Written by Rob Binns Reviewed by Heleana Neil Updated on February 28, 2023 On this page The Cost of Commercial Waste Disposal Container Costs Collection Costs Transfer Costs Landfill Costs Hidden Costs Next Steps Expand Our site is reader-supported – by clicking our links, we can match you with a potential supplier, and we may earn a small commission for this referral. The monthly collection costs for a 2 yard dumpster is around $130. The national average landfill tipping fee is $53.72.There are various costs associated with commercial waste. We've broken them down in this article to give you a better idea of what to expect.If you’re already looking for providers, one of our trusted partners can help you compare quotes. We just need a few brief details about your business and we can match you up with trusted suppliers who will contact you with obligation-free quotes. What are commercial waste disposal costs? Avg. Container Cost: rent from $15-$275, buy from $350-$2800Avg. Monthly Collection Cost: $100-$250Avg. Landfill Tipping Fee: $30-$150Clicking on the links above will allow you to compare quotes to find the right commercial waste disposal provider for your business.Keep your hands clean and let a waste management company handle the heavy lifting What is the Cost of Commercial Waste Disposal?The fight against rising commercial waste disposal costs starts with understanding the different components of your bill. There are four types of costs that you need to consider:Container costsCollection costsTransfer costsLandfill costs Commercial Waste Container CostsYou can buy or rent commercial waste containers of different sizes. Average monthly rents and purchase prices for each type of container are shown in the table below:Average Commercial Waste Container PricesContainer TypeSizeAvg Monthly RentAvg Purchase PriceFront-loading box4yd3$15$3506yd3$15$4758yd3$20$600Roll-off container30yd3$60$2,00040yd3(without compactor)$60$2,80040yd3(with compactor)$275NAWhat’s the Best Container Size for My Business?The most cost-effective container is one that you can fill, but not to the brim. Come pickup time, you’ll be charged extra for any makeshift containers holding excess waste.If in doubt, go for a size bigger than you need so that you don’t have to worry about waste overflowing as your workforce grows.As you can see, buying only makes sense if you plan to keep a container for at least 23 months. Because of this, and the low cost of renting, most small businesses choose to rent. Commercial Waste Collection CostsCollection costs vary depending on your location, container size, and collection frequency. Up-to-date collection rates for a leading waste management services firm are shown in the table below:Monthly Collection Costs by Container Size and Number of PickupsContainerVolumeMonthly Avg. Pickup RangeMonthly Avg. Pickup Cost2 Yard Dumpster400 pounds$100 – $160$1304 Yard Dumpster800 pounds$135 – $200$1686 Yard Dumpster1,200 pounds$165 – $225$1958 Yard Dumpster1,600 pounds$185 – $250$218Source: Commercial Dumpster Rental PricesWhat’s the Ideal Collection Frequency?Anywhere from daily to monthly, depending on the nature of your business and the size of your premises. For example, regular collections are essential in restaurants, for hygiene reasons, but less important in retail outlets, where there’s no health risk to storing junk on-site. Commercial Waste Transfer CostsYour waste has a long way to travel before it reaches the landfill. You have to account for the fuel and transportation costs of getting it there.There are basically two ways you can transfer waste to the landfill:Direct transfer – waste is transported from your premises to the landfill in a single tripIndirect transfer – waste is transported from your premises to a transfer station, where it’s stored and batched before being shipped to a landfill siteWhat’s the Best Way to Transfer Commercial Waste?There’s all sorts of complex economics involved in deciding which method is best in each case. A lot depends on where your premises are located in relation to landfill sites. The further away you are, the more you’ll need to rely on transfer stations to dispose of your waste. Of course, that increases costs – transfer stations aren’t free to use.Waste management contractors like Republic Services and Rubicon maintain relationships with transfer stations and commercial landfills (see below) across the country, giving their customers access to special rates. This is the main reason why it’s cheaper to outsource commercial waste disposal to a professional waste management provider. Commercial Waste Landfill