We pay these fees every day, so here's the full picture: what the landfills charge, which ones will even let you in, and the honest math on whether a DIY dump run beats hiring it out. Spoiler: sometimes it does — we'll tell you when.
| Charge | Rate |
|---|---|
| General waste | $92.70 / ton |
| Hard-to-handle (furniture, mattresses >6 ft — i.e., most junk loads) | $107.70 / ton |
| Pickup/van load minimum (under 880 lbs) | $30 |
Olinda Alpha (Brea, north county) and Prima Deshecha (San Juan Capistrano, south county). Frank R. Bowerman in Irvine — the one closest to most of us — is commercial/franchise-only. Mid-county residents drive 30–45 minutes each way.
Gate staff ask for a driver's license, utility bill, or job contract showing the waste originated in Orange County. Out-of-county loads get turned away.
Uncovered loads risk a ticket on the freeway (CVC 23114) and can be refused at the gate. Bring straps and a tarp.
| DIY dump run (typical 1/4-load equivalent) | Cost |
|---|---|
| Truck rental (if you don't own one) | $50–120 |
| Fuel + 1.5–3 hrs round trip | $15–30 |
| Gate fee | $30–110 |
| Your Saturday + your back | You decide |
| DIY total | $95–260 + half a day |
| Our 1/4-load, booked online — labor, hauling, fees, donation sorting included | $194–224 |
When DIY genuinely wins: you own a truck, it's one light load of non-donatable waste, and you live near Brea or San Juan Capistrano. Everyone else is usually paying more than they think to do our job. Middle option: our dump trailer rental from $249 — you load, we handle the landfill entirely.