Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Centreville
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.
Black or Gray (varies by hauler) Bin (Trash)
All trash must be securely bagged and placed entirely inside the provided cart. Set out at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Wrappers and chip bags
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Keep recyclables loose, clean, and dry. Do not bag your recycling in plastic bags, as they jam processing machinery.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Metal food and beverage cans
- ✓Plastic jugs and bottles (Keep caps attached)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (Use Purple Cans)
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food-soiled pizza boxes
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
- ✕Styrofoam packaging
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags. Place yard waste in paper yard bags or personal reusable containers. Collection runs separately from March 1 through December 24.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small prunings
- ✓Brush and twigs under 4 feet in length
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Upon request (Up to 5 free per fiscal year for County Collection customers)
Placement
Piles are limited to 2 cubic yards per pickup (approx. 6'x3'x3'). Place items at the curb no earlier than the evening before the scheduled collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Appliances (Freon removal requires advanced scheduling)
- ✓ Electronics and TVs
- ✓ Large brush piles (tied and bundled)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, and rock
- ✕ Tree stumps
- ✕ Automotive parts
Piles exceeding the 2-cubic-yard limit or collections exceeding the 5 free annual pickups will incur additional fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Fairfax County government crews provide regular collection services on all holidays except Christmas Day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection is suspended entirely during the deep winter months of January and February.
While County Collection only pauses for Christmas Day, the private haulers servicing the majority of Centreville may also skip Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, or other federal holidays. Always verify with your private provider.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Skip the Flimsy Plastic Bags
Never bag your recyclables. Flimsy plastic bags wrap around the sorting gears at the recycling facility, causing major machinery breakdowns. Empty your recyclables loosely into the blue bin and return plastic grocery bags to retail store drop-offs.
The Pizza Box Rule
Grease and cheese ruin the cardboard recycling process. If the bottom of your pizza box is stained with grease, it belongs in the trash. Only the clean, unsoiled top half of the box can be ripped off and placed in the recycling cart.
Keep 'Tanglers' Out
Garden hoses, extension cords, wire hangers, and string lights are known as 'tanglers' and pose a massive physical hazard to workers at the sorting plant. Throw these in the trash or take old electronics and cords to the E-Waste facility.
Seasonal Information
Autumn/Winter
November to JanuaryVacuum Leaf Collection is provided in specific county-serviced Sanitary Districts. Check the Fairfax County boundary map to see if your neighborhood qualifies, and avoid mixing branches or rocks into leaf piles to prevent damaging the vacuum trucks.
Winter
JanuaryDuring the first two weeks of January, real Christmas trees (under 8 feet) are collected curbside. You must ensure all tinsel, lights, ornaments, and tree stands are completely removed before setting the tree out for recycling.
Spring/Summer
March to DecemberDedicated yard waste collection runs from March 1 through December 24. Grasscycling (leaving grass clippings on the lawn to return nutrients to the soil) is highly encouraged to reduce the volume of yard waste.
About Centreville Waste Management
Understanding Centreville's Mixed Collection System
In Centreville, Virginia, waste management isn't a one-size-fits-all service. Approximately 90% of Fairfax County residents, including many living within the Centreville CDP boundaries, are serviced by private solid waste collection companies like American Disposal Services or Republic Services. The remaining neighborhoods fall under designated County Collection zones (Sanitary Districts). It is crucial for new homeowners to use the county's address lookup tool or consult their HOA to confirm their specific hauler, as this dictates pickup days, billing, and cart sizes.
The Purple Can Club: Redefining Glass Recycling
You won't find glass in Centreville’s curbside recycling bins. Fairfax County transitioned away from single-stream glass recycling because broken shards heavily contaminate clean paper and plastics during transit. Instead, residents participate in the region's innovative 'Purple Can Club.' By dropping clean glass bottles and jars into designated purple dumpsters—available at local parks and the nearby I-66 Transfer Station—your glass is sustainably crushed for use in construction projects and fiberglass insulation.
Strict Yard Waste Regulations for Centreville Homeowners
Northern Virginia homeowners take immense pride in their landscaping, but managing the resulting yard debris requires strict adherence to county-wide rules. From March 1st through December 24th, yard waste is collected curbside, but plastic bags are strictly prohibited. Leaves, grass clippings, and small twigs must be placed in compostable paper yard bags or clearly marked reusable containers. Debris left in plastic bags will not be collected in order to protect the integrity of the county's mulching facilities.
Managing Bulky Items and E-Waste
Upgrading your home furnishings or clearing out obsolete technology? If your address is serviced directly by Fairfax County, you are entitled to five free special collections per fiscal year for bulky items like furniture, appliances, and e-waste (capped at two cubic yards per pickup). If you are serviced by a private hauler, you must schedule and pay for bulk pickups directly with your company. Alternatively, the I-66 Transfer Station on West Ox Road serves as a convenient residential drop-off hub for bulk waste, hazardous materials, and electronics.
Navigating Holiday Delays and Winter Weather
Virginia weather can be unpredictable, and severe winter storms occasionally force the suspension of curbside sanitation services for safety reasons. During typical weeks, Fairfax County's government crews run a continuous schedule, observing only Christmas Day as a designated holiday without service. However, private haulers servicing Centreville neighborhoods often take Thanksgiving and New Year's Day off as well. Always monitor your specific provider’s alerts and emails during the winter months for holiday shifts and weather-related pushbacks.
Drop-off Facilities
I-66 Transfer Station
4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put glass bottles in my curbside recycling bin in Centreville?
No. Fairfax County prohibits glass in curbside recycling carts because broken shards ruin other recyclable materials. Centreville residents should take clean glass jars and bottles to community drop-off dumpsters known as the 'Purple Can Club.'
Why wasn't my yard waste collected?
If your yard waste was left at the curb, it was likely placed in a plastic bag. Fairfax County strictly bans plastic bags for yard debris. Grass clippings and leaves must be housed in compostable paper yard bags or placed loose in reusable containers.
Does Fairfax County or a private hauler collect my trash?
It depends on your exact neighborhood. While the county directly services certain 'Sanitary Districts,' roughly 90% of residents and HOAs in Centreville contract with private companies like American Disposal Services. You can verify your provider using the Fairfax County Solid Waste boundary map online.
Where can I dispose of old paint and household chemicals?
Hazardous household waste, including wet paint, solvents, pool chemicals, and pesticides, cannot go in your regular trash. Centreville residents can safely dispose of these toxic materials at the Household Hazardous Waste drop-off located at the nearby I-66 Transfer Station.