1. Home
  2. Public Works and Environmental Services
  3. Recycling and Trash
  4. County Collection Customers
  5. Curbside Recycling
Public Works and Environmental Services

Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our administrative offices are open to the public by appointment only at this time. Please call or email 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday

703-802-3322
TTY 711

DPWESTrashCS@fairfaxcounty.gov

12000 Government Center Parkway
Suite 448, Fairfax, Va 22035

County Collection Customer,
Service Center

Department Resources

Related Resources

 

SUBSCRIBE TO DEPARTMENT

Curbside Recycling

This information applies to COUNTY collection customers who receive trash and recycling collection from Fairfax County Government, about ten percent (10%) of residents and businesses in Fairfax County. If you receive services from a PRIVATE collector, contact them directly for information.
Unsure if you are a county collection customer? Visit "Does Fairfax County Pick Up My Trash?"

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and Inauguration Day

Please be advised that there will be NO CHANGE in the trash and recycling collection schedule for Monday, January 18, 2021 (Martin Luther King Jr.’s Day) and Wednesday, January 20, (Inauguration Day), 2021 for customers of Fairfax County Government. If you have private collection, please contact your hauler. Details ->

Christmas Tree Disposal

Christmas trees will be collected from January 11 to 22, 2021 for recycling. All lights, ornaments, decorations (including tinsel) and stands must be removed to ensure collection. Details ->

Covid-19 Curbside Collection Changes Details ->

Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash, and turning them into new products.  Recycling saves money; improves our public health by reducing carbon emissions, provides local jobs and conserves natural resources.  The biggest problem facing the recycling industry is contamination cause by the wrong items being thrown into recycling carts.

Recycling Program Requirements

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 put to good future use.

  • Place all recyclable materials loose in the blue recycling cart. There is NO need to collect your recyclables using plastic bags. This makes it harder to process.
  • Place all recyclable materials in the blue recycling cart "clean and dry". Rinse and remove any remaining food or liquid contents from your recyclables.
  • It is important to recycle as much as possible, however, some items go in the trash, including broken household goods.
  • NO glass, NO plastic bags, NO takeout containers, NO diapers, NO pizza boxes, NO Styrofoam™, NO packaging peanuts, NO Clamshell containers either Styrofoam™ or clear plastic.
  • Recycle plastic bags at the grocery store.

ACCEPTED CURBSIDE

The following materials can be recycled in your blue recycling cart.

  • Mixed paper, magazines, junk mail, newspapers
  • Collapsed cardboard. [All cardboard must be collapsed. Styrofoam™, packing peanuts, plastic, bubble wrap and any other material must be removed from the collapsed boxes.]
  • Metal food and beverage cans
  • Cartons (milk, juice) remove straws
  • Plastic food and beverage bottles and jugs ONLY 

NOT ACCEPTED CURBSIDE

Items not accepted curbside, may be taken to the I-66 Transfer Station or the I-95 Landfill.

Download Pick Up Guidelines

Recycling Right in Fairfax County

Keeping communities clean and healthy. The curbside recycling bin program is designed to collect specific materials. See which items you should ALWAYS place in the bin. Keep them loose, clean, and dry. And which items should NEVER be put in the the curbside recycling bin.

Report Missed Collection

Please do not report a missed collection until late in the day. In many cases crews are simply delayed. Requests to empty dumpsters are also accepted.

Call 703-802-3322, TTY 711 or

Submit Online Form

Recycling Container Request

Report a damaged or missing trash or recycling container:  

Call 703-802-3322, TTY 711 or

Submit Online Form

More About Trash and Recycling

Customers

Recycling and Trash Home

Fairfax County Residents

County Collection Customers

Trash and Disposal Industry

Businesses

Educators, Ambassadors and Students

Services

Pay Bill Online

Apply for a Permit

Schedule a Special Pick Up (Customers only)

Report Missed Pick Up (Customers only)

Request Trash Can Repair/Replace (Customers only)

Vacuum Leaf Collection (Leaf Customers only)

Report Litter

Request A Tour or Guest Speaker

Mulch

More Resources

Locations, Hours, Phone

Recycle or Trash? Index of Materials

A- Z Index of Topics

Publications, Plans and County Code

Forms and Applications

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

FAQs

Subscribe to Fairfax Recycler

Contact Us

Close
Fairfax Virtual Assistant

Related Resources

 

SUBSCRIBE TO DEPARTMENT

seal

Translate
Awards
Site Feedback

Main Address

12000 Government Center Pkwy
Fairfax, VA 22035

Phone

703-324-7329

TTY 711

Site Tools

Site Tools

Website Accessibility

Translate

Download Mobile App

Support

Support

ADA Accessibility

FOIA Requests

Website Administrator

Additional Resources

Additional Resources

Fairfax County Public Schools

Economic Development Authority

Visit Fairfax

Council of Governments

Commonwealth of Virginia

USA.gov

PRIVACY POLICY & COPYRIGHT