Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Cave Spring
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.
County-provided Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash MUST be bagged and tied before going into the can. Place the cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, keeping it at least 5 feet away from mailboxes, cars, and electrical boxes.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small broken household items
Drop-off Trailers Bin (Recycling)
Roanoke County does not provide curbside recycling. Residents must take accepted items to designated county recycling trailers, which are emptied Monday through Saturday.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2
- ✓Aluminum cans
- ✓Mixed paper (newsprint, office paper, magazines)
- ✓Flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
- ✕Food waste
Yard Waste Bin
Brush is collected biweekly on your A/B week. It must be neatly piled at the curb, separated entirely from bulk trash items, and placed no earlier than the Saturday before collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Brush
- ✓Tree limbs (less than 6 feet long)
- ✓Logs (less than 12 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Biweekly (A-Week or B-Week)
Placement
Items must be placed at the curb, at least 5 feet away from parked vehicles, mailboxes, utility boxes, basketball goals, and the regular trash cart.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Up to 4 passenger tires (17 to 20 inches must be cut in half)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Dirt, rock, and concrete
- ✕ Shingles and construction materials
- ✕ Car parts
- ✕ Contractor-generated waste
Curbside collection is included for standard bulk amounts. Residents also receive 12 free trips per year to the transfer station for loads up to the size of a pickup truck bed.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a holiday falls on a weekday, trash and biweekly bulk/brush collections are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Brush is collected on the same delayed holiday schedule as bulk trash and regular garbage.
Roanoke County residents should use the official Trash App or check the county's online calendar to confirm exact holiday delay shifts for A-Week and B-Week schedules.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Do Not Bag Drop-Off Recyclables
When taking your materials to the Cave Spring recycling trailers, empty them loosely into the bins. Plastic grocery bags contaminate the recycling stream and will ruin the entire load.
Keep the Brush Pile Pure
Roanoke County trucks will bypass your brush pile if it is mixed with household bulk items, lumber, dirt, or rocks. Keep yard debris and bulk waste in distinctly separate piles.
Flatten Boxes at the Trailers
Space is highly limited in the community recycling trailers. Always flatten and break down your corrugated cardboard boxes completely before sliding them into the collection slots.
Seasonal Information
Year-Round
January to DecemberHousehold Hazardous Waste (HHW) such as bleach, pesticides, and old paint cannot go in your curbside bin. Cave Spring residents can drop these off for free every third Saturday of the month at the Tinker Creek Transfer Station.
Winter
December to FebruaryDuring inclement winter weather or high winds, drivers will not pick up loose trash that has blown out of carts. The bagging ordinance is strictly enforced during winter storms to prevent neighborhood litter.
Spring
March to MayAs bear activity increases in the spring, remember that you can request a bear latch installation for your trash can from the county for a nominal fee.
About Cave Spring Waste Management
Solid Waste Management in Cave Spring
Because Cave Spring is an unincorporated census-designated place within Roanoke County, all residential trash collection is managed directly by Roanoke County Solid Waste. The county provides weekly curbside trash pickup. A strict county ordinance requires that all household trash must be tied and bagged before being placed inside the county-provided refuse carts. Loose trash that blows away will not be collected by drivers.
The Drop-Off Recycling System
Unlike neighboring municipalities, Roanoke County does not offer curbside recycling for Cave Spring residents. Instead, residents must utilize specialized drop-off recycling trailers located throughout the county. Fortunately, Cave Spring residents have convenient access to trailers at the Cox Communications parking lot on Fallowater Lane and behind the Cave Spring Rescue Squad near the Brambleton Recreation Center. These trailers accept plastics #1 and #2, aluminum, and mixed paper.
Navigating A-Week and B-Week Bulk Pickups
Bulk garbage and brush are collected biweekly on an alternating 'A Week' and 'B Week' schedule, matching your regular trash day. You must separate your bulk household items from your brush piles for the trucks to service them. Additionally, Cave Spring households are granted 12 free trips per year to Roanoke Valley Resource Authority transfer stations to dispose of excess bulk and brush that won't fit at the curb.
Bear-Resistant Carts for Mountain Communities
Wildlife, particularly black bears, can occasionally be a nuisance in the areas surrounding Cave Spring. To combat this, Roanoke County Solid Waste offers bear-resistant latch hardware installation for residential trash containers. For a $30 fee, residents can have their carts retrofitted, keeping neighborhoods clean and wildlife safe.
Drop-off Facilities
Tinker Creek Transfer Station (Roanoke Valley Resource Authority)
1020 Hollins Road, Roanoke, VA 24012
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Why wasn't my bulk or brush collected this week?
The most common reasons include: placing items out after 7:00 a.m., placing them less than 5 feet from an obstacle (like a mailbox or car), mixing bulk items with brush, or setting out brush that is more than 6 feet long or 12 inches in diameter. Also, ensure you have the correct A or B collection week.
Does Cave Spring have curbside recycling?
No. Roanoke County does not provide curbside recycling collection. Cave Spring residents must take their sorted paper, cardboard, aluminum, and plastics (#1 and #2) to community drop-off trailers, such as the ones located at Cox Communications or the Brambleton Recreation Center area.
Am I required to bag my trash before putting it in the bin?
Yes. A Roanoke County Solid Waste Ordinance strictly requires that all household trash be bagged and tied before being placed in your garbage can. Drivers are not required to pick up loose trash that falls out of the bin.
What should I do if my trash can lid or wheels are broken?
Roanoke County Solid Waste provides free lid and wheel repairs when possible. You can submit an online application with your container's alphanumeric number to request a fix. If the can is beyond repair, a full replacement can be purchased for a $65 fee.