Landfills · updated 2026-08-08

How to understand landfill pricing and the real cost estimate in Dumpster Controls

Every landfill card carries a pricing block that goes beyond the per-ton sticker price: it estimates what a dump will actually cost you, including typical extra fees.

## Read the base price
The block is labeled "Per Ton" or "Per Yard" and shows the base rate, for example "$78 / ton". Below it, an "Updated" date shows when the price was last touched.
## Check the source badge
Next to the date sits a badge: "Verified" (Confirmed by Dumpster Controls), "Reported" (Reported by a customer, pending review), or "Unknown" (Pricing not confirmed yet). Reported prices render the estimate in warning colors with a note to use them as a rough estimate only.
## Open the estimate
Click "View dump cost". A "Real Cost (est.)" box expands with a dollar figure and a line such as "Based on 2 tons" plus whether it "Includes typical extra fees" or "Extra fees not included".
## Adjust the load
For per-ton landfills, pick an "Est. weight:" chip from 2 to 10 tons. For per-yard landfills, pick a "Dumpster size:" chip: 10, 20, 30, or 40 yd. The estimate recalculates instantly, and your selection also feeds the "Cheapest" sort.
## Watch for hidden fees
When the community has reported extras, the block shows "Hidden fees:" with an approximate amount per dump. Otherwise it says "No hidden fees data". The info icon's tooltip lists why actual charges vary: final weight, environmental fees, fuel surcharges, taxes, and minimum load policies.

What happens next

Click "Hide estimate" (or the collapse arrow) to shrink the block back to the base price.
Landfills with no pricing at all show "Pricing not available" with the invitation "Be the first to add price info".

Troubleshooting

The price looks wrong.

Click "Report" on the pricing block (or "Add price info" when there is none) and submit what you actually paid. See the article on reporting a price update.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Is Dumpster Controls really free?

Yes. The entire app is free for any company at any fleet size: dispatch, online booking, the driver app, invoicing, the Tresha AI assistant and every other feature, with no monthly fee, no trial period and no credit card to sign up. The only cost on the free plan is optional card processing when a customer pays by card through the platform: 2.99% plus $3.99 per transaction on the free plan. The entire app is free; an optional $169 per month plan lowers that to 2.99% plus $0.30 and adds a Sponsored spotlight in the public company directory. Prices as published on dumpstercontrols.io/pricing on 2026-09-23.

Do you charge per driver, per truck or per order?

No. There is no per-driver, per-truck, per-user or per-order fee, and no order limit. A company with one truck and a company with twenty pay the same for the software: nothing.

Is there a contract?

No. There is no contract, no minimum term and no setup fee. You create the account yourself, and on the free plan there is nothing to cancel because nothing is billed. The optional $169 lower card rate plan is billed month to month.

Which countries and languages are supported?

Dumpster Controls serves hauling companies in the United States and Canada. The app interface and the Tresha AI assistant are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The public pages, such as the blog, the help center and the landfill finder, are in English.

How do I switch from another dumpster software?

Create a free account at dumpstercontrols.io/login, with no sales call and no credit card. Then import your customers from a CSV file using the template provided in the app; past orders can also be imported from a CSV. Container sizes and pricing are set up in Settings. The landfill database, with 1,750 active US and Canadian landfills as counted on 2026-10-01, is already loaded, so disposal sites do not need to be typed in. Step-by-step guides are at dumpstercontrols.io/help.