Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Merrifield
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood zone or private service provider.
Recycling
Collected weekly on your designated collection day.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly from March through December on your scheduled service day.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Approximately 90% of Fairfax County residents receive curbside collection through private haulers or HOA contracts, while sanitary district customers pay via annual property taxes.
Billing Cycle
Annual Property Tax Assessment or Quarterly via Private Hauler/HOA
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, Phone, Auto-Pay
Pro Tip / Discount
Fairfax County provides tax relief programs for eligible seniors (65+) and permanently disabled residents.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Cash for Your Cans? Let's Talk Recycling Redemption in Northern Virginia!
While Merrifield doesn't have its own dedicated buyback center right in town, you're in luck! Virginia's state beverage container refund program means you can get a little cash back for those soda and water bottles. Keep an eye out for redemption centers in nearby areas like Alexandria or Fairfax; sometimes even larger grocery stores or dedicated recycling facilities will accept them. It's a great way to make a few extra bucks while doing good for the planet. Also, for scrap metal, think about checking out places like Metalico or other general scrap yards in the wider Northern Virginia region. They're usually happy to take old appliances (once emptied of hazardous materials, of course!) or metal odds and ends.
Give Your Goods a Second Life: Merrifield Donation Spots
Instead of tossing perfectly good items, why not give them a new home in Merrifield? Goodwill's Northern Virginia stores, often found in nearby shopping centers, are always looking for gently used clothing, household goods, and books. For bigger ticket items, or if you're looking to support affordable housing efforts, check out the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Alexandria. They accept furniture, appliances, building materials, and more. Even smaller thrift shops can be treasure troves for local donations, so a quick search for 'thrift stores near Merrifield' can lead you to some great options.
Keeping Merrifield Beautiful: Tackling Bulky Items and Dumping
We all want to keep Merrifield looking its best! If you've got larger items that don't fit in your regular bin, Fairfax County, which includes Merrifield, often has special collection days or you can arrange for a bulky waste pickup. Check the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management website for the latest details on scheduling and what they accept. As for illegal dumping, it's a big no-no and can really harm our environment. If you see it happening, don't hesitate to report it. Fairfax County has resources for reporting illegal dumping, often through their public works department or a dedicated hotline. Keeping our community clean is a team effort!
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.