Ox Mountain Sanitary Landfill

Update August 31, 2015 — I’ve added a star as it was pointed out to me that this is a really well-​run place and two stars seems harsh… I still won’t be going back, but it’s all about cost and location, not the facility or the service.
Original review: This used to be a much better deal and worth the drive for truckload disposal, but now I don’t think it’s any cheaper than Shoreway in San Carlos, which is a lot more convenient. I just spent $ 101.10 to dump half a cargo van of trash plus a mattress ($ 36 surcharge). There is no cheap place left for dumping (which is probably as it should be), so there’s no reason to drive up the mountain anymore, unless you just dig the apocalyptic Mad Max scene with the huge bulldozers and guys firing flares to scatter the birds every few minutes.

I wish i can give them a rating of half a star. We use to dump garbage here for $ 8−16dollars using the same truck we have for years. When we used to throw garbage here our truck was full. Today we went to throw 3 chairs, one garbage and one smaller garbage bag the guy charge me $ 68 WOW that’s more than 300% increase. This people just used their eyes to weight the stuff. I hope this people done become scientist because they are bad with calculations. NEVER COMING BACK HERE UNLESS I TAKE MY NEPHEW TO RIDE THE DONKEYS or I NEED TO CUT MY FINGERS.

DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT bring your garbage here… I brought 4 truck loads of items I wanted to dispose of… each truck load was the same give or take a few inches… first 2 trips I’m charged $ 58…third trip I’m charged $ 43…fourth trip I’m told $ 62…So I ask the guy, why so inconsistent… he has no answer, but asks if I want a second opinion… sure I tell him. another guy comes out, eyeballs the bed of my truck and tells me.$ 78.WHAT??? I tell him I’ll pay the $ 62, he says «NO» you pay the $ 78. I could not believe what I was hearing. this is a fraudulent racket that someone needs to be aware of… I could of left, then I’d have to drive to Muscle Rock in Pacifica, it would of been a pain… so I paid the $ 78…I get screwed because I wanted a second opinion… That is really really disturbing!!!

Taking stuff to the dump is a necessary evil. Dumps, or Landfills as they are now known, have the capacity to segregate and recycle materials on a scale impossible for the «little guy.» Electronics, chemicals, tires, paper, batteries, and green waste all can go their separate ways. Yesterday I was dealing with a large heavy (maybe 500 pound) stump and trunk of an invasive tree. It took a lot of awkward rigging to get it into a rented trailer, but the personnel at the Ox Mountain Landfill interrupted their work and with their equipment took but a moment to offload it for me. That’s GOOD customer service! Green waste is chopped, composted, and recycled and reused as fertilizer and mulch.
At the landfill, we aren’t often dealing with the sharpest tools in the box, but the personnel almost always seem to me to be trying to be polite and do their jobs well When we have disagreed about volume, they will take the time to remeasure until we are all satisfied. This is a good opportunity to be a little confused, polite, and insistent. I have almost always had it come out in my favor, or been satisfied that their measurements were correct.
As far as Heather’s complaint about the driver’s aggressiveness is concerned, she should have taken down the prominently posted truck number — without that, she is just ranting. My guess is that she cut in front of the driver and caused him to take evasive action, and then failed to maintain normal speed. He’s getting paid by the job, not the hour, and there is a certain incentive to get it done sooner than later.
My biggest complaint about the Ox Mountain facility is that they don’t operate a thrift store, lots of stuff gets crunched and landfilled that would be perfectly reusable. It would take an investment, but I’m sure the venture would be profitable. My hero is the guy who drives to the dump with an empty truck and a positive attitude.
jim Half Moon Bay

horrible, over charged, run by mafia
last time I will ever go there

I hope you’re ready for rude customer service and to be illegally overcharged, because OxMountain is on the express train to terrible business practices. Somehow, OxMountain has combined the heartlessness of a large corporation with the questionable business practices of mafia operated garbage companies. Want an example? If I worked at OxMountain my example would be «**** you!», but since I don’t i’ll share what I experienced. So you know how, for larger vehicles, you’re weighed on your way in and on your way out? Well, on your way in they’re very specific that you need to stay in your vehicle. On the way out, they’re very specific you need to get out. If you have two adult males in the vehicle, you’re talking at least 300lbs difference with this little trick of theirs. Considering a rate of $ 65/​ton (2000lbs), this amounts to around $ 10, or an extra 15%. Maybe you can think of a word for this other than «stealing» — but I can’t. On the customer service side, there are probably prison guards that are more friendly and prison inmates that are more professionally dressed. That’s right, get ready for weird tattoos, a gruff attitude, and a whole new take on the concept of a uniform.
All and all, the OxMountain site is well organized and well maintained. The problem here is who is staffing the facility and interacting with the customer. It is rather obvious that OxMountain, AlliedWaste and BFI could not care less about you, me or anyone other than themselves and making an extra 15%.
I’ll be happy to see the inevitable layoffs these folks have in store for themselves.

Excellent customer service and efficient at the sad process of the refuse of our civilization.

This landfill is one of the primary sources of all the garbage blowing around 280, once a beautiful stretch of freeway for those who remember it without the garbage. I follow garbage trucks every morning exiting onto 92. Very few of them have the tops contained to prevent littering.

Like Emily B, Howard L, and the other Unilocaler, I too love this busy, gigantic, bustling landfill. I have been into garbage trucks and the industry since I was a kid and know quite a few Allied employees at Allied Waste Of San Mateo county (see my review.) I remember as a kid seeing the huge mountain of trash and loads of vehicles, both garbage trucks and private vehicles dumping their loads, not to mention the huge transfer trucks going between the transfer station in San Carlos (see my review.) Like Emily said, these guys work hard to recycle as much as possible and their rates are reasonable. Props to Jake and the entire Ox Mountain maintanance team for keeping the equipment and the coast’s collection trucks in running order. So, for an eye catching up close look at our garbage and recyclables being processed and excellent rates for dumping with friendly, hard working, dedicated employees, Ox Mountain cannot be beat. Keep up the good work guys.

One word, Easy

The dumps is literally one of my favorite places to go. I’m into the transfer stations… but this… this is the MOTHERLOAD! Ox Mountain is literally a MOUNTAIN OF TRASH! You drive up the pile of steaming trash and place your stuff on top. It is the most amazing thing ever. And the seagulls! You’ve never seen so many. I prefer to not get out of the car at this one… but the experience is life altering… in a fun way!

This place is the cheapest to dump or recycle refuse in the Bay Area. They recycle all things that they can to limit land fill use. The only drawback is that on rainy days it is a sea of mud. Take your 4X4 fill it and spill it at the ox mountain landfill off highway 92 between half moon bay and san mateo.