Lake County Transfer Station

Recycling Center in Polson, Montana

📍 Polson, MT 59860
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📞 +1 406-883-7323 🌐 Visit Website 🗺 Get Directions

About This Location

The Lake County Transfer Station at 36117 N Reservoir Road in Polson is Lake County's primary public drop-off facility for both household waste and recycling, operated seven days a week by Lake County Solid Waste. It houses a full recycling center accepting cardboard, newspaper, mixed residential paper, aluminum and steel cans, #1 and #2 plastic bottles, scrap metal, used motor oil, antifreeze, lead batteries, and tires, along with Class II decomposable waste and Class III inert materials (brush, concrete, rock, and untreated wood) at the adjacent inert landfill. Freon-containing appliances must be brought to the Transfer Station building for certified refrigerant extraction. An Annual E-Waste Recycling Event is held each spring on site. Lake County property taxpayers receive solid-waste disposal tags through their property-tax billing; non-assessed visitors use a Pay-as-You-Throw fee.

What Lake County Transfer Station Accepts

✓ Cardboard (Old corrugated boxes accepted; drop off at Transfer Station recycling center.)
✓ Newspaper (Accepted as part of mixed residential paper recycling.)
✓ Mixed residential paper (Accepted at the Transfer Station recycling center.)
✓ Aluminum and steel cans (Accepted at the Transfer Station recycling center.)
✓ Plastic bottles (#1 and #2 only) (Only #1 plastic bottles and #2 translucent milk jugs accepted; lids must be removed and types separated.)
✓ Used motor oil (Household quantities (5 gallons or less) accepted at the Transfer Station and most container sites.)
✓ Antifreeze (Household quantities accepted at the Transfer Station.)
✓ Lead (vehicle) batteries (Drop off for recycling at the Transfer Station.)
✓ Tires (Must be smaller than 24.5 inches. Limit of 2 tires at a time; larger quantities go to Tire Depot at 55528 U.S. Hwy 93 in Polson. Fees apply.)
✓ Scrap metal (Wire, fencing, and cables must be rolled with posts removed. Tanks/barrels must be empty, no residue, and cut for inspection.)
✓ Large appliances (with or without Freon) (Appliances that had or have Freon must be taken to the Transfer Station building for refrigerant extraction; others go to scrap metal area.)
✓ Household waste / garbage (Class II) (Includes clothes, books, small appliances, biodegradable materials. Lake County property taxpayers use assessed tags; non-assessed waste uses PAYT fees.)
✓ Dead animals (Accepted at the Transfer Station; fees apply per fee list.)
✓ Small amounts of household hazardous waste (Includes paint, cleansers, and pesticides. No liquids. Larger amounts require completing the Hazardous Waste Form.)
✓ Untreated, unglued, unpainted wood / lumber (Class III) (No plywood, OSB, or particleboard. Accepted at the adjacent Class III inert landfill; fees apply.)
✓ Concrete (without exposed rebar) (Accepted at the adjacent Class III inert landfill.)
✓ Rock (Accepted at the adjacent Class III inert landfill.)
✓ Unpainted brick (Accepted at the adjacent Class III inert landfill.)
✓ Brush, tree trimmings, and stumps (Accepted at the Transfer Station for a fee.)
✓ Large animal carcasses (Accepted at the Transfer Station; fee is $80.00 per ton.)

Related recycling guides: Batteries · Tires · Appliances · Household Hazardous Waste · Yard Waste · Plastic · Cardboard & Paper · Motor Oil

What they do not accept

✕ Asbestos (any form)
✕ Liquids
✕ Plywood, OSB, and particleboard
✕ Painted or treated wood
✕ Tires 24.5 inches or larger
✕ Plastic bottles other than #1 and #2 translucent
✕ Out-of-county commercial/construction waste (unmonitored dump)

Asbestos in any form is strictly prohibited. Oversized tires (≥24.5 inches) and liquids are not accepted. For demolition debris, pallets, dimensional lumber, and furniture, use the Lake County Landfill on Kerr Dam Road.

