This information applies to COUNTY collection customers who receive trash and recycling collection from Fairfax County Government. 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?"
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 loose in the blue recycling cart. There is NO need to collect your recyclables using plastic bags. This makes it harder to process.
Recyclable material should be "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.
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, bagged and placed in the trash cart.]
Metal food and beverage cans
Cartons (milk, juice). Remove straws
Plastic food and beverage bottles and jugs ONLY
NOT ACCEPTED CURBSIDE
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]
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.
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 loose, clean, and dry. These items should NEVER be put in the curbside recyclingcart.
