Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Merrifield
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, Green, or Gray (Varies by Hauler) Bin (Trash)
Trash must be securely bagged before being placed in the bin. Carts should be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on collection day with the lid tightly closed to deter wildlife.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Cold ashes
Blue or Yellow (Varies by Hauler) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loose inside the cart. Do not bag recyclables in plastic trash bags, as this is a primary cause of mechanical failure at local sorting facilities.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓Newspaper, magazines, and mixed paper
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (with necks, Types #1 & #2)
- ✓Aluminum and steel food cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and films
- ✕Hoses, cords, and tanglers
- ✕Food-soiled pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in compostable paper bags or reusable rigid containers. Brush must be tied into bundles no larger than 4 feet in length and 50 lbs. Collection runs March 1 through December 24.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs and small branches
- ✓Plant trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Appointment (Frequency varies by hauler)
Placement
Bulk items should be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on the scheduled collection day. Ensure items do not block sidewalks, fire hydrants, or storm drains.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Appliances (stoves, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Large rugs or carpet remnants
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Bricks, concrete, and dirt
- ✕ Hazardous materials and wet paint
- ✕ Automobile parts and large tires
Private haulers charge separate fees per scheduled bulk item. Alternatively, self-hauling to the I-66 Transfer Station incurs a flat disposal fee depending on vehicle size and load weight.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
For both county-serviced routes and most private haulers, if your collection day falls on one of the observed major holidays, pickup will be pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection follows the same holiday slide schedule as regular refuse during its active season (March 1 through December 24).
The nearby I-66 Transfer Station often has modified or shortened hours on lesser holidays (like Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Veterans Day), even if curbside collection continues uninterrupted.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Utilize Purple Bins for Glass
Never put glass in your curbside recycling cart in Merrifield. The glass shatters during transport in the truck and ruins bales of paper and cardboard. Take it to a designated Purple Can Club drop-off location instead.
Keep Plastic Bags Out
Plastic grocery bags and garbage bags are the number one contaminant in the recycling stream. Return plastic shopping bags to local grocery stores for recycling, and keep your curbside recyclables completely loose in the bin.
No Tanglers Allowed
Keep garden hoses, holiday lights, extension cords, and wire hangers out of your recycling cart. These items, known as 'tanglers,' wrap around the gears at the sorting facility and force emergency shutdowns.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March - MayDedicated yard waste collection routes resume strictly on March 1st. Ensure your spring lawn clippings and pruning debris are packaged in paper yard bags or rigid containers, rather than plastic.
Fall
October - DecemberCertain sanitary districts receive vacuum leaf collection services in the late fall. Check with the Fairfax County DPWES to see if your Merrifield street is on the municipal vacuum route; otherwise, bag leaves in paper.
Winter
JanuaryChristmas trees are typically collected during the first two weeks of January. All tinsel, lights, ornaments, and tree stands must be removed before placing the bare tree at the curb.
About Merrifield Waste Management
Navigating Merrifield's Hybrid Waste System
Because Merrifield is an unincorporated census-designated place, trash collection falls under the jurisdiction of Fairfax County's Solid Waste Management Program. However, the county does not provide municipal pickup for every neighborhood. Residents are either located in a county-serviced Sanitary District or must contract directly with a county-licensed private hauler, such as Republic Services or Waste Management (WM). Regardless of who picks up your trash, all households must strictly adhere to Chapter 109.1 of the Fairfax County Code.
The Purple Can Club for Glass Recycling
In a major effort to improve the quality of recycled materials, Fairfax County has banned glass from all single-stream curbside recycling bins. Merrifield residents must instead utilize the 'Purple Can Club.' These large, purple drop-off dumpsters are located at community hubs like the Providence Community Center and the I-66 Transfer Station. Sorting glass out of the curbside bin prevents it from shattering and contaminating valuable paper and cardboard bales.
Strict Yard Debris Packaging Rules
Handling yard waste in Merrifield requires specific packaging. From March 1st through December 24th, yard debris is collected separately from household trash. Crucially, Fairfax County mandates that zero plastic bags can be used for yard waste. Homeowners must place grass clippings and leaves into compostable paper yard bags or rigid, reusable containers. Haulers will reject any yard waste placed in plastic bags.
Bulky Item Disposal and the I-66 Transfer Station
For old furniture, broken appliances, and large household debris, disposal methods depend on your specific hauler's contract. While some providers include a few bulk pickups per year, others require you to schedule and pay for them individually. For a faster, DIY approach, Merrifield residents are conveniently located near the I-66 Transfer Station on West Ox Road, which serves as a massive drop-off hub for bulk loads, electronics, and household hazardous waste.
Drop-off Facilities
I-66 Transfer Station
4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Materials Accepted
Providence Community Center (Purple Can Club Location)
3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn't my recycling get picked up in Merrifield?
If your recycling cart was left behind, it was likely tagged for contamination. Common reasons include placing glass in the bin, bagging your recyclables in plastic garbage bags, or including unaccepted items like styrofoam or yard waste.
How do I know if I have county trash collection or a private hauler?
Since Merrifield is part of Fairfax County, some neighborhoods are designated Sanitary Districts managed by the county, while others rely on HOAs or personal contracts with private haulers. Verify your service by looking at the logo on your bins or calling the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program at 703-324-5230.
Where can I safely dispose of old paint and household chemicals?
Hazardous materials are strictly prohibited from curbside bins. Merrifield residents should bring old paint, pesticides, pool chemicals, and batteries directly to the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program located at the I-66 Transfer Station.
Are there limits on yard waste collection?
Yes. Brush and branches must be tied in bundles no longer than 4 feet and no thicker than 6 inches in diameter to be collected at the curb. Furthermore, all leaves and grass clippings must be in compostable paper bags or reusable bins—never in plastic bags.