Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Reston
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.
Varies by Private Hauler or HOA Bin (Trash)
Trash must be securely bagged inside the bin to prevent litter and deter wildlife. Check your cluster's specific covenants regarding exact set-out times (usually dusk the night prior).
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Wrappers and heavily soiled paper
Varies by Private Hauler Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be loose, clean, and dry. Never bag your recycling in plastic bags, as this causes immediate contamination at the processing facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper, junk mail, and newspapers
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles and jugs (Caps attached)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film
- ✕Tanglers (cords, wires, hoses)
- ✕Styrofoam packaging
- ✕Food-soiled pizza boxes
Yard Waste Bin
Plastic bags are strictly prohibited. Use compostable paper yard bags or clearly labeled personal reusable containers. Collection runs separately from March 1 through December 24.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small prunings
- ✓Brush and twigs (bundled, under 4 feet in length)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By request only (Subject to hauler fees)
Placement
Per Reston Association and HOA rules, do not place bulk items at the curb days in advance. They should only be set out the evening before your scheduled special collection date.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Appliances (Freon removal often requires advanced notice and fees)
- ✓ Large rigid plastics
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, pesticides)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, and heavy rocks
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
Curbside bulk fees are determined independently by your private hauler. Alternatively, residents can transport bulk items to the I-66 Transfer Station in Fairfax for a standard county disposal fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Because collection is managed by private companies (e.g., Republic Services, American Disposal), holiday delays vary. However, most haulers observe Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, pushing service back one day for the rest of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Curbside yard waste collection halts entirely during the freezing winter months of January and February.
Always check your specific cluster’s community portal or your hauler's website for exact holiday schedules and weather-related service suspensions.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Loose is the Law for Recycling
Never place your recyclables inside plastic grocery bags or black trash bags. When bagged recycling reaches the sorting facility, the bags tangle the mechanical screens and are often diverted straight to the landfill. Empty items loosely into your cart.
Rip the Pizza Box
Cardboard saturated with pizza grease and cheese cannot be pulped into new paper. If the bottom of your pizza box is heavily soiled, tear off the clean top lid for the recycling bin and throw the greasy bottom half into your household trash.
Keep Glass Out of the Mix
It can be a tough habit to break, but glass jars and wine bottles cannot go in your curbside bin. They break during transit and ruin other materials. Collect your glass separately and take it to a local Purple Can Club drop-off location.
Seasonal Information
Spring/Summer
March to DecemberDedicated weekly yard waste collection begins on March 1st. Many Reston clusters encourage grasscycling (leaving clippings on the lawn) to reduce the volume of organic waste processed by the county.
Autumn
October to DecemberDuring peak fall foliage, ensure all leaves are bagged in compostable paper bags or approved reusable containers. Never rake or blow leaves directly into Reston's natural wooded areas or pathways, as this is considered illegal dumping.
Winter
JanuaryLive Christmas tree collection typically occurs during the first two weeks of January. Depending on your hauler, trees larger than 8 feet may need to be cut in half, and all ornaments, lights, and stands must be fully removed.
About Reston Waste Management
Navigating Reston’s Privatized Trash Collection
Unlike standard municipal systems, the planned community of Reston does not provide a centralized, city-run residential trash service. Instead, waste collection is handled entirely through the open market. Most single-family homes, townhome clusters, and condominium boards negotiate direct contracts with permitted private refuse haulers such as Republic Services, American Disposal, or Trash Away. New residents should consult their specific cluster association or property manager to determine their designated hauler, assigned pickup days, and specific cart regulations.
Strict Reston Association Guidelines for Bin Storage
Aesthetics and environmental harmony are central to Reston's design, meaning strict enforcement of bin storage rules. According to Reston Association (RA) guidelines and individual cluster covenants, trash and recycling receptacles must be stored completely out of public view on non-collection days—typically inside a garage or behind an approved privacy screen. Bins may generally be placed at the curb no earlier than dusk (or 6:00 p.m.) the evening before your scheduled pickup and must be promptly retrieved by the evening of collection day to deter local wildlife.
The Glass Ban and The Purple Can Club
To comply with Fairfax County’s regional solid waste mandates, glass bottles and jars are strictly prohibited from curbside single-stream recycling carts in Reston. Broken glass wreaks havoc on sorting machinery and contaminates valuable paper bales. To recycle glass responsibly, residents must utilize the 'Purple Can Club.' You can drop off clean glass containers at designated purple dumpsters, such as the one located at the Reston South Park & Ride lot, where it is crushed for use in local civil engineering projects.
Fairfax County's Ban on Bagged Yard Waste
Maintaining Reston's heavily wooded and landscaped properties requires adherence to seasonal yard debris rules. From March 1st through December 24th, yard waste must be kept entirely separate from regular household trash. Furthermore, Fairfax County expressly bans the use of plastic bags for organic waste. Residents must place leaves, grass clippings, and plant trimmings either in compostable brown paper yard bags or loose in reusable containers distinctly marked for yard debris.
Proper Disposal of E-Waste and Bulk Items
Because Reston relies on independent haulers, there is no universal 'bulk trash day.' If you are clearing out furniture, mattresses, or large appliances, you must proactively contact your contracted hauler to schedule and pay for a special bulk pickup. Additionally, hazardous materials and electronics like old televisions are banned from curbside collection. Residents can safely dispose of e-waste, wet paint, and household chemicals by hauling them to the I-66 Transfer Station located on West Ox Road.
Drop-off Facilities
I-66 Transfer Station
4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Reston Association pick up my trash?
No. The Reston Association only handles trash collection for public parks, pathways, and recreational facilities. Residential trash collection for homes and townhouses in Reston is managed by private haulers contracted either by the individual homeowner or their specific cluster association.
Why can't I put glass in my curbside recycling bin in Reston?
Reston follows Fairfax County's solid waste regulations, which removed glass from the single-stream recycling program. Broken glass causes severe damage to local sorting machinery. Residents should take clean glass to regional 'Purple Can Club' drop-off bins, like the one at the Reston South Park & Ride.
Can I store my trash bins on the side of my house?
In most cases, no. Reston Association guidelines and individual HOA covenants strictly regulate bin placement to maintain neighborhood aesthetics. Cans must generally be stored completely out of public view, such as inside a garage or behind an approved screening enclosure, except on collection day.
How do I dispose of old paint or lithium batteries in Reston?
Private curbside haulers will not accept household hazardous waste. You must safely store items like wet paint, chemicals, and lithium batteries and transport them to the Household Hazardous Waste drop-off area at the I-66 Transfer Station in Fairfax.