Black Hawk County Sanitary Landfill

Black Hawk County Sanitary Landfill is the main landfill in Waterloo for household and commercial trash headed to final burial. Local farmers and contractors use it alongside regular residents bringing big loads that won’t fit in curbside pickup. It’s a large county site, so expect a working landfill atmosphere rather than a tidy transfer station.

Drive up to an entrance booth and prepare to be directed onto a scale; this place charges by weight and tipping fees are calculated from that. After weighing in, pull forward to the active tipping area where trucks and trailers unload; there’s a clear traffic flow, but larger commercial trucks use the same lanes. The site is mostly open landfill cells and access roads, with recycling or drop-off bins set off to the side near the entrance. Lines can form, especially on weekends and during spring field work, so be ready to wait if it’s busy.