
- Asbestos: never in regular trash. Tacoma takes it by appointment only for city residents ($20 min + $150/ton — call 311).
Free Disposal Options Most People Don't Know About
- Call-2-Haul (Tacoma residents): every City residential solid-waste customer gets TWO free bulky pickups per year — up to 3 large items (mattress, couch, fridge, washer/dryer) plus 15 bags or boxes. Book at (253) 573-2468.
- E-Cycle Washington: free recycling for TVs, computers, laptops, monitors, and tablets at Prairie Ridge, Purdy, and other drop sites — find one at ecyclewa.org.
- Yard waste: free for Tacoma residents at the TRTC, and free under 1 ton at all Pierce County stations.
- Scrap metal appliances (no Freon): water heaters, ovens, and dishwashers are accepted free at LRI stations.
- Mattress recycling: there's currently NO free mattress recycling program in Washington (statewide bills failed in both 2025 and 2026) — you'll pay the garbage rate or have a hauler take it.
DIY Dump Run vs. Hiring a Hauler: The Real Math
No truck? Renting one is the hidden cost of a DIY dump run. A Home Depot Load 'N Go pickup starts at $19 for 75 minutes (or $129 for the day), and a U-Haul pickup starts at $19.95 plus a per-mile fee — real-world local U-Haul totals average well over $100 once mileage, fuel, and fees are added.
Small load, DIY (Tacoma resident)
- • Truck rental: ~$19
- • TRTC minimum fee: $20
- • Gas + 2–3 hours of your time
Total: roughly $50 and a half day — works if you can lift everything yourself in one trip.
Real cleanout, DIY (non-city resident)
- • Truck rental: $40–$129
- • LRI minimum: $40.50 (or $202.35/ton over 400 lbs)
- • Add $68 per fridge, $66 per mattress (5+), $16–$21 per tire
Total: easily $110–$250+, plus hours of heavy lifting.
For a bag or two, the dump run wins. For anything heavy, bulky, or surcharged — furniture, appliances, mattresses, a garage's worth of stuff — one call to Tacoma Junk Pros starting at $99 covers the truck, the labor, the loading, the dump fees, and the sorting for donation and recycling. No rental counter, no scale house, no Saturday spent in the transfer station line.
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Tacoma Dump Fees FAQ
How much does it cost to dump junk in Tacoma?+
At the Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center, city residents pay a $20 minimum for the first 400 lbs, then $7.25 per 100 lbs (bring proof of residency). Non-city residents pay a $40 minimum. At Pierce County's LRI stations, the minimum is $40.50 per trip, then $202.35 per ton.
How much does it cost to dump a mattress in Tacoma?+
The City of Tacoma charges mattresses at the standard garbage weight rate ($20 minimum for residents). At LRI stations, up to 4 mattresses go at the garbage rate, but 5 or more cost $66 per piece. Tacoma residents can also use one of their two free Call-2-Haul pickups per year.
What time does the Tacoma dump close?+
The Tacoma Recovery & Transfer Center (3510 S Mullen St) is open 7 days a week from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Hidden Valley in Puyallup is open 8:00 AM–5:45 PM daily, and Purdy in Gig Harbor is open 9:00 AM–4:45 PM daily.
Can I take junk to the LRI Landfill in Graham?+
No — the LRI Landfill only accepts commercial loads. Households must use the transfer stations: Hidden Valley (Puyallup), Purdy (Gig Harbor), Prairie Ridge (Bonney Lake), Key Center, or Anderson Island.
Is it cheaper to dump junk myself or hire a junk removal company?+
For one or two bags, a DIY dump run costs about $40–$50 if you have a truck. For bigger loads, truck rental plus dump minimums plus item fees (like $68 per fridge) push DIY costs to $110–$250+, plus hours of labor. Junk removal starting at $99 all-in is usually the better value for anything bulky or heavy.