If your question isn't listed below, check out our Business Recycling FAQs.
- Who has to recycle?
- What is a principal recyclable material?
- What are my responsibilities?
- What are the responsibilities of my tenants?
- Are there specific storage requirements?
- Can I get some help?
- I am constructing a new building or renovating an older one. What are the recycling requirements?
- Is a written recycling plan required?
- What is a recycling report, and what are my responsibilities?
- What is an alternative recycling system?
- What about residential or mixed-use properties?
- What about yard waste?
All nonresidential buildings (businesses, schools, hospitals, etc.) in Fairfax County are required to recycle mixed paper and cardboard.
In addition, nonresidential buildings or complexes that generate 100 tons of waste per year must also recycle their principal recyclable material. If county staff determines that the principal recyclable material for the facility is cardboard and/or paper, no additional recycling will be required. It is the responsibility of the owners and/or managers of commercial buildings to provide the recycling system for employees or occupants. To determine if recycling is required, you must answer these questions:
- Does this single location, complex or institution produce more than 100 tons of solid waste annually?
- Regardless of business size, does the business produce significant amounts of scrap metal, used motor oil, tires, batteries, antifreeze or other materials that are prohibited from disposal in Fairfax County?
If the answer to either of these questions is 'yes,' then your property owner or management firm must provide for the recycling of one principal recyclable material.
Not sure if your business or location produces more than 100 tons of solid waste per year? Try checking with your trash collector. They can often look at your previous bills and give you a figure. If you need help, or still don't get an answer, ask the Recycle Guy and we'll help you figure it out!
What is a principal recyclable material?
The principal recyclable material varies according to business type. By definition, it is the recyclable material that occurs in the highest quantity by weight in the waste stream. Usually, the principal recyclable material for an office building is mixed paper. For retail stores, warehouses or food service operations, it tends to be corrugated cardboard and/or mixed paper; for auto repair and maintenance, it may be scrap metal or used oil; and for landscapers, it is usually leaves, brush and other yard waste.
If you are unsure of the correct principal recyclable material for your building or complex, you should analyze the waste stream. This can be as simple as taking a visual survey of your trash, or can be as involved as sorting, weighing and measuring the volume of all the materials in your waste stream.
It is the responsibility of the owner or property manager to notify tenants of mandatory recycling participation. Tenant notification must occur upon occupancy and at least once annually thereafter. It must include, at a minimum:
- The material that will be recycled
- The program start date
- Instructions on how to prepare the materials
- Contaminants to avoid
- The location of the recycling containers
- The collection schedule, and
- Contact information if the tenants have questions
The county has developed illustrated "Yes/No" recycling charts that you may use for educational purposes. These at-a-glance pictures will help tenants identify what materials can or cannot be recycled in your building. Choose the chart that is appropriate for your recycling program:
- Illustrated recycling chart for properties where only mixed paper and cardboard are recycled: English version, Spanish version (PDF)
- Illustrated recycling chart for properties where bottles and cans are recycled in addition to mixed paper and cardboard: English version, Spanish version (PDF)
If you would like to have a high-resolution color or black-and-white version of any of the illustrated charts for printing purposes, please call our office at 703-324-5230, TTY 711.
What are the responsibilities of my tenants?
Tenants or occupants are required to participate in the recycling system provided by the property owner or managing agent. Sole tenant occupants and chain operations may operate independent recycling systems when permitted by the building owner or managing agent, and approved by the county on a case-by-case basis. For assistance, call 703-324-5230, TTY 711 or ask the Recycle Guy.
Are there specific storage requirements?
You will need to allow sufficient space for the storage and collection of recyclables. Diagrams of recommended footprints are provided online. These can be used to design the dumpster and recycling storage area appropriate for your building: Single Dumpster with Roll-out Cart Storage (PDF), Two Dumpsters with Roll-out Cart Storage (PDF), Two Tandem Stacked Dumpsters with Roll-out Cart Storage (PDF).
The facility where recyclables are stored must be secure, safe and sanitary. Such facilities must be convenient to inspection and collection. The recycling system should use the appropriate type of containers, collection system and schedule of collection.
