Big Gains in Landfill Disposal Pricing; Up 6% for the Year on Average
Date: December 15, 2022
Source: News Room
Big Gains in Landfill Disposal Pricing; Up 6% for the Year on Average
Waste Business Journal November 2022 Waste Pricing Report
National Landscape
The November tipping fee report from Waste Business Journal reveals that landfill pricing is up 5.4 percent for the year so far. The national average is now $62.92 per ton of MSW, up from $59.72 in December 2021. As usual, pricing at privately owned landfills outstripped those that are municipally owned. Pricing at privately owned landfills increased by 6.1 percent to $70.25 per ton. In contrast, prices charged for MSW at municipally owned landfills rose by a more modest 3.9 percent to $50.76 per ton on average. The volume of MSW received by landfills is up 2.6 percent for the year so far.
Private vs. Municipal
| Landfill Ownership |
Average Tipping Fee |
% Change in Fee |
% Change in Volume |
| Private Sector | $70.25 | 6.1% | 2.6% |
| Municipal | $50.76 | 3.9% | 2.7% |
Around the Country
Prices vary around the country in accordance with landfill scarcity or increased regulation, especially landfill bans of specific materials, recycling mandates, etc. The most expensive place to dispose of a ton of MSW is the Northeast where the average price is now $86.91.
Prices continue to rise in the Southeast and Midwest which are up 5.28 percent and 4.5 percent respectively. The factors driving this trend include waste exported to these regions from the Northeast along with demographic changes following the pandemic and general economic growth. Average tipping fees in the Southeast are now $51.85 per ton. In the Midwest, which receives much of the exported Northeast wastes, they are now $73.57 per ton.
The cheapest region is the west where population density is lower and landfill capacity is more abundant. Prices there average $50.52 per ton. In the pacific where there are relatively fewer but more regulated landfills, the average price is now $68.21 per ton.
Pricing by Major Player
As you recall, pricing by privately owned landfills is up 6.1 percent for the year thus far. For the industry's biggest player WM (formerly Waste Management), landfill pricing is up nearly 8 percent to $70.52 per ton on average. WM landfill volumes are up 2.4 percent for the year so far. For number 2, Republic Services, landfill pricing is up 6.9 percent to $76.60 per ton on volumes that are up by 2.93 percent. Landfill pricing for those owned by Waste Connections are up by 7.3 percent to $69.33 per ton on volumes that are up by nearly 2 percent. For number four GFL, landfill pricing increased by 8.6 percent to $61.24 per ton on volume that is up 2.7 percent for the year.
| Company | Average Tipping Fee |
% Change in Fee |
| Waste Management | $70.52 | 7.7% |
| Republic Services | $76.60 | 6.9% |
| Waste Connections | $74.39 | 7.3% |
| GFL Environmental | $61.24 | 8.6% |
Price by Facility Type
So far, we have only been talking about landfill pricing for MSW. As most of the MSW we generate is destined for a landfill, it serves as an appropriate industry bellwether. Other major facilities include waste-to-energy facilities, transfer stations (often the way point through which MSW moves before going to a landfill or waste-to-energy facility), and materials recovery facilities (MRFs). Following the trend at landfills, prices charged at these facilities are also up across the board. However, waste to-energy facilities and transfer stations charge more than landfills. Waste-to-energy facilities have higher operating costs and are usually located in areas where landfills are scarce. Transfer stations are usually located near population centers and must include the ultimate cost of disposal at a landfill or waste-to-energy facility in their pricing. For waste-to-Energy facilities, tipping fees have risen 4.2 percent to $73.87 per ton from $70.92 per ton at the beginning of the year. For transfer stations, prices have risen 6.3 percent to $74.57 per ton from $70.17 per ton at the beginning of the year.
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