Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Petersburg
Trash Day
Weekly pickup runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Every other week on Wednesdays (managed via CVWMA; select Old Towne areas receive weekly service).
Yard Waste
Weekly curbside pickup by appointment (must be scheduled in advance with Meridian Waste at 804-748-8324).
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Municipal trash collection fees are combined with your water and sewer charges on your monthly City of Petersburg utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Phone, Mail, In-Person, Drop Box
Crimson (Red) 95-gallon cart Bin (Trash)
Must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Handles must face the house. Extra trash must be in tied bags beside the cart. No loose trash is allowed. Do not overload the cart (200 lb. limit).
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small broken household items
Green 95-gallon cart (CVWMA) Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the cart. Ensure all containers are empty and rinsed. Collected every other week on 'Red Weeks' by CVWMA.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clean office paper, junk mail, newspapers, and magazines
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes
- ✓Kitchen, laundry, and bathroom plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Food and beverage cartons (soup, milk, creamer)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and plastic bagged recyclables
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food-contaminated items (e.g., greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Sheets or balls of aluminum foil
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Hoses, cords, wires
- ✕Lithium-ion batteries and electronics
Yard Waste Bin
During non-vacuum seasons, leaves must be bagged and placed at the curb on your regular trash collection day. Brush and limbs should not be mixed with loose leaf piles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged leaves (up to 60 bags per pickup)
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small yard debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By advanced scheduled appointment only
Placement
Place approved, scheduled bulk items at the curb without obstructing traffic, sidewalks, or standard refuse carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Large furniture (sofas, dressers)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Household appliances (restrictions may apply for freon)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (lumber, wire, sheetrock, concrete)
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Automotive fluids and batteries
- ✕ Lithium-ion batteries
Contact Meridian Waste at 804-748-8324 for specific bulk item allowances and any potential per-item fees that may apply outside of standard services.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Both Meridian Waste and CVWMA typically observe major holidays. If a holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of that week are generally delayed by one day. Always verify schedule shifts via the CVWMA portal or Meridian Waste alerts.
Yard Waste Exception
Bagged leaf collections and scheduled bulk pickups follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard trash routes.
Sign up for email alerts through the CVWMA Customer Portal and the Meridian Waste notification system to receive real-time updates regarding holiday and weather-related route shifts.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn/Winter
November to FebruaryThe City of Petersburg's Street Operations division runs multiple rounds of loose leaf vacuuming across all 7 wards. Rake leaves to the curbline, ensuring piles are strictly free of brush, limbs, and trash.
Winter
December to MarchInclement winter weather, such as heavy ice or snow, may prompt Meridian Waste to implement delayed start times or temporary suspensions. Residents should leave carts unblocked at the curb until road conditions are safely navigable.
Year-Round
First Saturday of every monthDo not throw electronics in your curbside bins. Take advantage of the First Saturday Electronics Recycling Event hosted by CVWMA and Securis to properly dispose of heavy e-waste and dangerous lithium batteries.
Local Tips & Community Info
Got Cans to Cash in? Petersburg's Got Options!
While Petersburg itself doesn't have a specific local buyback center listed, Virginia has a statewide initiative that makes getting a little back for your recyclables super easy. Remember those returnable bottles and cans? Just look for the deposit signs when you buy them. Most grocery stores throughout Virginia, including those near Petersburg, are required to take them back. It's a great way to clear out your empties and get a few extra bucks in your pocket – think of it as a small reward for being eco-friendly!
Give Your Gently Used Stuff a Second Life in Petersburg
Before you toss out items that are still in good shape, think about giving them a new home right here in Petersburg. There are fantastic places that would love your donations. Check out the Goodwill on South Crater Road – they're always looking for clothes, household goods, and furniture. For bigger items or if you're looking for something else, Habitat for Humanity ReStore in nearby Richmond is a great option for gently used building materials and home furnishings. Donating not only helps others but also keeps perfectly good things out of the landfill.
Keeping Petersburg Beautiful: Tackling the Dumpers
Nobody likes seeing trash dumped where it shouldn't be! If you ever spot illegal dumping happening in or around Petersburg, the city wants to know. The best way to report it is to contact the Petersburg Public Works Department directly. They have specific procedures for handling these situations and can send crews to clean it up. Staying vigilant and reporting these incidents helps keep our neighborhoods clean and healthy for everyone.
Drop-off Facilities
Meridian Waste - Petersburg MRF (Materials Recovery Facility)
390 Industrial Drive, Petersburg, VA 23803
Materials Accepted
Tri-City Regional Landfill
Call facility for specific disposal protocols
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for my trash collection in Petersburg?
As of July 2024, Meridian Waste handles all residential trash collection in the City of Petersburg. CVWMA is no longer involved with the trash program, but they continue to manage the city's curbside recycling program.
How do I get extra bags of trash picked up?
Meridian Waste will collect tied trash bags placed securely beside your crimson cart. However, loose trash and extra trash placed in personal, non-city trash cans will not be collected. If you have an excessive amount of extra bags, you must call Meridian Waste at 804-748-8324 to issue a special work order.
Can I throw away construction materials like drywall and concrete?
No. Construction and demolition waste—including lumber, wire, sheetrock, and concrete—is strictly prohibited from curbside collection. You must either rent a temporary roll-off dumpster or haul these materials directly to the Meridian Waste Petersburg MRF on Industrial Drive.
How do I dispose of a broken television or microwave?
Electronics should never be placed in your trash or recycling carts. Petersburg residents can recycle small appliances, cell phones, computers, and televisions by bringing them to the CVWMA special electronics recycling collection event held on the first Saturday of each month.