Fees

  • Recycling (all listed recyclables) — Free — no charge for dropping off recyclables.
  • PAYT (Pay-as-You-Throw) — non-assessed household waste — $80.00 per ton; $10.00 minimum.
  • Tires — Passenger / Light Truck (no rims) — $5.00 each. Must be under 24.5 inches.
  • Tires — Passenger / Light Truck with rims — $10.00 each.
  • Tires — Semi Truck (no rims) — $15.00 each.
  • Tires — Semi Truck with rims — $20.00 each.
  • Large animal disposal — $80.00 per ton.
  • Green waste (stumps, brush, compost, clean concrete) — Fee applies; exact per-ton rate not published on official website at time of verification.
  • Class III wood/inert waste — $150.00 per ton at Transfer Station or Class III Landfill; large stumps and difficult materials $40.00 per ton additional.
  • Freon appliance surcharge — Surcharge applies for Freon extraction; exact dollar amount not listed on official website at time of verification.

Access & restrictions

Public drop-off facility open to all. Lake County property taxpayers receive solid-waste disposal tags automatically via property-tax billing and may dispose of household garbage without additional garbage fees. Non-assessed visitors (including out-of-county users) pay PAYT fees for garbage disposal. Recycling drop-off is free for all. · Walk-in (no appointment) · Container sites (rural) are for use only by those who pay the Lake County Solid Waste fee. The Transfer Station on Reservoir Road is open to all but charges PAYT fees for non-assessed waste. Gate closes at 5:50 pm daily.

Programs & events

  • Annual E-Waste Recycling Event — Held each spring at the Transfer Station (17th annual event was May 16, 2026). Lake County contracts with a certified electronic recycler. The first 300 lbs of allowable electronics are accepted free; additional recycling is discounted to $0.10/lb. CRT screens and non-flatscreen televisions are not accepted.
  • Pay-as-You-Throw (PAYT) — Non-assessed waste disposed of at the Transfer Station is charged $80.00/ton with a $10.00 minimum, paid at time of disposal.
  • Lake County Solid Waste Assessed Tag Program — Lake County property taxpayers automatically receive solid-waste disposal tags through their property-tax billing, allowing household garbage disposal at the Transfer Station and rural sites without additional garbage fees.
  • Drop-off Recycling Network — In addition to the full recycling center at the Transfer Station, Lake County Solid Waste operates accessible drop-off containers in Pablo (near SKC Golf Course), Ronan (next to Harvest Foods), and Polson (Sports Complex).

Materials, fees and hours can change — call ahead to confirm before your visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is recycling drop-off free at the Lake County Transfer Station?

Yes. There is no charge for dropping off recyclables at the Transfer Station, including cardboard, paper, cans, #1 and #2 plastic bottles, used motor oil (up to 5 gallons), antifreeze, lead batteries, scrap metal, and tires (within the size and quantity limits).

What plastic types do they accept for recycling?

Only #1 plastic bottles and #2 translucent milk jugs are accepted. You must separate them by number and remove lids before dropping off. Other plastic types are not accepted in the recycling bins.

Is there a fee to drop off tires, and are all tires accepted?

Yes, tires carry a fee: $5 for passenger/light-truck tires (no rims), $10 with rims, $15 for semi-truck tires (no rims), and $20 for semi-truck tires with rims. Tires must be smaller than 24.5 inches — oversized tires are not accepted. Bring 2 or fewer tires at a time; larger quantities should go to the Tire Depot at 55528 U.S. Hwy 93 in Polson.

Do I need to be a Lake County resident to use the Transfer Station?

The Transfer Station is open to the public. Lake County property taxpayers automatically receive solid-waste disposal tags via their property-tax billing, which cover household garbage disposal. Non-residents and non-assessed users may still drop off waste but must pay PAYT (Pay-as-You-Throw) fees of $80/ton with a $10 minimum. Recycling drop-off is free for everyone.

Does the Transfer Station accept electronics (e-waste)?

Routine e-waste drop-off is not listed as a year-round service on the official website. However, Lake County Solid Waste holds an Annual E-Waste Recycling Event at the Transfer Station each spring (the 17th annual event was held May 16, 2026), where electronics such as computers, cell phones, flatscreen TVs, printers, and cords are accepted. CRT screens and non-flatscreen televisions are not accepted even at the event.

Last verified: November 2026. Sources: source · source · source · source. Spotted something wrong? Suggest a correction.

Other Recycling Centers in Polson

Recycling Centers Near Polson

Contact & Location

📍
Address
Polson, MT 59860
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🌐
Website
lakemt.gov
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City / State
Polson, Montana

Opening Hours

Monday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Location Map

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← All centers in Polson