Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Staunton
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 Cart (95-gallon or 45-gallon) Bin (Trash)
All trash must be in bags that are closed and tied INSIDE the city-issued bin. Bins must be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on collection day and removed by 6:00 a.m. the following day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged pet waste
Drop-Off Bins (Public Works Compound) Bin (Recycling)
Staunton does not provide curbside recycling. Residents must take recyclables to the drop-off center at 1911 Craigmont Rd.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Household hazardous waste
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Monthly yard waste collection occurs on the first Wednesday of the month for customers who have obtained the specialized yard waste bin. Otherwise, brush can be bagged for regular trash or saved for the spring bulky brush event.
Accepted Items
- ✓Routine yard clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Biannually (Spring and Fall events)
Placement
Items must be placed at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on the first Monday of the event. Heavy trash trucks circulate through neighborhoods and may not collect on your normal trash day.
Accepted
- ✓ Old appliances (refrigerators, mowers, microwaves)
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, dressers)
- ✓ Mattresses
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Car batteries and electronics
- ✕ Stumps, rocks, and concrete
- ✕ Old vehicles, building materials, and tires
Heavy trash collection is free during the biannual events. If a resident places unacceptable heavy trash out at other times, a Special Collection crew will remove it and charge a $125 minimum fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Holiday collection schedules are announced dynamically via the city's Newsroom and Refuse Calendar. Typically, if a holiday falls on a weekday, collections for that day and the remainder of the week slide forward by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Monthly yard waste (first Wednesday) may be rescheduled if the Wednesday falls on or immediately after a major holiday.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for trash schedule updates or check the official 2025/2026 Refuse Calendar on the city's website for exact holiday shift dates.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Always Bag Your Trash
Unlike many municipalities that allow loose items in automated carts, Staunton strictly requires that all refuse inside your city-issued container is securely bagged and tied shut. Loose items will result in a violation hangtag.
Keep Tires Out of the Bin
Tires are never collected at the curb. Store your old tires and bring them to the annual spring tire disposal event at the Gypsy Hill Park Football Stadium to avoid steep penalty fees.
Redirect Hazardous Waste
Pesticides, oil-based paints, and chemicals must never go in your bin or heavy trash piles. Take them to the Augusta County Landfill during the designated Household Hazardous Waste Day in the fall.
Seasonal Information
Spring and Fall
April and SeptemberThe city conducts its Heavy Trash Collection events during these months. Dates are announced in the Newsroom, and all heavy items must be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on the event's kickoff Monday.
Spring
April to MayBulky brush pickup is a spring-only event, scheduled for the two weeks immediately following the spring Heavy Trash Collection. Have your brush piles out by 6:30 a.m. on the first day.
Spring
AprilThe annual tire disposal drop-off takes place on a designated Saturday at the Gypsy Hill Park Football Stadium parking lot, shortly after the heavy trash weeks.
About Staunton Waste Management
Transition to Optimized, Semi-Automated Routing
The City of Staunton utilizes a modernized refuse collection system featuring route optimization software and mechanical tipper trucks. Each household is assigned a 95-gallon or 45-gallon city-owned trash bin that must remain with the property. If your refuse exceeds the bin's capacity, you cannot simply leave loose bags at the curb; residents must purchase official single-use 'bag tags' from City Hall or Public Works to affix to every extra bag.
Drop-Off Recycling Only
Staunton takes a centralized approach to recycling and does not currently offer single-stream curbside recycling services. Instead, residents are required to separate and transport their recyclable materials to the drop-off center located at the Public Works Compound on Craigmont Road. This system reduces contamination and keeps the city's hauling costs efficient.
Biannual Heavy Trash and Bulky Brush Seasons
You won't find weekly bulk item pickup in Staunton. Instead, the city hosts two major Heavy Trash Collection events every year—one in the spring and one in the fall. Residents must place appliances and furniture at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on the first Monday of the event. Additionally, a dedicated two-week Bulky Brush Collection takes place exclusively in the spring immediately following the heavy trash weeks.
Tire Disposal at Gypsy Hill Park
Because tires are strictly prohibited from normal curbside trash and the heavy trash events, the city provides a special drop-off opportunity. On a designated Saturday following the spring Heavy Trash Collection, residents can safely dispose of their old tires at the Gypsy Hill Park Football Stadium parking lot.
The Fully Bagged Trash Policy
A unique and strictly enforced rule in Staunton is the 'fully bagged' policy. Even though residents use large automated carts, all trash placed inside the city-issued bin must be securely bagged and tied shut. Loose garbage inside the cart is a violation of the Solid Waste Policy and can result in a hangtag warning or a special collection penalty fee of $125.
Drop-off Facilities
Augusta County Regional Landfill
749 Christians Creek Rd, Staunton, VA 24401
Materials Accepted
Public Works Compound (Recycling Drop-off)
1911 Craigmont Rd, Staunton, VA 24401
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I have more trash than my city-issued bin can hold?
Only trash inside the city-owned bin or extra bags with official bag tags will be collected. You must purchase single-use bag tag stickers at City Hall or Public Works and affix them to each extra bag left outside the bin.
Does Staunton have curbside recycling?
No, the City of Staunton does not provide curbside recycling. Residents must take their recyclables to the community drop-off center located at the Public Works Compound on Craigmont Road.
When is heavy furniture and bulk trash picked up?
Heavy trash is collected twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The exact dates are announced in advance on the city's Newsroom, and items must be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on the first Monday of the event.
Are there specific rules for how trash must be placed in the cart?
Yes. The city strictly mandates that all trash inside your city-issued container must be fully bagged and tied shut. Loose items are not permitted. The container lid must also close securely.