This information applies to County Collection Customers. Approximately 10% of residents receive collection services directly from Fairfax County Government. For questions about private service, please contact your provider directly or view the list of Permitted Solid Waste Collection Companies.
Customers are provided with one 95-gallon trash cart and one 95-gallon recycling cart per residence.
To report a damaged or missing trash or recycling cart, please complete the form below.
For damaged carts, please leave the cart at the curb on your regular collection day so our repair technician can access it.
If you would prefer to submit your request over the phone, please call 703-802-3322, TTY 711.
This subscription service applies to residents who receive trash and recycling collection from Fairfax County Government. Only about 10% of residents in Fairfax County use this service. The other 90% of residents and businesses receive trash collection from private companies.
If you use a private collector, please contact them directly for assistance.
Does Fairfax County Pick Up My Trash?
County
About ten percent (10%) of residents in Fairfax County receive trash and recycling collection from Fairfax County Government. Unsure if you are a county collection customer? Visit "Does Fairfax County Pick Up My Trash?"
Private
Ninety percent (90%) of residents and businesses in Fairfax County receive trash and recycling service from a private collection company. Residents are billed by the collection company or pay via their Homeowner Association fees. Please contact your provider directly regarding services. View the list Permitted Solid Waste Collection Companies.
County
About ten percent (10%) of residents in Fairfax County receive trash and recycling collection from Fairfax County Government. Unsure if you are a county collection customer? Use the map below to find out.
Private
Ninety percent (90%) of residents and businesses in Fairfax County receive trash and recycling service from a private collection company. Residents are billed by the collection company or pay via their Homeowner Association fees. Please contact your provider directly regarding services. View the list Permitted Solid Waste Collection Companies.
Special Pickup Service Updates - April 27, 2026
Please be advised that we are currently experiencing delays with Special Pickups. If your Special Pickup service has not yet been completed, please continue to leave your items at the curb or street line so they can be collected as soon as possible. We are actively working to resolve these service delays.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience.
Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling improves our public health by reducing carbon emissions, providing local jobs, and conserving natural resources. The biggest problem facing the recycling industry is contamination caused by the wrong items being thrown into recycling carts.
Fairfax County is required to provide a recycling system to its Sanitary District customers. Cardboard and mixed paper recycling is mandatory for all businesses and institutions. Details about material types, collection frequency, reporting requirements, etc. can be found in Chapter 109.1 as well as the Fairfax County Recycling Program Requirements.
Make the most of recycling
Here are some simple rules to follow to avoid contamination and to make sure your recycling is collected and put to good future use.
Place all recyclable materials clean, loose and dry in the blue recycling cart. No Plastic Bags!
Recyclable material should be "clean, loose and dry". [Rinse and remove any remaining food or liquid from your recyclables.]
Recycle plastic bags at the grocery or retail store.
Avoid Wishful Recycling! Wishful recycling or “wishcycling” is when an item is placed in the curbside recycling bin without knowing if it is recyclable but hopes that it is.
ACCEPTED CURBSIDE
The following materials can be recycled in your blue recycling cart.
Mixed paper, magazines, junk mail, newspapers, large paper coffee cups and sleeves.
Collapsed cardboard. [All cardboard must be collapsed. Styrofoam™, packing peanuts, plastic, bubble wrap and any other material must be removed from the collapsed boxes, bagged and placed in the trash cart.]
Metal food and beverage cans.
Cartons (milk, juice). Remove straws.
Plastic food and beverage bottles and jugs, large beverage to-go cups and dairy containers.
NOT ACCEPTED CURBSIDE
NO glass, NO plastic bags, NO takeout containers, NO diapers, NO greasy pizza boxes, NO Styrofoam™, NO packaging peanuts, NO Clamshell containers [either Styrofoam™ or clear plastic]
Search the Waste Wizard and learn how to dispose of everyday items.
Collections - Click tabs for more information
Trash carts (gray) are for household trash only. Do not use these carts for recycling or yard waste. Carts provided by the County should not be loaded to more than 50 pounds.
Recycle carts (blue) are used for recycling only. Do not use these carts for trash or yard waste. Do not place plastic bags in your recycling cart.
The homeowner is responsible for storing and cleaning the carts.
If a cart is damaged or missing, you may report this online at Trash/Recycling Cart Request or by calling 703-802-3322 | TTY 711.
Trash and recycling may be left if improperly prepared for collection.
Set your carts out by 6 a.m. on your collection day.
Don’t place containers at the curb more than 1 day before your collection day; remove them within 24 hours after collection.
Trash collection is for wastes accumulated from normal household activities only.
Secure carts to keep contents from spilling onto street.
Bag household trash before placing it in the trash cart.
All trash must be placed inside the county provided cart. Trash or recycling, other than collapsed cardboard, placed outside the county-provided cart will not be collected. No privately-owned carts will be serviced. For extra service please contact customer service by calling 703-802-3322 | TTY 711.
Fairfax County is not responsible for items not intended for collection that are placed next to trash/recycle carts, or for damage to or loss of personal trash containers.
Recycling Right in Fairfax County
Keeping communities clean and healthy. The curbside recycling program is designed to collect specific materials. See which items you should always place in the cart. Keep them clean, loose, and dry. These items should never be placed in the curbside recycling cart.
Download the Trash & Recycling Customer Guidelines for a printable version of set-out instructions, cart information, and what can be recycled at the curb. You will also find how to handle household hazardous waste and yard waste.
