Most towns have a place everybody calls “the dump.” In Berea, the more accurate name is the Berea Transfer Station. That may sound like a small wording change, but it matters.
A transfer station is not the same thing as a landfill. It is a place where waste is collected locally before being moved somewhere else for final disposal. For residents, the practical question is simple: where do I take a pickup load of stuff when it is too much for the regular trash can? The answer depends on what kind of mess you have.
⏱️ Berea Transfer Station Rules & Hours
The Berea Transfer Station is located at 290 Estridge Road. According to the City of Berea, the station is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The phone number listed for the station is 859-986-3045.
That Saturday morning window is worth remembering. It can be a lifesaver when you finally decide to clean out a garage, basement, storage building, or back porch and do not want the mess sitting there another week.
💰 Understanding the Costs
The city lists a pickup load of regular cleanup around the house at $30. Construction material may also be accepted, but the cost depends on what it is. The city also notes that the transfer station does not have scales.
That is one of the biggest things to understand before you go. This is a local disposal option, not a full-service landfill operation. You should not assume every item can be taken there, and you should not assume every load will cost the same.
When in doubt, call first. A two-minute phone call can save you from loading a truck, driving across town, and finding out your load does not qualify or costs more than expected.
The transfer station also should not be confused with regular city trash service. The City of Berea lists Waste Connections as its solid waste contractor. Questions about regular trash service should go through Waste Connections, while questions about the transfer station itself should go to the transfer station number.
🍂 Spring and Fall Curbside Cleanups
The transfer station is also separate from the city’s spring and fall cleanup programs. Those cleanups happen at the curb, in conjunction with Waste Connections, for residents inside the city limits of Berea. The city says spring cleanup is held during the third full week of April, and fall cleanup is held during the third full week of October.
During those cleanup weeks, collection crews remove a normal pickup truck load on the resident’s schedule, which makes it easier to clear out clutter without a separate trip to the transfer station. If you live inside Berea city limits and need more than curbside cleanup, the transfer station and the city cleanup weeks are the two local options worth remembering.
📋 Best Hauling Practices
- Call Ahead: If you are moving remodeling debris, old appliances, or bulk furniture, check current guidelines before driving over.
- Load Safely: Ensure your items are tied down or tarped so nothing escapes onto local roadways during transit.
- Separate Materials: Keep any organic yard brush entirely separate from house junk, as they are processed with completely different municipal machinery.
Once the hard work of hauling is done, the truck is cleared out, and your property is clutter-free, take time to celebrate finishing the project. Grab lunch in town, check out the early setup for upcoming community events, or cool off with an evening of local storytelling inside the climate-controlled comfort of The Spotlight Playhouse.
Bottom line: call first, load safely, and do not assume every item is automatically accepted.
📍 Quick Guide: Berea Transfer Station
- Location: 290 Estridge Road, Berea, KY 40403
- Phone Contact: 859-986-3045
- Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) | Saturday (8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)
- Standard Load Cost: $30 flat rate for a standard pickup truck load of regular residential household cleanup
- Construction Debris: Pricing varies depending entirely on materials
- Scales: None on site (loads are assessed visually per entry)
- Weekly Trash Partner: Waste Connections (866-428-4208)
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🎭 UPCOMING EVENTS IN BEREA & BEYOND
Theater & Performance at The Spotlight Playhouse Tickets and info: https://www.thespotlightplayhouse.com/
- Annie KIDS (Spotlight Acting School), May 29 to June 7
- Creative Arts Camp (“New York, New York”), June 8 to 12
- Macbeth (The Bluegrass Players), June 19 to 28 https://www.bereaonline.com/macbeth-to-close-spotlight-playhouses-23rd-season-with-large-cast-shakespeare-production/
- Film Acting Camp (Rising 6th to Age 18), June 29 to July 3
Community, Arts & Civic
- Madison County Schools Summer Feeding Program (Glenn Marshall/Caudill Campus), Monday through Thursday, June 1 to 25, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.https://www.madison.kyschools.us/
- Woodcarver Wednesday (Berea Welcome Center), Wednesday, June 3, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.https://visitberea.com/events/
- Madison County Skeet Club Public Hours (638 Dreyfus Rd.), Thursday, June 4, 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.https://visitberea.com/events/
- 15th Annual US 25 Yard Sale (Regional Route), Friday, June 5 to Saturday, June 6, All Dayhttps://www.bereaonline.com/us-25-yard-sale-survival-guide-how-to-shop-the-200-mile-route-without-getting-overwhelmed/
- Junebug Festival (Old Town Artisan Village), Friday, June 5 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.https://visitberea.com/events/
- Free Kids Fishing Derby (Lake Reba Park), Saturday, June 6, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.https://madisoncountyky.gov/mc-events/
- Berea Runners Saturday Group Run (Intermodal Trailhead), Saturday, June 6 at 8:00 a.m.https://visitberea.com/events/
- Taste of Richmond 2026 (Richmond Centre), Friday, June 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.https://www.richmondchamber.com/
About the Author
Dr. Chad Hembree is the Executive Director of Spotlight Acting School, The Spotlight Playhouse, and Spotlight Performing Arts. Affectionately known to the community as “Mr. Chad,” he is a playwright, director, and performer with a professional background spanning music, theater, and technology. As a contributor and editor for BereaOnline.com, he focuses on highlighting community news, local events, and the vibrant performing arts landscape in Madison County.