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Public Works and Environmental Services

Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTACT INFORMATION: 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

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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 "Who Picks Up My Trash map."

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 in the blue recycling cart. 
  • 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 takeout containers, NO plastic bags, NO diapers, NO pizza boxes, NO Styrofoam, NO packaging peanuts, NO Clamshell containers either Styrofoam™ or clear plastic
  • Un-bagged in the cart – NO need to collect your recyclables using plastic bags. This makes it harder to process.  Place recyclables loose in the cart!  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
  • Flattened cardboard
  • Metal food and beverage cans
  • Cartons (milk, juice) remove caps and straws
  • Plastic food and beverage bottles, jugs, tubs

NOT ACCEPTED CURBSIDE

 

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

Download Pick Up Guidelines

Always / Never Recycle

Download the flyer to find out what to ALWAYS put in your recycle bin and what to NEVER put in your recycle bin.

RELATED RESOURCES

Always Never Flyer

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

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12000 Government Center Pkwy
Fairfax, VA 22035

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TTY 711

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