Ottumwa-Wapello County Sanitary Landfill

Ottumwa-Wapello County Sanitary Landfill on 165th Avenue is where local residents, haulers and small businesses bring trash that isn't taken at the curb or through recycling. County sanitary landfills like this typically charge tipping fees by weight and commonly accept commercial loads, so expect both pickups and larger trucks on site.

Drive in on a gravel access and pull up to a modest entrance area where there's usually a booth and a scale; vehicles are weighed on the way in and out. Fees are calculated by weight, so plan on stopping at the scale twice during your visit. Drop-off points for recyclables or bulk items tend to be off to one side, while the active dumping area looks like large dirt mounds and compacted cells. Weekends and spring cleanup times can get busy, so lines and slow-moving traffic are common then.