Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Hopewell
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.
Gray Cart Bin (Trash)
Trash must be bagged inside the 96-gallon gray cart with the lid closed. Place the cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day with the handle facing your house. No loose trash or personal cans.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Bagged pet waste
Green Cart with Yellow Lid Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected every other week (Red or Blue week schedule). All items must be empty, rinsed, and placed loosely into the cart. Do not bag recyclables in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Food and beverage cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam (polystyrene)
- ✕Food-contaminated cardboard (greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Glass windows or doors
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is treated as bulky waste and must be scheduled in advance. Leaves must be bagged (limit 30 bags per pickup, max 50 lbs each). Brush must be tied in bundles less than 4 feet long and under 65 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged leaves and grass clippings
- ✓Weeds and garden trimmings
- ✓Bundled brush and limbs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on normal trash day (By request only)
Placement
Place approved items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Appliances containing Freon must have a prepaid receipt taped to them from the City Treasurer's Office.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, dressers)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major appliances
- ✓ Bagged leaves and bundled brush
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and renovation debris
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Wooden pallets
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Loose trash or loose leaves
Curbside bulk pickup is free up to a pickup truck's capacity; larger loads require a fee. Freon appliances incur a mandatory $10 prepaid fee for gas removal.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
CVWMA observes a one-day delay when a holiday falls on a weekday. If your normal collection day is on or after the holiday, your pickup will shift to the following day for that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Scheduled bulky waste and yard waste collections adhere to the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular trash and recycling.
Residents are highly encouraged to sign up for CVWMA email reminders through the customer portal to receive instant notifications about holiday delays and inclement weather.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Plastic Bags
The most frequent recycling mistake in Hopewell is bagging recyclables in plastic grocery bags. These bags jam CVWMA sorting machines. Keep your recyclables completely loose, and take plastic bags back to retail stores.
Rinse Your Containers
Food residue ruins entire batches of recyclable paper and cardboard. Always rinse out your cans, plastic bottles, and cartons. If a pizza box is greasy, throw the greasy half in the gray trash cart.
No Tanglers Allowed
Never place garden hoses, holiday lights, extension cords, or wire hangers in your green recycling cart. These 'tanglers' cause severe safety hazards and mechanical failures at the recycling facility.
Seasonal Information
Autumn & Winter
October to JanuaryIn addition to scheduling bagged leaf pickups year-round, the City of Hopewell Public Works crews vacuum loose leaves from accessible drainage ditches and curbs for a nominal fee.
Spring & Fall
April and SeptemberThe 'Keep Hopewell Beautiful' commission coordinates biannual citywide cleanup events, providing residents with community-focused opportunities for litter reduction and expanded recycling.
Year-Round
January to DecemberHopewell residents can utilize CVWMA's 'First Saturday' electronics recycling events, often held regionally in nearby communities, to safely dispose of e-waste that is banned from curbside bins.
About Hopewell Waste Management
Regional Waste Management in Hopewell
The City of Hopewell partners with the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA) to handle residential refuse and recycling. Residents are provided with specific automated carts: a 96-gallon gray cart for weekly trash and a 95-gallon green cart with a yellow lid for bi-weekly recycling (collected on designated Red or Blue weeks). All materials must fit inside the provided carts, as personal cans are strictly prohibited and will not be serviced by the automated trucks.
On-Demand Bulky Waste Scheduling
Unlike municipalities that designate fixed neighborhood cleanup days, Hopewell offers the convenience of curbside bulk pickup on your normal trash day. However, this service is entirely by request. Residents must contact CVWMA by 2:00 p.m. the business day prior to their regular trash day to schedule the collection. Keep in mind that free bulk collections are strictly limited to the volume capacity of a standard pickup truck.
The Mandatory Freon Appliance Policy
If you are upgrading your home and need to dispose of an old refrigerator, freezer, or air conditioner, you must follow the city's environmental protocols. Because these appliances contain Freon, residents must prepay a $10 gas removal fee at the City Treasurer's Office. The physical receipt must be visibly taped to the appliance before it can be collected at the curb or dropped off at the local recycling center.
Utilizing the Citizen's Convenience Center
For Hopewell residents who exceed the weekly curbside bulk limits or miss their scheduled pickup, the Department of Public Works operates the Citizen's Convenience Center at 507 Station Street. Open four days a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays), this facility allows city residents to drop off excess household debris, recyclables, and appliances in a safe, monitored environment.
Strict Yard Waste and Brush Regulations
Yard waste is managed as a bulky item in Hopewell. Grass clippings, weeds, and prunings must be securely bagged, while brush and limbs must be tied into tight bundles no longer than four feet and weighing less than 65 pounds. Bagged leaves are accepted year-round, but there is a strict maximum of 30 bags per collection (up to 50 pounds each). All yard waste must be scheduled for pickup in advance through CVWMA.
Drop-off Facilities
Citizen's Convenience Center
507 Station St, Hopewell, VA 23860
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulky waste pickup in Hopewell?
You must request a bulk pickup by 2:00 p.m. the business day before your normal trash day. You can do this by using the CVWMA customer portal online, emailing [email protected], or calling 804-340-0900.
Can I use my own trash can instead of the gray cart?
No. All household trash must fit inside the 96-gallon gray cart provided by CVWMA. Personal trash cans will not be collected by the automated trucks.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator?
You can schedule it as a bulk item, but because it contains Freon, you must first pay a $10 gas removal fee at the City Treasurer's Office. You must securely attach the payment receipt to the appliance before setting it at the curb by 7:00 a.m.
Are plastic grocery bags allowed in the recycling cart?
No. Plastic bags and film wrap are strictly prohibited in the green recycling cart. They tangle in the CVWMA sorting machines and halt operations. Keep all recyclables loose, and take plastic bags back to retail drop-offs.