Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Winchester
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-provided Cart (35, 65, or 95-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Trash MUST be bagged before being placed inside your city-provided cart. There is no limit to the number of bags you can place inside, but the cart's lid must fully close. Set out by 6:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam packaging
City-provided Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loose inside the recycling cart. Do not bag your recyclables in plastic bags. Set the cart out by 6:00 a.m. alongside your trash bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (check the neck)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
- ✕Food waste and greasy pizza boxes
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is collected on Fridays only. Use biodegradable paper lawn bags or small open trash cans. Brush must be tied in bundles no longer than 4 feet and 18 inches in diameter. Limit of 5 items per week (limit lifted during leaf season).
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush and plant trimmings (max 3-inch branch diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Annually (Free Cleanup Day) or By Request (Fee applies)
Placement
For approved Large Item Collections or Annual Cleanup Days, place items at the curb no earlier than the evening before and by 6:00 a.m. on the day of service.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, mattresses, dressers)
- ✓ Large bulky items that do not fit in carts
- ✓ Appliances (during cleanup events or special requests)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Lumber
- ✕ Household hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers)
Annual Ward Cleanup Days are free of charge. Off-schedule 'Large Item Collection' requests incur a municipal fee (historically around $20 per pickup truck load).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The city observes a 'holiday slide schedule.' During weeks with a recognized holiday, trash and recycling collections scheduled on or after the holiday shift one day later than usual.
Yard Waste Exception
A unique Winchester rule: if there is a holiday during the week, Friday yard waste collection is completely canceled for that entire week.
Local events like the Apple Blossom Festival also trigger a cancellation of Friday yard waste services.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Glass Out of the Curb Cart
Never place glass bottles or jars in your recycling bin. Take empty, rinsed glass containers to the community drop-off locations at city parks to ensure they are properly recycled.
Bag Trash, But Keep Recyclables Loose
The City of Winchester strictly requires all garbage to be bagged inside the trash cart to prevent litter. Conversely, recyclables must remain completely loose in the recycling cart to avoid jamming the sorting machines.
Close the Lid
Overfilled carts invite pests and create neighborhood litter on windy days. Do not stack bags on top of your trash cart; the lid must be able to close entirely for the automated trucks to service it safely.
Seasonal Information
Spring
MayDuring the week of the famous Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, typical Friday yard waste collection is canceled to accommodate the massive influx of visitors and city-wide events.
Winter
January to MarchCurbside yard waste collection goes on a mandatory hiatus from mid-January to mid-March. The final Friday collection in January also serves as the designated day for undecorated Christmas tree pickups.
Autumn
October to DecemberDuring peak leaf collection season, the city lifts the usual five-item limit for yard waste. However, all leaves must still be placed in biodegradable paper bags for Friday collection.
About Winchester Waste Management
Winchester's Modernized Same-Day Ward Collection
In an effort to streamline municipal services, the City of Winchester recently transitioned to a new ward-based solid waste schedule. Rather than having separate days for different waste streams, residents in Wards 1 through 4 now have their household garbage and single-stream recycling picked up on the exact same day by separate trucks. This unified schedule reduces neighborhood truck traffic, though Old Town properties still maintain their historical specialized collection routes.
City-Wide Yard Waste Fridays
To better accommodate holiday slide schedules and simplify operations, Winchester consolidated all residential yard waste collections to Fridays. From mid-March through mid-January, residents can place up to five paper yard bags or clearly marked open containers at the curb. Remember that brush must be tied into tight bundles under four feet long, and plastic bags are strictly prohibited for any organic yard debris.
Glass Recycling Drop-Off Hubs
Like many environmentally conscious communities in the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester has removed glass from the curbside recycling program. Broken glass severely degrades the quality of other recyclables at the sorting facility. Instead, residents are required to utilize designated glass-only drop-off locations strategically placed around the city, such as the ones found at Jim Barnett Park, Whittier Park, or Frederick Douglass Park.
Navigating Bulk Waste and Annual Cleanup Days
Standard refuse carts cannot accommodate large items like furniture or appliances, and leaving them next to your bin is a solid waste violation. Fortunately, Winchester offers Annual Cleanup Days, where each Ward receives a designated free bulk pickup day to dispose of cumbersome household junk. If you need immediate disposal outside of this annual event, you can request a paid Large Item Collection through the city's public works portal.
Drop-off Facilities
Frederick County Regional Landfill & Citizen Center
280 Landfill Rd, Winchester, VA 22602
Materials Accepted
Jim Barnett Park Glass Drop-off
1001 E Cork St, Winchester, VA 22601 (Parking lot beside BMX track)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When is my yard waste picked up in Winchester?
Yard waste is universally collected city-wide on Fridays from mid-March to mid-January. Note that during any week with a recognized city holiday, yard waste collection is completely canceled for that week.
What should I do with my old television and electronics?
Electronics like TVs, monitors, and computers cannot go in your curbside trash or bulk pickup. Winchester residents must take these e-waste items directly to the Frederick County Regional Landfill for proper disposal.
Can I use my regular trash can for yard debris?
Yes, you can use a small, open-top trash can for grass clippings and leaves, as long as it is clearly marked. Alternatively, you can use biodegradable paper lawn bags. Never use your city-issued rolling carts or plastic bags for yard waste.
How do I dispose of a broken couch?
You have three options: wait for your specific Ward's Annual Cleanup Day for free curbside removal, submit a paid 'Large Item Collection' form through the City of Winchester's website, or haul the couch yourself to the Frederick County Landfill Citizen Center.