Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Herndon
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.
Town-issued Refuse Cart Bin (Trash)
Trash carts must be placed curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day, but no earlier than 24 hours prior. All trash must fit inside the cart so the lid shuts completely; bags left on the ground will not be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam
Town-issued Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclable items must be placed loose, clean, and dry into the recycling cart. Do not bag your recyclables. Carts must be facing forward according to the stamped arrow on the lid.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, clothing)
- ✕Food waste and greasy pizza boxes
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is collected on your regular trash day. Use reusable sturdy plastic/metal containers (max 50 gallons/50 lbs) clearly labeled 'Yard Waste' or 30-gallon paper lawn bags. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrub clippings and twigs
- ✓Small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By request only (Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays)
Placement
Approved items must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the confirmed collection day, but no earlier than 24 hours before pickup. Avoid placing items near low-hanging wires or parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Large furniture (sofas, mattresses)
- ✓ Small amounts of scrap metal (under 50 lbs)
- ✓ Lawn mowers (fluids drained)
- ✓ Up to two tires per collection
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (shingles, lumber, drywall)
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Electronics and E-waste
- ✕ Stumps or tree limbs cut by a contractor
The $60 fee covers up to 3 cubic yards. Service is completely unavailable on Mondays, Tuesdays, weekends, and during major holiday weeks.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on your collection day, services are typically shifted. For example, Thursday collections might shift to Friday. Always verify exact shifts using the town's current holiday calendar.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the same holiday slide schedule as regular refuse and recycling collections.
Residents are highly encouraged to sign up for the 'News You Can Use' town e-newsletter to receive timely notifications about weather or holiday-related collection delays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Glass Out of the Curbside Cart
Never put glass bottles, mirrors, or ceramics in your recycling cart. All glass must either be dropped off at the purple container on Sterling Road or placed in your regular trash cart.
Unbag Your Recyclables
Bagging recyclables in plastic grocery or garbage bags ruins the load. Plastic bags jam the gears at the Republic Services facility. Keep all paper, plastics, and metals completely loose in the bin.
Mind the Brush Bundle Limits
If you have branches that won't fit in a container, they must be tied in bundles. The town will not collect bundles that exceed 4 feet in length, weigh more than 50 pounds, or contain branches thicker than 3 inches in diameter.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October to DecemberVacuum leaf collection alternates weekly for residents north and south of the W&OD Trail from mid-October through the second week of December. Rake loose leaves to the curb, avoiding storm drains.
Winter
December to MarchDuring winter storms, snow removal becomes the town's top priority. Do not rake leaves or place bulky items into the street when freezing rain or snow is forecast, as it blocks plow routes.
Holidays
May, November, December, JanuaryThe Town of Herndon explicitly halts all special bulk collections during the weeks of Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day to focus manpower on standard holiday trash routes.
About Herndon Waste Management
Automated Curbside Collection in Herndon
The Town of Herndon Department of Public Works directly manages residential trash, recycling, and yard waste for single-family homes and townhouses. The town utilizes an automated cart system, which requires residents to use strictly town-issued carts. To ensure the automated lifting arm can safely grasp your bins, you must place your carts at least three feet apart from each other, mailboxes, and parked cars, and ensure there is twelve feet of vertical clearance away from low-hanging branches.
The Purple Glass Drop-Off Initiative
Like many municipalities in Northern Virginia, the Town of Herndon does not allow glass in curbside recycling bins. Broken glass contaminates the single-stream recycling process and damages the sorting equipment at the Republic Services recovery facility. Instead, residents are encouraged to bring empty, clean glass bottles and jars of all colors to the 24/7 purple glass-only drop-off container located at the entrance of 1479 Sterling Road.
Cardboard Overflow Protocol
Moving into a new home or ordering large furniture can leave you with a mountain of cardboard that won't fit into your town-issued recycling cart. Fortunately, Herndon offers a free collection for excess cardboard on your normal recycling day. To utilize this service, residents must complete an application and email [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to setting the boxes at the curb, ensuring the town can dispatch the proper equipment.
Navigating the W&OD Trail Leaf Collection
Every autumn, the Town of Herndon provides a highly convenient vacuum leaf collection service. The schedule is uniquely divided based on whether your residence is located North or South of the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Bike Trail. Rake your loose leaves as close to the curb as possible without blocking storm drains, and remember that when snow is forecast, snow removal operations instantly take precedence over leaf vacuuming.
Drop-off Facilities
I-66 Transfer Station
4618 West Ox Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030
Materials Accepted
Sterling Road Purple Glass Container
1479 Sterling Road, Herndon, VA 20170
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Town of Herndon provide a bulky item pickup service?
Yes, but it requires an application and a fee. Special collections can be scheduled for a $60 fee per 3 cubic yards. You must apply in advance, and pickups are only performed on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays (excluding holiday weeks).
What should I do if I have too much cardboard to fit in my recycling cart?
If you have excess cardboard from moving or large deliveries, you can have it collected on your recycling day for free. However, you must submit an application to [email protected] at least 24 hours prior so the town can allocate the right equipment.
Why didn't the town pick up my yard waste bags?
Yard waste will be left behind if it is placed in plastic bags, exceeds the 50-pound weight limit, or if brush bundles are improperly sized. Ensure you use paper lawn bags or rigid containers, and tie brush in bundles no longer than 4 feet.
Where can I recycle my old computer or television?
The Town of Herndon does not collect E-waste curbside. You must transport your old electronics and televisions to a Fairfax County drop-off location, such as the I-66 Transfer Station on West Ox Road.