In Collin County, the main site for construction debris in volume is NTMWD's 121 Regional Disposal Facility at 3820 Sam Rayburn Hwy in Melissa. It charges by the ton, while city transfer stations refuse remodel waste or take only a small share. City bulk pickup leaves it out too, so the other route is having a hauler load it and take it away.
Where does construction debris actually go?
Most remodel waste in Collin County ends up at one site. It's the North Texas Municipal Water District's 121 Regional Disposal Facility, a landfill on Sam Rayburn Hwy in Melissa. That's per NTMWD's solid waste facilities page.
The City of Allen's do-it-yourself disposal page puts it plainly. It says the 121 facility is the only location that takes large quantities of construction and demolition materials. It charges per ton, with a one-ton minimum.
That matters if you were planning a quick run to a transfer station in Plano. Transfer stations handle household trash well, but they treat remodel loads very differently, as the city rules below show.
Is there a dump station in Melissa?
Yes. The 121 Regional Disposal Facility sits on Sam Rayburn Highway (SH 121) in Melissa. NTMWD lists its hours as Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
NTMWD charges a per-ton rate there, with a one-ton minimum, and takes card payment only. It adds a separate surcharge for roofing shingles, so check the posted rates before a reroof load.
NTMWD says residents of Allen, Frisco, McKinney, Plano and Richardson can drop off certain waste twice a month at its Citizen Convenience Centers. They need a city-issued utility bill that shows solid-waste service.
- Melissa residents: Melissa's landfill page offers up to two free residential drop-offs a month, but it excludes remodeling waste of any type.
- Melissa's page lists sheetrock, tile, carpet, toilets, cabinets, doors, windows and shingles as remodeling waste. It says those can go to NTMWD transfer stations or the 121 facility at the posted gate rate.
- Prosper residents: Prosper's trash and recycling page points to the Melissa landfill, which charges a fee. It says Prosper residents may not use the Custer Road transfer station.
- Anna residents: Anna's trash services page says construction materials, treated wood and fences are accepted at the Melissa landfill for the posted gate rate.
What do the transfer stations take?
NTMWD lists two transfer stations in Plano: Custer Road at 9901 Custer Rd and Parkway on W Plano Parkway. Frisco's page gives the Parkway address as 4030 W. Plano Pkwy. The cities that use them each set their own limits on remodel waste.
- Frisco: the Frisco do-it-yourself disposal page says construction and remodeling debris is never accepted at the transfer station. It goes only to the 121 landfill, with an authorization letter.
- Frisco residents also need a city voucher to avoid charges at the 121 facility. Frisco issues one voucher a month, dated for a specific day, to residential account holders.
- Allen: Custer Road takes fence panels, soil, brick and concrete free only if they make up 10% or less of the load.
- Plano: Plano's do-it-yourself disposal page says remodeling waste of any type isn't allowed under the free resident program. It requires a paid drop-off.
- Plano also caps fence panels, soil, brick and concrete at 10% of a free load by volume. Dump trailers, stake bed trucks and box trucks must pay.
Can I use my city's free drop-off visits?
Several cities give residents free monthly visits, but read the fine print before you load drywall. The free visit almost never covers remodel waste.
- McKinney: McKinney's residential trash page lists the Custer Road, Lookout Drive and Parkway transfer stations and the 121 facility for residents. The first two visits a month are free with a recent McKinney water bill and matching Texas license.
- McKinney's page doesn't spell out remodel-waste limits for those visits. Call ahead, since the 121 facility is the site that takes construction loads in volume.
- Allen: residents can bring up to two loads of household trash a month to designated NTMWD sites. Contractor waste is charged a commercial per-ton fee with a one-ton minimum.
- Allen's severe weather page also warns that anyone arriving in a contractor's truck is treated as a contractor and charged. That holds even with a utility bill and ID.
- Frisco and Plano: free visits exclude remodel debris, as described above.
Why won't curbside bulk pickup take it?
Every city program we checked keeps remodel debris out of the bulk pile, at least for commercial jobs. Here's how each one words it.
- McKinney's bulky item collection excludes construction and demolition materials and pallets.
- Allen's bulk item page excludes construction and remodeling waste and fence materials. It lists a paid special collection through CWD instead.
- Frisco's bulk trash page excludes construction and remodeling waste.
- Frisco's residential trash page takes cabinets and countertops only in 4-foot, 50-pound sections. It excludes tile and refers residents to Waste Connections for a quote.
- Plano's accepted-items list rules out bricks, rock, concrete, dirt, roofing and shingles. Contractor projects must go straight to the 121 facility through the contractor or a permitted hauler.
- Melissa's bulk items page excludes commercial remodeling and construction debris. Melissa's FAQ adds that CWD doesn't pick up commercial demolition, construction or remodeling debris.
- Prosper's prohibited list includes commercial construction or remodeling debris.
What should stay out of a debris load?
Some things from a remodel can't ride in a debris load at all. Leftover paint, solvents and adhesives belong in a city chemical program, not a landfill trailer.
Frisco's construction waste services page says concrete and metal can't go in construction containers there. They must be recycled.
If you suspect asbestos in old flooring or ceiling texture, stop and deal with that first. Our household hazardous waste guide covers where chemicals go and what haulers can't take.
Tips for a self-haul run
Cover the load. Allen and Frisco both say loads must be tarped or tied down under state law, and Frisco turns away uncovered loads.
Bring a current utility bill and a driver's license with the same address. Every resident program above depends on them.
Sort before you go. Separate clean concrete, metal and cardboard from mixed debris, because the rules treat them differently.
When does it make sense to have it hauled?
A per-ton minimum, a borrowed trailer and a lost Saturday add up fast. If the pile is big or the paperwork doesn't fit your situation, a hauler can take it.
Cowboy Site Services runs remodel and construction debris haul-off for homeowners and contractors. We load drywall, lumber, flooring, tile and pulled cabinets, and we sweep the driveway before we leave. See the local pages for McKinney, Allen, Frisco, Plano and Melissa.
Pricing goes by how much room the load takes on our trailer, with a firm quote before anything is loaded.
¿Dónde puedo tirar basura de construcción en el condado de Collin?
La recolección de basura voluminosa de las ciudades no acepta escombros de construcción ni de remodelación. El sitio principal que los recibe en grandes cantidades es el relleno sanitario 121 de NTMWD, en 3820 Sam Rayburn Hwy, Melissa. Cobra por tonelada, con un mínimo de una tonelada, y solo acepta tarjeta.
Las estaciones de transferencia en Plano no aceptan escombros de remodelación como carga gratis. Frisco dice que nunca se aceptan allí, y Plano y Melissa exigen pagar la tarifa para ese tipo de desecho. Lleve su factura de agua y una licencia de conducir con la misma dirección, y cubra la carga.
Si prefiere no hacer el viaje, podemos recoger los escombros de su remodelación y llevárnoslos. El precio depende del espacio que ocupa la carga en el remolque, y le damos un precio firme antes de cargar.