Transfer Station Near Beaverton, OR: Fees & First-Time Tips

Most Beaverton residents spend between $80 and $165 for a typical self-hauled load. The best facility depends on the type of material you’re disposing of. Covering your load, separating electronics, and sorting recyclables before you leave can help you avoid extra fees and unnecessary delays.

Transfer Station vs. Dump: What’s the Difference

People use these two words interchangeably, and honestly, for most practical purposes that’s fine. But there’s a real difference, and knowing it explains why your local options work the way they do.

A landfill (“the dump,” in old-fashioned terms) is where waste is permanently buried. A transfer station is a sorting and staging facility where your load gets weighed, sorted, and then trucked off to wherever it actually needs to go: a landfill for true garbage, a composting site for yard debris, a recycling processor for metal and cardboard. Metro Central and Metro South fall into the second category, not the first. So does TVWR in Hillsboro, technically, though it sits on the same property as an actual landfill.

Why this matters: it’s the reason a single drop-off run can result in your couch going to a landfill, your scrap metal going to a recycler, and your old TV going to an e-waste processor all from one stop. The sorting happens on-site, which is also why showing up with a properly sorted load saves you money. The staff isn’t doing the sorting work you skipped; you’re paying general waste rates for material that could’ve gone somewhere cheaper.

Closely related: yes, you do have to pay to drop off most things at one of these sites in Washington County. A small number of items, sorted recyclables, electronics, and household batteries, are free. Everything else is priced by weight or by vehicle load.

Which Transfer Station Is Closest to Beaverton, OR

Most people Google “nearest dump site,” land on Metro South, and start loading the truck. That’s usually not the closest option, and depending on what you’re hauling, it’s not always the cheapest either.

Here’s what’s actually available and which one fits your situation:

Quick reference if you just want the short version:

And the neighborhood breakdown:

• Aloha and the west side (97006, 97007): TVWR/Hillsboro is usually the shortest drive, and the flat-rate pricing means no surprises on the scale.
• Cedar Hills and Bethany (97229, 97225): Metro Central in Portland is typically closest for mixed loads. For yard debris specifically, Woodco still wins on distance and price.
• Five Oaks and central areas (97005, 97008): Either Metro Central or TVWR, depending on what you’re hauling.
• Raleigh Hills: Metro Central via Canyon Road is the more direct route.
• Progress Ridge and Cooper Mountain: TVWR/Hillsboro is the more direct shot west without cutting through downtown traffic.
• Off Tualatin Valley Highway and Sexton Mountain: Either Metro Central or TVWR works — check the fee tables below to see which makes more sense for what you’re hauling.
• Yard debris from anywhere local: Start with Woodco. It’s shorter and cheaper than either Metro site for clean organic material.

And honestly, this surprises people every time: Metro South is the most-searched facility, but it’s the farthest drive of the bunch. If you’re choosing a transfer station near Beaverton, Metro South is usually worth the longer trip only because of its extended hours (7 AM–7 PM versus Metro Central’s 8 AM–5 PM). That’s especially helpful if you’re hauling after work or before 8 AM—not otherwise.

For yard debris removal handled for you instead of a Woodco run, see our yard debris removal page. For the full range of disposal options beyond a self-haul drop-off—donation, curbside pickup, and electronics recycling—see Where to take junk in Beaverton.

Compare nearby transfer stations by drive time, accepted materials, pricing model, and the types of loads each facility handles best.

What Does It Actually Cost to Use One

Most residents spend between $80 and $165 for a typical self-hauled load at a transfer station near Beaverton, OR. Larger loads, construction debris, and weight-based disposal at the Metro sites can push that significantly higher.

Fees aren’t flat, and they aren’t simple. They depend on your vehicle type, your load’s weight, whether it’s covered, and what’s mixed into it. Here’s the real breakdown, site by site.

TVWR / Hillsboro Landfill — Flat-Rate Vehicle Pricing (Effective July 1, 2025)

TVWR is the only nearby option that prices by vehicle type instead of weighing everything. Current rates are published directly by WM Northwest.

If your load is heavier or includes construction debris specifically, weight-based rates kick in instead:

A couple of extra charges are worth knowing before you go: an unsecured load fee of $45 for personal vehicles (your load has to be secured before you’re allowed in) and an environmental fee of $15 per load under two tons and $30 for loads over two tons.

Metro Central and Metro South — Weight-Based Pricing (2026)

Both Metro sites run on the same fee schedule since Recology Portland operates both on behalf of Oregon Metro.

Payment at both: cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and personal checks (with valid ID matching the check).

Woodco — Yard Debris Only

Woodco’s rate runs lower than the metro sites’ for clean yard debris since it’s a dedicated composting facility rather than a general drop-off site. It only accepts yard debris and clean concrete: no household junk, no mixed loads. Call 503-649-5430 to confirm current pricing before you go.

This is the part that surprises a lot of people: driving a load of branches and leaves all the way to Metro South instead of Woodco adds 30 to 40 minutes of driving and a higher disposal rate for material that’s headed to composting either way.

For the full breakdown of Metro South-specific pitfalls, see our Metro South transfer station mistakes guide.

How to Prep Your Load Before You Leave Home

Here’s what most guides skip entirely: the mistakes that cost real money almost always happen at home, before the truck is even loaded. Fix it here, and the trip itself goes smoothly.

