Coverage
The current build retains 28,326 source records across 55 state and U.S.-territory files. Distance search uses 27,854 of them; 472 records with a 0,0 placeholder coordinate are excluded rather than ranked from a false location. Search starting points include 32,350 U.S. Census places plus 11,899 ZIP-code entries. These counts describe index breadth, not confirmed public drop-off coverage. See the verification and release log for the release date and latest file-integrity results.
Primary nationwide inputs
- U.S. EPA Facility Registry Service records used by the Recycling Information Management Online program.
- U.S. EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program landfill and project records.
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files for place centroids.
- Official local agencies, haulers, stewardship programs, and facilities where a record or guide supplies one.
Labels
Dataset relevance, not facility confirmation
The record may be relevant based on source classification, name, and location. It does not prove public access, operation, service area, material acceptance, or price.
A primary page supported the shown detail
The detail includes a review date. It can still change, and the source controls if it conflicts with our summary.
Matching and ranking
The browser first removes records whose coordinates are missing or use the 0,0 placeholder. It maps a search phrase to a broad material category, then calculates straight-line distance from the selected Census-place centroid or estimated ZIP-area point. It searches the selected state and bordering states, usually within 100 miles and expanding to 250 miles when few results exist. Distances marked with “~” are estimates, not driving routes.
Records with similar addresses and facility types are de-duplicated. Relevance and distance determine the display; payment does not. The tool does not use your device's precise location.
Pricing
A result gets a price source only when we can tie the facility to an official, current schedule. Rates may depend on material, weight, vehicle, minimum charge, residency, contamination, length, and special handling. We do not copy a county's single example across unrelated records and do not invent missing prices.
Local source-check pilot
Our Southern California pages add dated agency research for five counties. They separate an official operational rule from an older fee page, distinguish household from business eligibility, and link the exact page used. This is a deeper layer than the national dataset, but it is not represented as a firsthand facility inspection.
Corrections and releases
Directory data is rebuilt as source releases and corrections are incorporated. Send the facility name, page URL, disputed field, and primary evidence through contact. We prioritize safety, closures, and wrong destinations. Material release changes are dated in the public log.