Landfill Pricing Continues to Rise, Up 6 percent From a Year Ago
Date: June 3, 2024
Source: Waste Business Journal Research
The April 2024 tipping fee report from Waste Business Journal reveals that landfill pricing is up 6 percent for the year so far. The national average is now $66.92 per ton of MSW, up from $63.14 in May 2023. As usual, pricing at privately owned landfills outstripped those that are municipally owned. Pricing at privately owned landfills increased by 6 percent to $71.56 per ton. Prices charged for MSW at municipally owned landfills rose by 5.3 percent to $53.48 per ton on average. The volume of MSW received by landfills is up 1.2 percent for the year so far.
Landfill Tipping Fees by Ownership in the US
| Landfill Ownership |
Average Tipping Fee |
% Change in Fee |
% Change in Volume |
| Private Sector | $71.56 | 6.0% | 0.9% |
| Municipal | $53.48 | 5.3% | 1.9% |
| Both | $66.92 | 5.8% | 1.2% |
Driving these increases are increased costs borne by waste management firms, especially from labor, fuel, general inflation, and compliance with environmental mandates, etc.
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 $89.77.
Landfill Tipping Fees by Ownership in the Northeast
| Landfill Ownership |
Average Tipping Fee |
% Change in Fee |
% Change in Volume |
| Private Sector | $91.68 | 2.8% | -0.4% |
| Municipal | $84.91 | 1.7% | 0.2% |
| Both | $89.77 | 2.5% | -0.3% |
Prices continue to rise in the Southeast and Midwest which are up 7.3 percent and 3.9 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 $56.27 per ton. In the Midwest, which receives much of the exported Northeast wastes, they are now $77.90 per ton.
Landfill Tipping Fees by Ownership in the Southeast
| Landfill Ownership |
Average Tipping Fee |
% Change in Fee |
% Change in Volume |
| Private Sector | $60.56 | 8.1% | -0.4% |
| Municipal | $44.91 | 5.2% | 2.0% |
| Both | $56.27 | 7.3% | 0.2% |
Landfill Tipping Fees by Ownership in the Midwest
| Landfill Ownership |
Average Tipping Fee |
% Change in Fee |
% Change in Volume |
| Private Sector | $82.84 | 3.8% | -0.3% |
| Municipal | $48.18 | 5.0% | -0.4% |
| Both | $77.90 | 3.9% | -0.3% |
The least expensive region is the west where population density is lower and landfill capacity is more abundant. Prices there average $51.78 per ton. In the pacific where there are relatively fewer but more regulated landfills, the average price is now $75.42 per ton.
Landfill Tipping Fees by Ownership in the West
| Landfill Ownership |
Average Tipping Fee |
% Change in Fee |
% Change in Volume |
| Private Sector | $57.07 | 8.0% | 4.5% |
| Municipal | $39.33 | 4.5% | 4.0% |
| Both | $51.78 | 7.2% | 4.4% |
Landfill Tipping Fees by Ownership in the Pacific
| Landfill Ownership |
Average Tipping Fee |
% Change in Fee |
% Change in Volume |
| Private Sector | $79.26 | 9.8% | 1.8% |
| Municipal | $68.70 | 9.2% | 1.9% |
| Both | $75.42 | 9.6% | 1.8% |
Pricing by Major Player
Pricing by privately owned landfills is up 6 percent for the year thus far. For the industry's biggest player WM (formerly Waste Management), landfill pricing is up 7 percent to $72.65 per ton on average. For Republic Services, landfill pricing is up 4.8 percent to $74.92 per ton on volumes that are up by 1.6 percent. Landfill pricing for those owned by Waste Connections are up by 7.6 percent to $75.74 per ton on volumes that are up by nearly 2 percent. For GFL, landfill pricing increased by 10.7 percent to $70.07 per ton, partly driven by recent acquisitions.
Landfill Tipping Fees by Major Waste Management Company
| Company | Average Tipping Fee |
% Change in Fee |
| Waste Management | $72.65 | 7.0% |
| Republic Services | $74.92 | 4.8% |
| Waste Connections | $75.74 | 7.6% |
| GFL Environmental | $70.07 | 10.7% |
Sign up to receive our free Weekly News Bulletin