South Coast Transfer Station

South Coast Transfer Station in Gualala is the local place where household trash is dropped off to be compacted and hauled out to a larger landfill elsewhere. Neighbors and small-haul drivers use it when hauling yard debris, bagged trash, or recycling that’s not picked up curbside. Being in California, expect the usual rules about separating recyclables and organics to apply at many nearby facilities.

Pull up to an entrance area with a weighing scale and an attendant booth; transfer stations commonly weigh trucks and charge by weight, so plan for a second stop on the way out. The site is more compact than a full landfill - large bays and compactors are visible from the drop-off lanes, and piles of sorted materials are usually set back from the drive. There are often collection bins or smaller drop-off points for recyclables and bulky items located just past the entrance, with signs marking where different loads should go. Lines form on weekends and during spring cleanups, so traffic and waiting times can vary a lot.