Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Annandale
Virginia curbside collection runs weekly from Monday through Friday. Your exact pickup day depends on your local county or city zoning schedule.
State Mandate
Virginia DEQ regulations strictly prohibit lead-acid batteries, motor oil, and whole waste tires in curbside bins.
Varies by hauler (Black or Green for County Customers) Bin (Trash)
All household garbage should be bagged before placement in the cart to prevent littering. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics (tubs, cups, wrappers)
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Bagged pet waste
Varies by hauler (Blue or Yellow lid for County Customers) Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is mandatory. All items must be empty, clean, dry, and placed loose in the bin. Never bag your recyclables in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and mixed office paper
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 (bottles and jugs only)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film wrap
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Food-soiled paper products
Yard Waste Bin
Collected separately from March 1 to December 24. Must be placed in compostable paper bags or reusable rigid containers. Limited to 10 bags/containers per week for county customers.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and brush
- ✓Plant trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Varies by hauler (On-demand for County Customers)
Placement
Approved items should be placed safely at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled special pickup day, keeping clear of mailboxes and parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Indoor furniture
- ✓ Large appliances (refrigerant removal requires a special request)
- ✓ Bundled brush (tied, max 4 feet in length)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Hazardous materials and wet paint
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, and brick
For county customers, basic bulk pickup is often included, but limits apply. Private haulers may charge a separate per-item fee for bulk disposal.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Fairfax County Collection operations are closed on Christmas Day. Most private haulers observe New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If your collection day falls on or after a major holiday, service is generally delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
The I-66 Transfer Station and I-95 Landfill Complex operate on modified holiday hours and are closed entirely on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Because 90% of Annandale is serviced by private companies, exact holiday delay rules will vary. Always check your specific hauler's website for real-time alerts.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Utilize the Purple Cans for Glass
Glass is strictly prohibited in curbside recycling carts across Fairfax County. Please save your glass containers and drop them in the Purple Cans located at local community centers and county disposal facilities.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Bin
Plastic shopping bags, bread bags, and shrink wrap cause severe jams in the county's sorting facility. Keep them completely out of your curbside recycling and return them to local grocery store drop-off bins instead.
Focus on Bottles and Jugs
For plastics, Fairfax County processing facilities prefer items with a 'neck' (like water bottles and milk jugs). Plastic clamshells, yogurt tubs, and takeout containers often melt at different temperatures and should be placed in the trash.
Seasonal Information
Spring
MarchDedicated curbside yard waste collection resumes on March 1st. Ensure you are stocked up on compostable paper yard bags, as private and county haulers will not accept yard debris in plastic bags.
Autumn
November to DecemberFairfax County provides vacuum leaf collection for specific subscribed neighborhoods. Check the county's service area map to see if your Annandale address is included, and rake leaves to the curb line prior to your scheduled zone dates.
Winter
January to FebruaryRoutine yard waste collection pauses from December 25th through the end of February. However, special collections for live, un-decorated Christmas trees are typically offered during the first two weeks of January.
About Annandale Waste Management
Navigating Solid Waste Collection in Annandale
Because Annandale is an unincorporated community within Fairfax County, waste management operates on a hybrid model. Approximately 90% of local homes and businesses contract with private hauling companies like Republic Services or Bates Trucking—often organized through a Homeowners Association. The remaining 10% fall into designated Sanitary Districts serviced directly by the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES). Residents can check their specific provider using the county's online lookup tool.
The Purple Can Glass Recycling Program
Fairfax County no longer processes glass in its single-stream curbside recycling carts because shattered glass routinely damages sorting machinery and contaminates clean cardboard bales. Instead, Annandale residents must utilize the regional 'Purple Can' glass recycling network. Empty and rinsed glass bottles and jars can be dropped off at community purple bins located near libraries, parks, and the I-66 Transfer Station for localized crushing and reuse.
Strict Plastic Bag Bans for Yard Debris
To ensure organic waste can be properly composted, Fairfax County enforces a strict ban on plastic bags for yard waste. Between March 1st and December 24th, all yard trimmings collected at the curb must be housed in compostable paper lawn bags or personal rigid containers clearly labeled for yard waste. Haulers will legally reject any grass clippings or leaves packed in standard plastic garbage bags.
Dropping Off Excess Waste at the I-66 Transfer Station
When spring cleaning or home renovations leave you with more debris than your curbside bins can hold, the I-66 Transfer Station on West Ox Road serves as the primary disposal hub for Annandale residents. This county-run facility accepts household hazardous waste, electronics, scrap metal, appliances, and oversized bulk items. While standard recycling drop-offs are free, certain bulk items and municipal solid waste loads incur a weight-based disposal fee.
Drop-off Facilities
I-66 Transfer Station
4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Materials Accepted
I-95 Landfill Complex
9850 Furnace Road, Lorton, VA 22079
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides trash collection service for my home in Annandale, VA?
Since Annandale is an unincorporated part of Fairfax County, trash pickup is highly localized. About 90% of residents are serviced by private haulers (often managed through HOAs), while 10% fall into county-managed sanitary districts. You can use the 'Does Fairfax County Pick Up My Trash?' lookup tool online to verify your provider.
Why didn't my hauler pick up my yard waste bags?
If you used standard plastic garbage bags, your yard waste will be rejected at the curb. Fairfax County requires all leaves, grass, and brush to be placed in compostable paper lawn bags or rigid personal bins to facilitate proper composting.
Can I put glass in my blue recycling bin in Fairfax County?
No. Glass bottles and jars are no longer accepted in single-stream curbside bins because they shatter and contaminate the paper supply. Residents should bring empty glass containers to designated Purple Can drop-off locations throughout the county.
Where can I dispose of old paint and household chemicals?
Hazardous materials like wet paint, pesticides, and motor oil cannot be thrown in the trash. Annandale residents should safely transport these items to the I-66 Transfer Station or I-95 Landfill Complex during their designated household hazardous waste collection hours.