Yes! The county will provide free technical assistance to engineers, architects, business owners and property managers to facilitate implementing required recycling systems in existing buildings or for new construction. Call 703-324-5230, TTY 711 for more information.
You can also ask the Recycle Guy your questions using this e-mail form.
I am constructing a new building or renovating an older one. What are the recycling requirements?
In accordance with the Fairfax County Public Facilities Manual, a Recycling System Plan Worksheet is required to be submitted to the Division of Solid Waste Collection and Recycling, concurrent with the first submission of a site plan for new construction. When there is a change in ownership, use, or occupancy, the property owner or managing agent should use the worksheet to describe any changes in the required recycling system to be provided. Just call 703-324-5230, TTY 711, or ask the Recycle Guy for the worksheet. See also Recycling Program Requirements.
Multifamily properties, with a construction permit issued on or after July 1, 2007, must provide a system for residents to recycle container glass, metal food and beverage containers, plastic bottles and jugs, scrap metal, cardboard and mixed paper.
Low-cost building supplies may be donated or purchased at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.
Is a written recycling plan required?
The owner of any nonresidential property or any multifamily residential building must develop a Municipal Solid Waste Management and Recycling Plan. See Section 109.1-3-2 of the County Code for specific details. This recycling plan must be available to the director of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services within 30 days of a written request.
What is a recycling report, and what are my responsibilities?
If you are required to recycle, you are required to report! Annual reporting is required for alternative recycling systems by chain operations which transport recyclables directly to processors or end-user markets outside of Fairfax County. Ask the Recycle Guy if you're still not sure.
The reporting form for the 2008 calendar year will be due by March 1, 2009. The report is not available on the Fairfax County web site. If you need a Recycling Rate Report, please call 703-324-5230, TTY 711 and ask for Marion Plummer. If you have any additional questions, you can call Ms. Plummer at the number listed.
What is an alternative recycling system?
Sole tenant occupants, anchor stores, or chain operations may obtain approval for an alternative recycling system provided by their corporate entity, separate from that provided by the property management. Upon approval of an alternative recycling system the corporate entity is responsible for compliance with the county's recycling requirements. An example of an alternative recycling system is a large retailer that bales cardboard which is then hauled away by the company's own trucks.
What about residential or mixed-use properties?
If your business operates in a property with mixed residential and business uses, the property is evaluated as if it were two separate entities: a residential multifamily building and a nonresidential building.
- All multifamily properties must recycle mixed paper and cardboard.
- All nonresidential buildings (businesses, schools, hospitals, etc.) in Fairfax County are required to recycle mixed paper and cardboard.
- All nonresidential buildings or complexes that generate 100 tons of waste per year must also recycle their principal recyclable material. If county staff determines that the principal material for the facility is cardboard and/or paper, no additional recycling will be required. It is the responsibility of the owners and/or managers of commercial buildings to provide the recycling system for employees or occupants.
Single-family homes, townhouses, apartments, and condominiums that have been converted to small business commercial uses are treated the same as similar residential properties. If these properties receive curbside trash collection then they should receive weekly recycling collection. The following materials must be collected, at a minimum: newspapers, mixed paper, container glass, aluminum and steel food and beverage containers, and yard waste.
- All yard waste (brush, leaves and grass) resulting from landscape maintenance can be mulched and reused on site, or source separated on a seasonal basis (March 1 - Dec. 24) for removal to a recycling facility.
- Yard waste may not be mixed with other waste collected for disposal.
- Townhouse clusters and condominium associations which hire a landscape contractor or use in-house personnel to maintain common areas may apply for approval of alternative methods for managing yard waste, subject to approval on a case-by-case basis and confirmed in writing from the Fairfax County Division of Solid Waste Collection and Recycling Program. Please call 703-324-5230, TTY 711 for more information. If any yard waste is not removed by the landscape contractor, it must be recycled on site by alternate means such as "grass cycling" (leaving the clippings on the lawn), mulching, or composting or collected for recycling by the refuse and recycling collection company. As property manager, you must ensure that no more than negligible quantities of yard waste are mixed with trash intended for disposal.
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