Sort your load by material type before you load the truck. Yard debris goes in its own pile for Woodco or the Metro yard debris area. Electronics go in a separate box — they’re free at Metro through E-Cycles, up to seven items. Hazardous items like paint, motor oil, and batteries go in a sealed container of their own—these head to the Metro HHW facility, which keeps different hours (9 AM–4 PM) than the main site. Scrap metal goes in its own pile too — it’s often free to recycle and sometimes earns a rebate. Whatever’s left after all that sorting is your actual load.

Cover your load. No exceptions. Both TVWR and the Metro sites charge uncovered load surcharges, anywhere from $3 to $45, depending on your vehicle. Oregon law also requires secured loads on the road, not just at the gate. A tarp with ratchet straps works; bungee cords alone usually don’t pass inspection. Cover it in your driveway, not in the parking lot — it’s easier, and you won’t hold up the line.

Get a realistic weight estimate before you go. Metro’s minimum load threshold is 240 pounds — past that, you’re paying by weight. TVWR gives you a flat rate for a passenger car or pickup if your load is self-sorted, so sorting at home is what qualifies you for the lower rate. One thing people don’t expect: wet yard debris weighs significantly more than dry. If it’s been raining — and around here, it usually has been — budget for a heavier load than it looks.

Know which lane you need before you pull in. Both Metro sites split traffic into several lanes: general waste, recycling, hazardous waste, and electronics. Pulling into the wrong one causes delays and sometimes means starting over. Keep your sorted materials visible and accessible, not buried under the general waste pile.

Bring the right payment method. Metro accepts pretty much everything — cash, all major cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. TVWR is more limited: cash, Visa, Mastercard, and debit only, no Amex, no Discover.

Check holiday hours before you make the drive. Metro South, Metro Central, and TVWR are all closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Metro also closes July 4th. During Oregon’s winter storm season, call ahead — weather delays aren’t unusual.

A few minutes of preparation can help you avoid uncovered-load fees, rejected materials, and unnecessary delays at the transfer station.

What Gets Accepted — and What Gets Rejected

Each facility has its own rules, and they’re currently scattered across three different government and waste-management websites. Here’s all of it in one place, so you’re not Googling this twice.

If you’ve got a mattress to get rid of specifically, see our dedicated mattress disposal guide or mattress removal cost breakdown — both Metro stations take up to four a day free, but there’s more to the decision than that one fact.

Most materials are sorted for recycling, composting, or recovery before only the remaining waste is sent to a landfill.

What Happens If Your Load Gets Rejected

Contaminated yard debris — branches mixed with rocks, metal, or plastic — gets pulled from the composting lane and reclassified at the general waste rate. Electronics found in a general waste load get pulled aside, sometimes with an added fee. Hazardous material mixed into a regular load gets redirected to the HHW facility, and if that facility’s already closed for the day, your whole load may be turned away. Asbestos is never accepted, anywhere, full stop, and can result in a fine on top of the rejection.

Best Time to Go — Avoiding the Wait

These Portland metro area sites get genuinely backed up at predictable times. Timing your trip right is the easiest way to save yourself 30 to 60 minutes you didn’t plan on losing.

• Metro Central (Portland): Saturday mornings between 7:30 and 9:30 AM are the worst of it. A weekday morning or Friday afternoon runs much faster. It also closes at 5 PM sharp, so plan to arrive by 4:30 at the latest.
• Metro South (Oregon City): Opens at 7 AM, and early weekday visits move quickest. The extended hours to 7 PM make it the only real option if you need an after-work run.
• TVWR / Hillsboro: Generally quieter than either Metro site — a solid weekend alternative if you’re coming from Aloha or the west side.
• After a storm: Every site sees a volume spike following major Oregon wind and rain events. Add 45 to 60 minutes to any weekend estimate between November and February.
• Post-holiday weekends: Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the Fourth of July weekend bring the highest annual traffic, especially at Metro Central.
• Spring cleanup season — March through May — is the busiest stretch across every Washington County facility. If you’re planning a big garage cleanout or post-renovation haul, a weekday trip in February or early June will save you the wait entirely.

When a Transfer Station May Not Be the Best Option

These drop-off sites are the right call for one specific situation. Outside of it, they usually cost more — in money, time, or both — than the alternative.

• Yard debris only: Woodco costs less and is already close by. A trip to Metro South for yard debris alone adds 30 to 40 minutes of driving and a higher rate for material headed to the same kind of facility either way.
• Electronics only: Oregon E-Cycles is free, and there are drop-off locations all over Washington County. Driving to a Metro site for one or two TVs costs you time and fuel for something you could likely take care of closer to home.
• A single donatable item: A clean sofa, a working appliance, a dresser in decent shape—Habitat ReStore, Goodwill, and St. Vincent de Paul take these, often with free scheduled pickup. That’s free disposal versus a weight-based fee for the exact same item.
• A full garage or multi-room cleanout: Multiple loads means multiple truck rentals or multiple trips, and multiple fees on top of that. The total regularly exceeds what professional removal would’ve cost for the whole job in a single visit.
• One truckload of mixed, non-donatable material, and you already own a truck? Self-haul makes sense. Anything past that, sort first; use the free options where they apply, and actually compare total cost before committing to two or three separate trips.

For full-property cleanouts, see our house cleanout service. For yard debris specifically, yard debris removal in Beaverton picks up directly from your property.

Avoid the mistakes that most first-time visitors make, including uncovered loads, mixed materials, and choosing the wrong facility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related reading:

• Where to Take Junk in Beaverton, OR
• Metro South Transfer Station — 7 Mistakes to Avoid
• Yard Debris Removal — Beaverton, OR
• Mattress Disposal — Beaverton, OR
• House Cleanouts — Beaverton, OR