Junk Removal vs Hauling It Yourself in Madison: The Real Costs
Updated
Short answer
Doing it yourself in Dane County can cost as little as $15.03 per landfill trip under 500 pounds, or nothing on a Madison work order. Hiring runs $70 to $125 for a minimum load up to $400 to $800 for a full truck in national guides. What you pay a crew for is the labor, the truck and sorting out what the landfill refuses.
Side by side
| Load | Hired (national guides) | Do it yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum or 1/8 load | $70 to $125 | Free on a Madison work order, or $15.03 to $30.05 at the landfill |
| 1/4 load | $100 to $200 | Free on a Madison work order, or $15.03 to $30.05 at the landfill |
| 1/2 load | $200 to $400 | Several landfill trips by weight, or a rented truck |
| 3/4 load | $400 to $600 | Several landfill trips by weight, or a rented truck |
| Full truckload | $400 to $800 | Several landfill trips by weight, or a rented truck |
What DIY leaves out
- Madison drop-off sites allow one pickup-bed or 5 x 8 trailer load a day.
- Work orders run on the set-out schedule, and items have to reach the curb.
- Refrigerant appliances go to Clean Sweep ($35), electronics to a recycler, paint to Clean Sweep ($15 a trip).
- The landfill wants loads tied or tarped and residents only.
Full prices on the cost page.
Quick answers
Is it cheaper to take junk to the Dane County Landfill?
Usually, if you have a vehicle and the time: $15.03 for up to 500 pounds of mixed trash in 2026. Hired removal includes the labor, truck and sorting.
Rather not haul it yourself?
Tell us what needs to go and where. A local crew sorts the recycling, donation and landfill streams for you and replies with a price first.