Junk removal in Billings: pickup and disposal options

Check city collection before hiring a crew

Call the city's Solid Waste Administrative offices at 406-657-8285 for a special pickup of furniture, appliances or large branches. The city says additional charges may apply. Describe each item and ask for the price, collection date and placement instructions. Do not assume the crew will enter your house or carry an appliance out of a basement; confirm the service scope. [2]

For smaller amounts of household or yard waste, call 406-657-8315, option 3, about extras collection. The published charge is $5.80 per item. Each item must weigh less than 75 pounds; the city describes up to three typical 13-gallon kitchen garbage bags or a container smaller than 2 feet by 2 feet. Ask staff whether your proposed bundle qualifies before setting it out. [2]

Compare quotes for the same removal job

Send each hauler the same inventory and photos. Include bulky items, loose bags and anything stored behind the main pile. Describe stairs, door widths, parking access and the distance from the items to the loading spot. Ask whether workers will carry items from their current location or expect you to stage them outside.

Request a written total with labor, transport and disposal included. Ask how the hauler measures a load, what triggers a price change and whether the crew will seek approval before adding charges. For an appliance, identify the type and ask whether the quote includes any separate handling. Request proof of insurance and agree on responsibility for damage during removal.

Use the published landfill fees as disposal context when reviewing a quote. The city's July 1, 2026 schedule lists municipal solid waste, including construction and demolition waste, at $35.15 per ton for waste originating in Billings and $52.73 per ton for Montana waste originating outside Billings. These disposal rates do not establish a private crew's total price. [1]

Plan a self-haul trip around residency and load rules

The Billings Regional Landfill is at 5240 Jellison Road. Its published hours are Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Sunday closure. Call 406-657-8285 to confirm access and material acceptance before loading your vehicle, especially for an unusual item or a trip near a holiday. [3] [4]

Landfill staff scan your driver's license to check your location. Recent movers can bring a utility bill or rental agreement bearing their name and address. The landfill page states that residential municipal solid waste loads under 1,500 pounds for city residents and under 700 pounds for county residents incur no charge at the scale house. Confirm eligibility for your particular load rather than applying those allowances to a hired hauler. [3]

The fee page also describes volume thresholds, including a county allowance for loads less than 1.5 cubic yards or 700 pounds. Ask staff how they will assess your load if it is bulky but light. Secure the load before leaving; the city assesses an unsecured-load fee when a vehicle fails its criteria. The landfill also asks visitors to bag and tie garbage because of high winds. [1] [3]

Separate electronics, chemicals and renovation materials

The residential electronics recycling program serves Yellowstone County and several surrounding counties at no charge. Its accepted list includes computers, cords, microwaves, power tools, rechargeable batteries and some televisions. Large appliances and appliances containing refrigerant fall outside that program. Confirm your television or appliance before assigning it to a recycling pile. [5]

The landfill directs visitors to separate household chemicals such as paint, solvents, pesticides and cleaning agents from other materials, use non-leaking containers no larger than 5 gallons and follow the gate attendant's instructions. Tell your hauler about these materials before booking and ask who will arrange their disposal. Keep containers identifiable; do not combine them with ordinary bags of junk. [4]

Pause a renovation cleanout if it includes suspected asbestos or vermiculite insulation. The landfill accepts asbestos and vermiculite by appointment, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., excluding holidays, and does not accept them during inclement weather. Contact Environmental Affairs at 406-247-8633 about the disposal process before arranging removal or disturbing the material. [4]

Agree on the destination and pickup-day scope

Ask the hauler where each category will go and whether it will provide disposal or recycling documentation. Keep reusable items separate and confirm acceptance with any intended recipient before booking delivery. Mark items that must stay, clear the agreed access route and photograph the removal area before work begins.

Tell the hauler whether the material came from your home or a business. The city's free electronics program covers residential e-waste; business-generated electronics can go to Yellowstone E-Waste Solutions for a cost. The landfill rejects commercial hazardous waste and directs customers to a licensed hazardous-waste disposal company. Do not combine business waste with a household pile without discussing its disposal route. [4] [5]

Published landfill disposal rates by Montana waste origin

Choose a removal route for your items

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph the complete pile and write an item inventory.
2. Check city pickup acceptance, placement requirements and the quoted charge.
3. Describe stairs, narrow doors, parking and carrying distance to each hauler.
4. Separate electronics, chemicals and suspected asbestos-containing materials.
5. Get a written total and agree on approval for price changes.
6. Confirm each disposal destination and request documentation.
7. For self-haul, confirm eligibility, bring address evidence and secure the load.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the city pick up an old couch?

Billings lists furniture among items eligible for scheduled special pickup. Call 406-657-8285 to confirm your couch, placement instructions and the charge. Additional charges may apply. [2]

Can I take household junk to the landfill without paying?

The landfill page states that city residents' residential municipal solid waste loads under 1,500 pounds and county residents' loads under 700 pounds incur no scale-house charge. The fee page also lists volume limits. Confirm your load's eligibility and bring residency evidence. [1] [3]

Can I put a refrigerator with electronics for free recycling?

The residential electronics program excludes large appliances and appliances containing refrigerant. Ask the city or your hauler to confirm a separate disposal arrangement and its charge before pickup. [5]

What should I ask before accepting a hauling quote?

Ask whether the total covers carrying from the current location, stairs, loading, transport and disposal. Identify excluded materials, agree on approval for extra charges and request the intended disposal or recycling destination.