What is overage?
Overage is billed when a load weighs more than the tonnage included in the quoted price. It is measured by the scale ticket from the disposal facility, which is also the document that makes the charge enforceable.
What it costs
Set by each operator, as a rate per ton over the included weight. The floor under it is what the disposal facility charges per ton — $62.28 on national average in a 2024 survey by the Environmental Research and Education Foundation — so an overage rate below the local tipping fee loses money on every heavy load.
When it comes up
Heavy debris is the usual cause — concrete, dirt, roofing shingles, plaster. This is why a well-built booking flow steers heavy material down to a smaller can rather than letting someone fill a 25-yard with something no truck can lift.
Related terms
- Tipping fee — What the landfill or transfer station charges to accept your load.
- Scale ticket — The weigh receipt from the disposal facility for one load.
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