Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Fairfax
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route. Eligible single-family homes and townhomes receive weekly curbside pickup.
Recycling
Collected once per week on the same day as your scheduled trash service.
Yard Waste
Collected once per week on your regular trash collection day (seasonal curbside vacuum leaf collection runs in fall/early winter).
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential solid waste, recycling, and yard waste collection services are funded directly through your annual city real estate tax assessments rather than billed separately.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In-Person, Phone
Pro Tip / Discount
Free backdoor collection assistance is available for seniors and individuals with temporary or permanent disabilities through an application with physician verification.
Black Cart Bin (Trash)
Trash must be placed in the city-issued 65-gallon cart or in plastic bags. The maximum weight per container or bag is 60 pounds. Carts must be removed from the street by 8:00 p.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household trash
- ✓Bagged animal waste and diapers
- ✓Small amounts of non-contractor debris
- ✓Invasive plant species (labeled)
- ✓Cold ashes (bagged)
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclable items must be empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag your recyclables; leave them completely loose inside the blue cart. Lids and labels may be left on accepted containers.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic bags and film packaging
- ✕Styrofoam and shredded paper
- ✕Food wrappers and takeout containers
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, strings)
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must be placed in reusable containers or paper yard waste bags. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited and will be tagged as a violation. Brush and limbs must be a maximum of 4 feet long.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cut grass
- ✓Plant and shrub clippings
- ✓Twigs and smaller limbs
- ✓Garden vegetation
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your designated collection day
Placement
Ensure items are placed away from parked vehicles, low-hanging limbs, wires, and storm drains. For safety, remove doors from all large appliances.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Stoves and water heaters
- ✓ Car parts (small amounts)
- ✓ Storm doors
- ✓ Large brush piles
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor-generated solid waste
- ✕ Dirt, stone, rock, or brick
- ✕ Dead animals and manure
- ✕ Asbestos and containerized liquids
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
Bulk collection is generally included as a municipal service for reasonable amounts of residential debris. Excessive construction debris may require alternative disposal methods or private dumpsters.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on a Monday, Monday pickups shift to Tuesday (and Tuesday stays on Tuesday). Uniquely, if a holiday falls on a Friday, Friday pickups will take place on Thursday (the day before).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and large item collections adhere to the same holiday delay schedules as standard trash and recycling routes.
Always check the official Refuse & Recycling Holiday Collection Schedule on the city's website to verify specific shift days.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring and Fall
April, November, DecemberThe City collects loose leaves via vacuum suction trucks during these specific months [1.4.1]. Rake leaves to the curb or street edge. Bagged leaves will not be collected during vacuum season.
Autumn
NovemberAfter Halloween, residents can drop off their pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, and gourds at the 24-hour City of Fairfax Composting Center to keep seasonal food décor out of the landfill.
Winter
December to FebruaryExtreme weather events like snowstorms can delay curbside services. If your items are missed due to weather, leave them at the curb and they will be collected as soon as it is safe to do so.
Local Tips & Community Info
Turn Your Cans into Cash Around Fairfax!
Did you know you can get a little money back for those empty soda cans and plastic bottles? While Virginia doesn't have a statewide bottle deposit program like some other states, there are still ways to turn your recyclables into cash. Keep an eye out for local scrap metal yards in the broader Northern Virginia area that might accept certain metals. Sometimes, community events or local recycling drives pop up where you can bring in bags of cans and bottles. It's always a good idea to call around to metal recyclers in the Washington D.C. metro area to see what they're buying.
Giving Your Gently Used Stuff a New Life in Fairfax
Before you toss out items that are still perfectly good, think about donating them! There are some fantastic spots right here in or very close to Fairfax that would love your cast-offs. Consider the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Sterling; they take furniture, appliances, and building materials. You can also check out local thrift stores like Goodwill or the Salvation Army in the area. Donating not only keeps items out of the landfill but also helps fund valuable community programs.
Keeping Our Fairfax Neighborhoods Clean and Tidy
Tackling illegal dumping is a community effort, and Fairfax County wants to keep our streets looking good. If you ever see trash or old furniture dumped where it shouldn't be, the best thing to do is report it. You can usually report illegal dumping through the Fairfax County government website or by calling their public works department. They have systems in place to investigate and clean up these messes. Also, keep an ear out for any neighborhood clean-up events that pop up – they're a great way to pitch in and make our community shine!
Drop-off Facilities
I-66 Transfer Station
4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Materials Accepted
City of Fairfax Composting Center
10455 Armstrong Street, Fairfax, VA 22030 (West side of City Hall)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put English ivy and bamboo in my yard waste bags?
No. Invasive plants like English ivy, bamboo, and bush honeysuckle contaminate the yard waste that is sent for mulching [1.2.1]. You must place invasive plants in your regular trash cart or in a plastic bag explicitly labeled 'invasives'.
Where can I recycle glass bottles in the City of Fairfax?
Glass is not accepted in your blue curbside recycling cart. You should take all empty and rinsed glass bottles and jars to one of the Purple Can Club drop-off bins located throughout the community.
What should I do if my collection falls on a Friday holiday?
In the City of Fairfax, if a scheduled collection day falls on a Friday holiday, your trash and recycling will be picked up on Thursday, the day before the holiday.
How do I dispose of old electronics and CRT monitors?
Electronics cannot go in the trash. The safest way to dispose of them is by dropping them off at the Fairfax County I-66 Transfer Station located at 4618 West Ox Road, or through the City contracted eAsset Solutions.