The Prince William County Landfill (officially the Solid Waste Management Center on Balls Ford Road) handles most household waste, but certain items are prohibited by law or environmental regulation. If you show up with prohibited items, you'll either be turned away or fined.
Here's the complete current list of what you can't dump, and where to take it instead.
Prohibited Items
Hazardous chemicals
- Paint (latex paint must be dried out first; oil-based paint always prohibited)
- Solvents, thinners, varnish
- Pesticides, herbicides
- Pool chemicals
- Automotive fluids (oil, antifreeze, brake fluid)
- Fuel (gasoline, kerosene, diesel)
Where to take them: PWC Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center (same location as the landfill, separate building). Open most Saturdays. Free for residents.
Electronics
- TVs, monitors, computers
- Printers, copiers
- Cell phones, tablets
- Stereos and audio equipment
Where to take them: PWC E-Waste Collection Site (same campus). Free for residents.
Tires
- Car tires, truck tires, motorcycle tires
- Tires with or without rims
Where to take them: PWC accepts limited quantities for a fee ($3-5 per tire). Larger quantities require commercial disposal.
Refrigerants
- Refrigerators, freezers, AC units, heat pumps, dehumidifiers
- Must have refrigerant professionally removed before disposal
Where to take them: Most appliance recyclers and some scrap yards. Bull Run Hauling handles refrigerant removal as part of our service.
Batteries
- Lead-acid (car batteries)
- Lithium-ion (laptops, e-bikes)
- Rechargeable batteries
Where to take them: Auto parts stores (AutoZone, Advance Auto), Best Buy, Home Depot, and the PWC Hazardous Waste site.
Construction debris (specific items)
- Asbestos (always prohibited)
- Lead paint debris (special handling)
- Treated lumber (limited quantities only)
Where to take them: Specialty hazmat haulers required for asbestos and lead.
Medical waste
- Sharps (needles, syringes)
- Prescription medications
- Biohazard materials
Where to take them: Pharmacies often have drug take-back programs. Sharps need licensed medical waste disposal.
Yard waste (limited)
- The landfill accepts yard waste but at higher tipping fees than regular trash
- Better option: PWC has free yard waste drop-off at the Compost Facility
What's the Actual Cost?
PWC landfill tipping fees as of 2026:
- General trash: $60/ton (minimum $10)
- Yard waste: $45/ton
- Construction debris: $70/ton
- Mattresses: $35 each
- Tires: $3-5 each
- White goods (appliances): $10-25 each
For comparison, a typical full pickup truck load of household junk weighs about half a ton, so your tipping fee alone runs $30-40 — and that's before you account for your own time, gas, vehicle wear, and the labor of loading and unloading.
When Hiring a Service Makes Sense
For a few items or a single trip to the landfill, DIY makes financial sense. For full-home cleanouts, estate cleanouts, or anything involving prohibited items, professional services are usually cheaper when you account for:
1. Multiple trips to multiple facilities (general trash, e-waste, hazardous, donation)
2. Your time and labor
3. Vehicle wear and gas
4. Risk of being turned away or fined
We handle all PWC waste streams in a single visit — the landfill, hazardous waste site, electronics recycling, scrap metal facilities, and donation centers. You get one bill, one schedule, and one phone call.
Our Recommendation
If you have 1-2 items and time on your hands, take them yourself. If you have a pickup truck full or more, the math usually favors hiring us — especially when prohibited items are involved.
We provide receipts and documentation for all disposal, so you have records of proper handling.