How the Alpha Ridge Landfill scale works for trailer loads
At Howard County's Alpha Ridge Landfill, any trailer or rental vehicle is handled as commercial: you cross the scale loaded, unload, then weigh out empty. You pay the difference by the ton, $106 per ton for construction and demolition debris, plus a 2.45% fee if you pay by card. Example: 3,000 lb of remodel debris is 1.5 tons, or $159 before the card fee.
Key takeaways
- Trailers and rental vehicles are treated as commercial and must cross the scale in and out.
- C&D debris is $106 per ton; clean yard trim is $40 per ton for commercial loads.
- Card payments add a 2.45% convenience fee (since May 1, 2026).
- The transfer station is open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 3pm; nothing is open Sunday.
- You get 30 minutes to unload, and leaving without weighing out costs $25 plus tonnage.
How does the Alpha Ridge scale work with a trailer?
You pay for the weight you leave behind: the scale weighs your truck and trailer full on the way in and empty on the way out, and the difference is billed by the ton.
Howard County's Alpha Ridge Landfill is at 2350 Marriottsville Road in Marriottsville. The county says any resident using a dump truck, box truck, trailer or rental vehicle is treated as a commercial customer, and those vehicles must cross the scales before they dispose of anything. The usage rules say the same thing about residents hauling construction debris or mixed loads: weigh before and after.
- Pull onto the inbound scale with the load covered. The rules require loads to be covered or enclosed, and tarps come off only in designated areas.
- Tell the scale attendant what you're carrying (remodel debris, yard trim, brush) and show proof of Howard County residency. Only Howard County waste is accepted.
- Follow the weighmaster's directions to the right unloading area: the transfer station floor for C&D, the Wood Waste Area for yard trim.
- Unload within 30 minutes. That limit includes sweeping out the bed.
- Cross the outbound scale empty. Your ticket shows gross, tare and net weight, and you pay on the net.
Landfill fees, hours and rules are set by each county or site and can change without notice. We don't control them; call the site before you go.
How much does Alpha Ridge charge for a trailer load?
Most trailer loads from a cleanout or remodel are billed at $106 per ton, and a card payment adds 2.45%.
These are the per-ton rates on the county's fee schedule that runs July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027:
| Material | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and demolition debris | $106/ton | Drywall, lumber, cabinets, carpet, shingles |
| Commercial solid waste (trash) | $106/ton | Tires must come separately |
| Broken paving, stone or brick | $106/ton | Large quantities from contractors are refused |
| Clean wood and yard trim, commercial | $40/ton | Wood Waste Area |
| Clean dirt | $132/ton | May be limited; soil is currently refused |
| Appliances with Freon | $15 each | Per item, not per ton |
| Failure to weigh out | $25 + tonnage | Billed on waste type and tare weight |
Worked example. A remodel load weighs in at 16,500 lb (truck, trailer and debris) and out at 13,500 lb. The net is 3,000 lb, or 1.5 tons. At $106 per ton that's $159.00. Paid by card, add 2.45% ($3.90) for $162.90. A full 7x14 dump trailer of asphalt shingles (7.17 yd³ at the EPA's 731 lb/yd³) is about 2.6 tons, or about $278 before the card fee.
Landfill fees, hours and rules are set by each county or site and can change without notice. We don't control them; call the site before you go.
Skip the landfill run
Return It Loaded: bring the trailer back full and we dump it for the county scale price plus $49.
Rent a dump trailerDo I need a permit or a special form to bring a rented trailer?
Probably one or the other, so call ahead: commercial vehicles need a $40 annual permit, and residents in rental vehicles may be asked to fill out a special-exception form.
The county sells a nontransferable commercial landfill permit for each vehicle that delivers solid waste. It costs $40, runs July 1 to June 30, and is applied for through the county's online portal. Contractors who haul for customers need one.
