Browse Cities in Virginia
Sorted alphabetically (A-Z)
Alexandria
22301, 22302, ...
Annandale
22003
Arlington
22201, 22202, ...
Ashburn
20147, 20148, ...
Bailey's Crossroads
22041
Blacksburg
24060, 24061, ...
Brambleton
20148
Buckhall
20111, 20112
Burke
22015, 22009
Cave Spring
24014, 24018
Centreville
20120, 20121, ...
Chantilly
20151, 20152
Charlottesville
22901, 22902, ...
Cherry Hill
22026, 22191
Chesapeake
23320, 23321, ...
Chester
23831, 23836
Christiansburg
24073
Culpeper
22701
Dale City
22193, 22194, ...
Danville
24540, 24541, ...
Fair Oaks
22033
Fairfax
22030, 22031, ...
Fredericksburg
22401
Hampton
23661, 23663, ...
Harrisonburg
22801, 22802, ...
Herndon
20170, 20171
Hopewell
23860
Lake Ridge
22192, 22193
Leesburg
20175, 20176, ...
Leesylvania
22191
Linton Hall
20109, 20136, ...
Lorton
22079, 22199
Lynchburg
24501, 24502, ...
Manassas
20110
McLean
22101, 22102, ...
McNair
20171
Meadowbrook
23234
Mechanicsville
23111, 23116
Merrifield
22031, 22081
Midlothian
23112, 23113, ...
Montclair
22025
Newport News
23601, 23602, ...
Norfolk
23502, 23503, ...
Oakton
22124, 22181, ...
Petersburg
23803, 23804, ...
Portsmouth
23701, 23702, ...
Reston
20190, 20191, ...
Richmond
23219, 23220, ...
Roanoke
24011, 24012, ...
Rose Hill
22310
Salem
24153
Short Pump
23233, 23059
South Riding
20152
Springfield
22150, 22151, ...
Staunton
24401, 24402
Sterling
20163, 20164, ...
Suffolk
23432, 23433, ...
Tuckahoe
23229, 23238
Tysons
22102, 22182
Virginia Beach
23451, 23452, ...
Waynesboro
22980
West Falls Church
22042, 22043, ...
West Springfield
22152, 22153
Winchester
22601, 22602, ...
Woodbridge
22191, 22192, ...
Woodlawn
22309
Waste Management & Recycling in Virginia
Waste management in Virginia is regulated by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ). The state is divided into designated Solid Waste Planning Units (SWPUs), which can be individual counties, cities, or regional authorities. These local units are responsible for providing trash collection services, either through municipal fleets or by contracting private haulers, and must develop specific plans to meet state-mandated recycling rates.
Virginia’s environmental policies are heavily influenced by the need to protect the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding watersheds. The state provides grants for litter prevention, aggressively regulates household hazardous waste, and enforces computer recovery laws to ensure that toxic chemicals and plastics do not pollute Virginia's waterways and natural landscapes.
State Waste Initiatives
Computer Recovery and Recycling Act
Virginia law requires computer manufacturers to provide consumers with free and convenient recycling options for their old devices. While not a strict landfill ban for residents, this law ensures that Virginians have access to mail-back programs or retail drop-off locations to safely dispose of laptops and desktops, keeping hazardous materials out of the local soil.
Mandatory Regional Recycling Rates
Unlike states with no minimum requirements, Virginia mandates its Solid Waste Planning Units to achieve specific recycling rates (typically 15% or 25%, depending on the region's population density). This state-level mandate forces local governments to actively maintain and fund residential recycling programs, yard waste composting, and public education campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I dispose of old paint and chemicals in Virginia?
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) like paint, pesticides, and motor oil should never be thrown in the regular trash or poured down the drain. Most Virginia counties and independent cities host specialized HHW drop-off days throughout the year, or maintain a permanent drop-off facility at the local municipal landfill.
Can I put yard waste in plastic bags for curbside pickup in Virginia?
In most Virginia municipalities, yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, brush) cannot be mixed with regular garbage or placed in plastic bags. Local rules usually require yard waste to be placed in biodegradable paper bags or reusable bins so it can be cleanly processed at regional composting facilities.