Altamont Landfill

Altamont Landfill is the large regional dump on Altamont Pass Road that locals and haulers use when trash has to be buried rather than recycled. Residents, hauling companies and businesses bring loads here; it’s the kind of place where trucks and trailers are common and arrival looks nothing like a tidy drop-off center. California’s rules mean expect separations for recyclables and organics before you get to the gate.

Drive up to an entrance booth and slow down for a scale-landfills charge by weight, so you’ll stop again after unloading for the outbound weigh-in. The site is big: rolling piles, heavy equipment moving material, and a noticeable working face where trucks tip. There are separate areas for drop-off, and commercial trucks are handled alongside residential traffic, so be ready to share space with larger vehicles. Lines build up on weekends and during spring cleanup, and the whole place has that industrial, dusty feel.