Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Salem
Trash Day
Collection runs weekly Monday through Friday, depending on your assigned neighborhood route.
Recycling
No curbside collection; residents can utilize three city recycling drop-off centers or the RVRA Solid Waste Transfer Station.
Yard Waste
Curbside brush, tree trimmings, and bulk items are collected on your regular weekly collection day.
Set Out Time
By 5:30 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
City utility bills are issued monthly and combine electric, water, sewer, and sanitation tote charges onto a single statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (Bank Draft), Phone, Mail, In-Person, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
Fuel and cooling utility payment assistance is coordinated through the Department of Social Services (DSS).
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Turning Your Trash into Treasure in Salem?
While Salem doesn't have a dedicated bottle/can buyback center right within the city limits, the Commonwealth of Virginia does have a beverage container redemption program for certain types of bottles and cans. You can often get a small refund when you bring them back to participating retailers. For other recyclables like scrap metal or even old appliances you're looking to get rid of, checking out local scrap yards in the Roanoke Valley area can be a good bet. A quick online search for "scrap metal recycling Roanoke VA" or "appliance recycling Roanoke VA" should point you in the right direction for places that might pay you for your unwanted metal items.
Give Your Gently Used Stuff a Second Life in Salem!
Before you toss out perfectly good items, think about giving them a new home! In Salem, and the wider Roanoke area, there are several spots that would love your donations. The Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Roanoke is a fantastic option for furniture, appliances, building materials, and home decor. They help fund Habitat for Humanity's work, so it's a win-win. You can also often find local churches or community centers that accept clothing, books, and household goods. Even if you don't see a specific drop-off point right in Salem for everything, a short drive to Roanoke will open up more possibilities to help others and reduce waste.
Keeping Salem Beautiful: Tackling Dumping and Sprucing Up
Illegal dumping is a bummer for everyone in our beautiful Salem community. If you ever spot illegal dumping, the best thing to do is report it. The City of Salem's Public Works department or a general city services line is usually the place to call. They can dispatch someone to investigate and clean it up. Keep an eye out for community clean-up events that pop up throughout the year, especially around Earth Day or in the spring. These are great opportunities to get out, meet your neighbors, and make Salem an even nicer place to live, all while properly disposing of waste.
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.