Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Woodlawn
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday. Your specific pickup day is determined by your neighborhood location and whether your home is serviced by Fairfax County Government or a private HOA-contracted hauler.
Recycling
Collected once per week on the same designated day as regular trash collection.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on your regular collection day from March 1 through December 24; during the winter months (December 25 through February), yard waste must be bagged and placed inside regular trash containers.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
About 90% of Fairfax County residents receive collection through private haulers or HOA contracts, while roughly 10% are served directly by county sanitary district collection.
Billing Cycle
Varies (Billed quarterly by private haulers or included semi-annually on County Real Estate Tax assessments for Sanitary Districts)
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, Phone, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Fairfax County provides Real Estate Tax Relief programs for qualifying seniors aged 65 and older and permanently disabled residents who meet income and asset thresholds.
Varies by private hauler (often Gray/Black) Bin (Trash)
Trash carts should be placed curbside by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day. Ensure all refuse is securely bagged inside the cart to prevent littering, and that no single item or bag exceeds 50 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Polystyrene (Styrofoam) packaging
- ✓Food wrappers and unrecyclable plastics
- ✓Double-bagged pet waste
Varies by private hauler (often Blue) Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loose inside the recycling cart. Do not bag your recyclables in plastic bags. Ensure all accepted containers are empty, rinsed clean, and dried.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (keep caps on)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic shopping bags and film
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wire hangers)
- ✕Food-soiled paper (e.g., greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must be set out in compostable paper lawn bags or personal rigid containers. Brush must be tied in bundles no larger than 4 feet long and 50 pounds. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves and grass clippings
- ✓Weeds and plant trimmings
- ✓Small twigs and brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Varies by provider (County customers get 5 free annual pickups)
Placement
Approved bulk items must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day, taking care not to block sidewalks, mailboxes, or neighborhood traffic.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and mattresses
- ✓ Large household appliances (freon must be removed)
- ✓ Scrap metal
- ✓ Oversized yard brush
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction debris (drywall, concrete, bricks)
- ✕ Dirt, stumps, and large rocks
- ✕ Hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Automobile parts
Private haulers usually charge an additional fee for bulk item removal. For a cheaper alternative, Woodlawn residents can drive their bulk items directly to the nearby I-95 Landfill Complex.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Because approximately 90% of Woodlawn uses private collection companies, holiday schedules are determined by your specific hauler. Typically, if a major holiday falls on a weekday, services shift by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
County-wide yard waste pickup is completely suspended from December 25th through the end of February.
Residents serviced directly by Fairfax County should monitor the county's Public Works website, while private customers must check their specific hauler's portal for holiday schedule impacts.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring & Summer
March to DecemberCurbside yard waste collection runs continuously from March 1 through December 24. Ensure your lawn clippings are set out on your designated yard waste day, separated entirely from your normal household trash.
Autumn
October to DecemberLeaf collection methods vary depending on your specific hauler in Woodlawn. While some private companies require all leaves to be bagged in paper sacks, residents on county-serviced routes may receive scheduled vacuum leaf collection.
Winter
JanuaryLive Christmas trees are typically collected during the first two weeks of January. They must be completely stripped of all lights, tinsel, decorations, and stands to be accepted for mulching.
Local Tips & Community Info
Turning Your Bottles and Cans into Cold, Hard Cash in Woodlawn?
While Woodlawn doesn't have its own dedicated bottle buyback center right in town, the great news is that Virginia has a state-wide bottle redemption program for most canned beverages. That means you can get a few extra cents back for those qualifying aluminum cans and plastic bottles! Just look for redemption centers a little further afield in neighboring towns or counties. For other recyclables like scrap metal, keeping an eye out for local scrap yards in the broader Carroll County area could be a good move. They often pay for items like old appliances, car parts, and other metal goods that might otherwise end up in the trash.
Giving Your Gently Used Stuff a New Home Around Woodlawn
Before you toss items that are still in good shape, think about giving them a second life! For clothing, furniture, and household goods, check out the Salvation Army or Goodwill stores in nearby areas like Pulaski or Wytheville. These places are always happy to accept donations and help out folks in need. You might also find local churches or community centers that run donation drives for specific needs, so it's always worth asking around the Woodlawn community if you know of a local cause that could use items like blankets, kitchenware, or toys.
Keeping Woodlawn Beautiful: Tackling Trash Together
Nobody likes seeing litter around our beautiful Woodlawn. If you ever spot illegal dumping, which is when people leave trash where they shouldn't, it's important to report it to the Carroll County authorities. They have a system in place to handle these situations. Sometimes, community groups in the wider area organize clean-up days to spruce up local parks and roadsides. While there might not be a scheduled one for Woodlawn every month, keep an ear out for announcements from local civic groups or county officials about any upcoming volunteer opportunities to pitch in and make our town even nicer.
Drop-off Facilities
I-95 Landfill Complex
9850 Furnace Road, Lorton, VA 22079
Materials Accepted
Mount Vernon District Government Center (Purple Can Club)
2511 Parkers Ln, Alexandria, VA 22306
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out who picks up my trash in Woodlawn?
Because Woodlawn is an unincorporated area, the vast majority of residents use private haulers. You can determine your provider by checking your HOA guidelines, looking at the logo stamped on your rolling bins, or contacting Fairfax County Solid Waste Management.
Can I throw glass in my curbside recycling bin?
No. Fairfax County prohibits glass from curbside recycling to prevent machinery damage and paper contamination. You should take your glass bottles to a Purple Can Club drop-off location, such as the one at the Mount Vernon District Government Center.
Why did my hauler leave my yard waste bags at the curb?
If you used plastic bags, the hauler is legally required to leave them behind. Fairfax County instituted a strict ban on plastic yard waste bags. You must use compostable paper yard bags or an unlined, reusable rigid container.
How can I dispose of an old television in Woodlawn?
Old televisions and electronics (E-waste) cannot be thrown in the regular trash. Woodlawn residents are highly encouraged to take their old electronics to the nearby I-95 Landfill Complex on Furnace Road in Lorton for safe, authorized recycling.