Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Salem
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.
City-issued Toter (typically Gray or Green) Bin (Trash)
Place your tote at the street by 5:30 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. It must be removed from the street by 7:00 a.m. on the following day. Store the tote beside or behind your principal building between collection days.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Bagged pet waste
Drop-off Centers Bin (Recycling)
There is no curbside recycling in Salem. Residents must sort and take acceptable materials to designated city drop-off centers or the Tinker Creek Transfer Station. Keep items clean and loose.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 (bottles and jugs)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Mixed paper, newspaper, and office paper
- ✓Flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Brush and tree trimmings can be placed at the street on your regular weekly collection day. Keep brush completely separate from loose leaves and household bulk trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Loose leaves (seasonal only)
- ✓Routine brush
- ✓Tree trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your scheduled trash day
Placement
Place items securely next to the street. Crucially, do not place any personal items in the general vicinity of your tote or bulk pile if you do not want them accidentally thrown away.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ Large household items (mattresses, couches)
- ✓ Routine residential brush and trimmings
- ✓ Appliances (placed next to the street)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction debris requiring a building permit
- ✕ Roofing material and shingles
- ✕ Contractor-generated waste
- ✕ Auto parts and household hazardous waste
Standard residential bulk pickup is free. Debris from contractor work or major renovations must be self-hauled to the transfer station or disposed of privately.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Holiday shifts vary. Early week holidays (like Memorial Day) shift collections back one day (e.g., Monday moves to Tuesday). However, late-week holidays (like Thanksgiving and Christmas) uniquely require Thursday and Friday routes to be collected earlier in the week, usually on the preceding Monday and Tuesday.
Yard Waste Exception
Brush, bulk items, and seasonal loose leaves follow the same shifted holiday schedules as standard residential trash routes.
Because of the city's unique early-pickup schedule for late-week holidays, it is highly recommended to review the official Holiday Garbage Collection Schedule on SalemVA.gov.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Don't Bag Recyclables at Drop-Offs
When bringing items to the local recycling drop-off centers, keep all plastics, cans, and paper loose. Plastic grocery bags wrap around and jam the mechanical sorting gears at the RVRA facilities.
Separate Leaves from Brush
The city's automated leaf vacuum trucks cannot ingest solid debris. Never mix twigs, branches, or trash into your loose leaf piles, or the crews will bypass your property to avoid catastrophic damage to their machines.
Keep Glass Out of the Mix
Salem's standard recycling drop-off bins do not accept glass, as broken shards contaminate the paper and cardboard bales. Check with the Clean Valley Council for specialized glass recycling events in the area.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October to JanuaryStandard loose leaf collection runs from late October to early January on your regular trash day. Pile leaves loosely at the curb, making sure not to accidentally cover your water meter.
Winter
January to MarchFrom early January through early March, leaf collection shifts to an 'as needed' basis. You must call the Street Department at 540-375-3039 to request and schedule a Friday loose leaf pickup.
Spring and Summer
March to SeptemberLoose leaf vacuum collection is strictly suspended after the first week of March. All leaves, grass clippings, and small yard debris must be bagged or boxed for normal curbside collection.
About Salem Waste Management
Understanding Salem's Semi-Automated Collection
The City of Salem's Sanitation Division operates a robust fleet of semi-automated trucks to service residential households. The city provides each home with one standard trash toter. If you consistently generate more waste than fits inside the bin, you can neatly bag excess garbage and place it next to your toter on collection day, or you can purchase a second official city toter for a one-time fee of $67 by contacting the Sanitation Division.
Community Drop-Off Recycling in Salem
Unlike some surrounding municipalities in the Roanoke Valley, the City of Salem does not provide curbside recycling pickup. Instead, the city focuses on a community drop-off model to manage recyclable materials. Residents must transport their flattened corrugated cardboard, clean mixed paper, aluminum cans, and #1 or #2 plastics to designated drop-off locations around town or to the Tinker Creek Transfer Station. Glass and plastic bags are strictly prohibited at these recycling centers.
Automated Vacuum Leaf Collection Limits
Salem utilizes state-of-the-art automated vacuum trucks to collect loose leaves each autumn. From late October through early January, loose leaves are vacuumed directly from the curbside during your normal weekly collection route. Because these advanced machines are highly sensitive, the city strictly mandates that residents keep brush, twigs, lumber, and household trash completely out of the leaf piles to prevent damaging the municipal equipment.
Salem's Unique Holiday Slide Schedule
While many cities systematically delay trash pickup following a major holiday, the City of Salem often shifts collection forward for certain late-week holidays. For example, during Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks, Thursday and Friday trash routes are typically collected earlier in the same week (usually on the Monday and Tuesday prior to the holiday). Always check the city's official Holiday Garbage Collection Schedule to avoid missing these advanced pickup days.
Free RVRA Transfer Station Access
As a Salem resident, your waste disposal options extend beyond the curb. Through the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority (RVRA) Residential Disposal Policy, citizens can use the Salem Transfer Station on Indiana Street to discard large bulk items, bagged household trash, DIY construction debris (up to 500 lbs), and up to four passenger tires per trip for free. You must bring valid proof of residency and ensure all incoming truck loads are properly secured with a tarp to avoid a $25 fee.
Drop-off Facilities
RVRA Salem Transfer Station
1271 Indiana Street, Salem, VA 24153
Materials Accepted
RVRA Tinker Creek Transfer Station
1020 Hollins Road NE, Roanoke, VA 24012
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I have more trash than will fit inside my city toter?
If you occasionally have overflow trash, you can place it next to your tote on your scheduled collection day in tied bags or sturdy boxes. Alternatively, residents who frequently need more space can purchase a second permanent city tote for a one-time fee of $67 by calling the Sanitation Division.
Does the City of Salem offer curbside recycling collection?
No, the City of Salem does not currently operate a curbside recycling program. Residents who wish to recycle must sort and transport their accepted materials (paper, cardboard, plastics #1 and #2, and aluminum cans) to designated community drop-off centers.
Will the city pick up roofing shingles or remodeling debris?
No. The Sanitation Division will not pick up any debris generated from activities that require a building permit. Homeowners or their hired contractors must dispose of roofing materials and major construction debris, though small DIY amounts (under 500 lbs) can be self-hauled to the Salem Transfer Station.
How do I dispose of loose leaves in late January or February?
From early January through the first week of March, loose leaves are only collected on an 'as needed' basis on Fridays. You must call the Street Department directly at 540-375-3039 to schedule a Friday pickup. After early March, all leaves must be bagged to be collected.