Public Works and Environmental Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our office is open 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Mon. - Fri.
703-324-5230 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Parkway
Suite 458, Fairfax, Va 22035
Eric Forbes
Director, Solid Waste Management

Disposal Fees Explained

QUICK SUMMARY

  • The Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP) does not make any profit. The fees you pay cover what it costs to collect, recycle, and dispose of trash.
  • These fees pay for over 250 staff members and 230 vehicles and pieces of equipment that work on more than 620 acres of land.
  • The fees also help pay for special services, like getting rid of electronics, hazardous household chemicals, and old appliances.

WHY DID THE RATES GO UP?

Solid waste fees for homes and businesses have gone up because the cost to run our facilities has increased. Our recycling and waste disposal partners are also charging more. During the Covid pandemic, SWMP used its savings (reserve funds) to avoid large fee increases. To stay financially healthy, SWMP now needs to rely less on these reserves and adjust fees so they match the real cost of providing trash and recycling services. SWMP is working to cut costs and rebuild its reserves. The program is also looking for new ways to bring in money and focus spending on its most important services.

WHAT SERVICES DO THE DISPOSAL FEES FUND?

SWMP operates and maintains a waste transfer station, two closed municipal solid waste landfills, a regional ashfill, and two recycling and disposal facilities.


SWMP Staff

More than 260 staff

SWMP Vehicles and Equipment

Over 230 vehicles

 
SWMP Land

623 acres of land

 

 

What happens to my trash?

The photos below explain what happens to your trash after it is picked up by your collector.

Every day, SWMP staff keep county communities clean, safe, and healthy by recycling and disposing of waste. The county offers the following services to county residents.

Want to learn more?

Change to- For more information on the Solid Waste Management Program budget, visit the Department of Management and Budget website. Look under Volume 2: Capital Construction and Other Operating Funds in the current year’s adopted County budget plan.


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