What You Can't Put in a Dumpster in Sioux Falls (and Where It Goes Instead)
Most household and construction debris in Sioux Falls is fine for a roll-off dumpster. What isn't: hazardous chemicals, electronics, tires, batteries, appliances with refrigerants, and yard waste — all four of those categories are banned from the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill by South Dakota state law or city ordinance. Below is the full list, the legal basis for each, and exactly where to take items that don't belong in your dumpster.
Last verified: May 2026, sourced from siouxfalls.gov and danr.sd.gov. Rates and policies change — for the current per-item fees at the landfill or HHW Facility, check siouxfalls.gov/resident-services/landfill-and-recycling/landfill/rates or call the relevant facility before hauling.
Quick Reference: Where Common Items Go
| Item | OK in Dumpster? | Take it Here Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Paint, stains, solvents | No | HHW Facility, 1015 E. Chambers St. |
| Propane cylinders | No | HHW Facility |
| Motor oil | No | HHW Facility or auto-parts retailer |
| Car batteries (lead-acid) | No | Auto-parts retailer trade-in |
| Rechargeable batteries | No | HHW Facility |
| TVs, computers, monitors | No | HHW Facility |
| Tires | No | Sioux Falls Regional Landfill (separated) |
| Refrigerators, freezers, AC units | No | Landfill (separated, refrigerant handling required) |
| Dishwashers, water heaters | No | Landfill (separated for recycling) |
| Yard waste, leaves, branches | No | Free Leaf & Branch Drop Sites (seasonal) |
| Cardboard, paper, aluminum, plastic bottles | No (city ordinance) | Curbside recycling |
| Ammunition, fireworks, fire extinguishers | No | HHW Facility |
| Sharps / needles | No | HHW Facility Needle Disposal Program |
| Construction debris (wood, drywall, shingles, tile) | Yes | Roll-off dumpster (watch the weight) |
| Household furniture, mattresses, carpet | Yes | Roll-off dumpster |
| Concrete (limited) | Yes, weight-limited | Roll-off (1/3 max rule for heavy) |
Banned by South Dakota State Law
South Dakota Codified Law SDCL 34A-6-67 bans four categories of waste from being landfilled anywhere in the state (effective 1995):
- Yard waste (grass, leaves, branches, brush)
- Lead-acid batteries (car, marine, motorcycle)
- Waste motor oil
- White goods (refrigerators, freezers, ranges, dishwashers, water heaters, AC units, washers, dryers)
Source: South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources — Solid Waste. Full statute text at sdlegislature.gov.
Banned by Sioux Falls City Ordinance
Sioux Falls Ordinance Chapter 57, Section 57.027 — the city's Mandatory Recycling Ordinance — prohibits the following from being deposited at the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill:
- Paper (office paper, newspaper, magazines)
- Corrugated cardboard and chipboard
- Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs (resin codes #1, #2, #5)
- Aluminum cans
- Tin (steel) cans
Haulers are required to refuse loads with visible required recyclables and leave a notice on the dumpster. Set these aside for your curbside recycling pickup before filling the roll-off.
Where to Take Hazardous Waste
City of Sioux Falls Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHWF)
- Address: 1015 E. Chambers Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
- Hours: Tuesday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.–noon (closed Sunday and Monday)
- Phone: 605-367-8695
- Cost: Free for residents of Minnehaha, Lake, Lincoln, McCook, and Turner counties
Accepted items: paints and coatings, wood preservatives, propane cylinders, mercury items (thermometers, thermostats), driveway sealers, flammable solvents, acids and bases, ammunition, unexploded fireworks, fire extinguishers, rechargeable batteries, and all electronics.
Source: siouxfalls.gov — Household Hazardous Waste Facility.
Where to Take Electronics & E-Waste
The City of Sioux Falls accepts electronics at the same HHWF address listed above. TVs of any size are accepted, along with:
- Computers, laptops, tablets, monitors
- Video game consoles
- Cable boxes and streaming devices
- Answering machines, calculators
Note: Appliances are not accepted at the HHWF — they go to the landfill in the separated recycling stream (see below).
Where to Take Tires and Appliances
Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill
- Address: 267th Street and 464th Avenue, southeast of Sioux Falls
- Hours: Monday–Saturday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Phone: 605-367-8162
Tires are accepted separately for recycling (per-tire fee applies). White goods — refrigerators, freezers, AC units, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, water heaters — are accepted separately for recycling.
Refrigerant note: Units that contained refrigerant (refrigerators, freezers, AC, dehumidifiers) are subject to federal Clean Air Act §608 rules, which require certified-technician recovery of refrigerant before disposal. Call the landfill at 605-367-8162 to confirm their current policy on whether they accept units with refrigerant still present or require proof of evacuation.
Where to Take Yard Waste
The City of Sioux Falls operates two free seasonal Leaf & Branch Drop Sites:
- N. Lyon Boulevard near the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds
- E. Chambers Street near the Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Hours: Monday–Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday noon–5 p.m.
Season: Approximately mid-April through late November. The 2025 fall season closed on November 30; spring 2026 opening was announced for mid-April.
Source: siouxfalls.gov — Leaf Drop-Off.
What CAN Go in a Dumpster
The list of what's prohibited is shorter than what's allowed. A standard 20-yard roll-off in Sioux Falls accepts:
- Wood and lumber (untreated and pressure-treated; not creosote-treated railroad ties)
- Drywall, plaster, and lath
- Asphalt shingles (weight-limited)
- Tile and other ceramic flooring
- Carpet and padding
- Furniture, mattresses, and household goods
- Construction debris and demolition scrap
- Concrete and dirt (weight-limited — fill no more than one-third with heavy material)
- Non-hazardous renovation debris
For the full debris breakdown, see our construction debris disposal guide or dumpster size guide.
Not Sure About a Specific Item?
If you're staring at something and not sure whether it goes in the dumpster, the safest move is to call us before you load it. Wrong items lead to refused loads at the landfill, which means surcharges back to you. Two minutes on the phone saves the headache.