Homeowners have a second path. The residential special exception covers residents who use a rental vehicle, a vehicle over ¾ ton or a commercially marked vehicle, or who have an unusually large amount of household trash. You show a Maryland license with a Howard County address and fill out a form before any waste is accepted. Staff can screen the load. The exception covers household waste and yard trim up to 2 tons a year at no charge. It does not cover construction debris or anything a contractor produced, and those loads pay the commercial tip fee.
In plain terms: a homeowner's remodel debris in a rented trailer pays by the ton. Yard trim or household junk in the same trailer may qualify for the free 2 tons. Call Alpha Ridge at 410-313-6444 before your first trip and ask which applies to your load. Landfill fees, hours and rules are set by each county or site and can change without notice. We don't control them; call the site before you go.
What will Alpha Ridge refuse?
Soil and large amounts of stone, brick, block, asphalt or concrete from contractors are refused, along with hazardous and liquid waste.
- Soil and heavy rubble. The county stopped taking soil and large quantities of stone, brick, block, asphalt and concrete from commercial contractors. Take those to a recycler; see where to recycle concrete, brick and block near Columbia.
- Hazardous and liquid waste. No hot ashes, acids, solvents, petroleum, liquid paint, medical waste or engine blocks over 2 feet. Drums of 5 gallons or more must be empty with tops and bottoms removed.
- Out-of-county waste. Only Howard County-generated waste is accepted.
- Tractor trailers are not allowed in the transfer station.
For a full material list across counties, see what you can take to a Maryland landfill in a trailer. Landfill fees, hours and rules are set by each county or site and can change without notice. We don't control them; call the site before you go.
When is Alpha Ridge open, and what should I bring?
The transfer station takes trailer loads Monday through Saturday, 8am to 3pm. Nothing is open on Sunday, so plan Saturday trips early.
| Area | Hours (Mon–Sat) |
|---|---|
| Transfer station (C&D, trash) | 8:00am–3:00pm |
| Residents' Convenience Center | 8:00am–4:00pm |
| Wood Waste Area | 8:00am–4:00pm residential; 8:00am–3:30pm commercial |
- A reflective safety vest and closed-toe shoes. Both are required on the transfer station floor.
- A hard hat if you'll be unloading on the tipping floor or in a construction area.
- Your driver's license with a Howard County address.
- A tarp and straps. Uncovered loads break the rules.
- A broom and shovel, because cleanup counts against your 30 minutes.
Children under 16 must stay in the vehicle. Commercial vehicles still inside after 4pm are charged $100 per 30 minutes. Landfill fees, hours and rules are set by each county or site and can change without notice. We don't control them; call the site before you go.
What if I don't want to make the landfill run myself?
Return It Loaded: bring the trailer back full and we take it to the scale for you, for the county scale price plus $49 ($51.94 with tax).
That saves you the trip to Marriottsville, the wait at the scale and the 3pm cutoff. A 7x14 is $165 a day ($174.90 with tax), and you can pick up and return 24/7. Returns after our 6pm close carry a $25 late drop-off fee, and a trailer not back by 7am the next morning is charged another day. Using the worked example above, the dump would cost $159 plus $49. Our Howard County dump guide has directions and site details, and pricing has every rate.
Questions
Is Alpha Ridge open on Sunday?
No. The transfer station, convenience center and wood waste area are open Monday through Saturday only.
Can I take a trailer load from Anne Arundel or Baltimore County to Alpha Ridge?
No. Alpha Ridge accepts only Howard County-generated waste. Each county runs its own sites; see our where to dump hub.
What happens if I leave without weighing out?
The fee schedule adds a $25 charge on top of the per-ton rate, figured from the waste type and a tare weight.
Sources
- Howard County: Alpha Ridge Landfill (hours, eligibility, refused materials)
- Howard County: Alpha Ridge Landfill fee schedule, good through 6/30/2027
- Howard County: Alpha Ridge Landfill usage rules
- Howard County: Alpha Ridge residential special exception
- Howard County: Alpha Ridge commercial customers (2.45% card fee)
- Howard County: Commercial landfill permit
- Howard County: Alpha Ridge transfer station and C&D debris
- US EPA: Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors for Solid Waste (April 2016)