CostsThe other major cost of commercial waste disposal is a landfill tipping fee. A landfill tipping fee is a charge levied against anyone who disposes of waste in a landfill. Different landfills charge anywhere from $30-$150 per ton. Most offer preferential rates for customers of the top commercial waste management firms.Here’s a look at average landfill tipping fees in each state in 2020:Average Landfill Tipping Fees by State (2020):Alaska – $142.33 (± 69.52)Arizona – $44.89 (± 10.9)California – $58.48 (± 24.78)Hawaii – $114.33 (± 4.04)Idaho – $59.02 (± 63.48)Nevada – $39.9 (± 19.52)Oregon – $71.53 (± 18.67)Washington – $95.99 (± 37.94)Northeast – $68.69 (± 20.46)Connecticut – N.A.Delaware – $85 (± 0)Maine – $75.21 (± 16.51)Maryland – $66.73 (± 15.65)Massachusetts – N.A.New Hampshire – $74.34 (± 8)New Jersey – $78.8 (± 11.69)New York – $71.71 (± 29.68)Pennsylvania – $73.45 (± 15.23)Rhode Island – $115 (N.R.)Vermont – $101.95 (N.R.)Virginia – $53.43 (± 14.97)West Virginia – $54.66 (± 15.14)Mountains/Plains – $47.83 (± 24.54)Colorado – $58.42 (± 41.3)Montana – $32.06 (± 14.2)North Dakota – $48 (± 13.24)South Dakota – $51.22 (± 9.96)Utah – $33.8 (± 7.62)Wyoming – $57.64 (± 23.66)Midwest – $47.85 (± 20.3)Illinois – $51.71 (± 26.37)Indiana – $36.27 (± 16.71)Iowa – $47.07 (± 17.68)Kansas – $42.79 (± 13.25)Michigan – $42.77 (± 11.56)Minnesota – $57.78 (± 18.8)Missouri – $67.91 (± 37.17)Nebraska – $41.47 (± 15.75)Ohio – $45.39 (± 10.8)Wisconsin – $61 (± 33.91)Southeast – $46.26 (± 15.87)Alabama – $32.93 (± 9.59)Florida – $56.51 (± 20.71)Georgia – $47.88 (± 13.83)Kentucky – $36.32 (± 9.6)Mississippi – $30.36 (± 11.5)North Carolina – $45.97 (± 11.21)South Carolina – $45.91 (± 8.61)Tennessee – $51.53 (± 15.22)South Central – $39.66 (± 11.93)Arkansas – $30.53 (± 8.17)Louisiana – $37.53 (± 10.42)New Mexico – $38.2 (± 9.48)Oklahoma – $44.76 (± 17.01)Texas – $42.22 (± 10.68)Source: EREF Analysis of MSW Landfill Tipping Fees (2020) Are There Any Hidden Commercial Waste Disposal Costs?Here’s a quick look at other common charges you might get billed for:Dismount and Push Charge – applies when drivers have to get out of their cab and push your containers to an unobstructed spot for emptying. Levied on a per bin basis.Key Charge – applies when drivers require a key to unlock any locked containers. Levied on a per bin basis.Enclosure Charge – applies when drivers have to remove your bins from a fenced enclosure and replace them when emptied. Levied on a per bin basis.Gate Service Charge – applies when drivers have to open a closed or locked gate to access your containers. Levied on a per bin basis.Long Walk Charge – applies when your containers are placed a certain distance (i.e. 10 feet) away from where collection trucks have access. Levied on a (you guessed it) per bin basis.Regulatory Charges – these cover haulers against the costs of complying with environmental regulations and fluctuating fuel prices. Next StepsNow you should have a better idea of why commercial waste disposal costs as much as it does. Just remember, every business creates waste, but few have the resources to properly manage it. With the right waste management expertise at your disposal, you’ll be one of the few that does.To learn more about which contractors offer the best low-cost service, read our roundup of the best commercial waste management companies. FAQs Is it Better to Buy or to Rent Commercial Waste Containers? In the long run, it's more cost effective to buy commercial waste containers. However, if you're unsure about future plans, location, or you're a small business, it makes more sense to rent. How much does waste cost per ton? In the US, waste per ton is around $53. What is commercial waste collection? Commercial waste collection is when a businesses waste is picked up or transferred to a facility where it can be disposed of or treated. Written by: Rob Binns Services Expert Rob writes mainly about the payments industry, but also brings to the table industry-specific knowledge of CRM software, business loans, fulfilment, and invoice finance. When not exasperating his editor with bad puns, he can be found relaxing in a sunny (socially-distanced) corner, with a beer and a battered copy of Dostoevsky. Reviewed by: Heleana Neil Business Services Editor Heleana Neil specialises in Business Services, managing the strategy and production of content for SMBs, helping businesses with the challenges and opportunities they face today. Covering everything from payroll to payment processing, Heleana uses her expertise to help business owners make better, informed decisions and grow their companies.