Trash & Recycling in Alexandria, VA (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Alexandria, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Alexandria bans letting solid waste, ashes, recyclables or yard debris accumulate into a nuisance under City Code Section 5-1-82, gives owners seven days after written notice to clear it, and requires every owner and occupant to keep enough approved containers on the property under Section 5-1-83.
Alexandria Trash Accumulation & Pickup Duty Rule
Some RestrictionsCity Code §§ 5-1-82, 5-1-83(b)
(a) It shall be unlawful to allow, permit, or have an accumulation of ashes, solid waste, recyclable material or yard debris on any premises within the city which tends to create a public nuisance or health problem... (b) ...the occupant, or the owner in the event the premises is unoccupied, shall be given written notice by the director with the request that such accumulation shall be removed w...
Bin Placement Rules
Alexandria requires waste containers, plastic liners and yard debris to sit within 10 feet of the curb or alley line for pickup under City Code Section 5-1-41(a), caps residential set-outs at nine containers per collection under Section 5-1-41(d), and lets the director require screening for bulk containers.
Alexandria Trash Container Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsCity Code § 5-1-41(a), (d)
(1) Points of collection from streets. a. Approved waste containers and yard debris shall be placed for collection at a point 10 feet or less from the curb line or at a point on the property line adjacent to which the collection vehicle stops... (2) Points of collection from alleys. Approved waste containers, plastic liners, recyclable material and yard debris shall be placed for collection at ...
Bulk Item Disposal
Alexandria picks up large or bulk items like mattresses, appliances and metal objects only by appointment under City Code Section 5-1-41(g), and city council may charge a separate special-collection fee; automobile parts, rocks, dirt and building materials are excluded from the service.
Alexandria Bulk Item Special Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsCity Code § 5-1-41(g)
(g) Special collections. The city will, by appointment, make a special collection of large or bulk items from required user properties or from other properties to which it provides collection and disposal service under this article. A special collection item includes but is not limited to large metal objects, mattresses, and white goods, but does not include automobile parts, rocks, dirt or bui...
Recycling Requirements
Sec. 5-1-93 of the City Code requires every curbside-eligible single-family home to separate mixed paper and commingled containers from the trash, and imposes the same split on apartment buildings. Businesses must instead recycle their two highest-volume material types, with small generators allowed to use city drop-off centers.
Alexandria Curbside Recycling Requirements
Some RestrictionsCity Code Sec. 5-1-93
Sec. 5-1-93 - Requirements for materials to be collected. (a)The responsible party of each single-family dwelling eligible for city curbside collection, or any property management company or homeowners association that contracts directly with a hauler for curbside collection, must establish a system to separate mixed paper and commingled containers from refuse for recycling.(b)The responsible p...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping any waste on property, in city waters, or into a sanitary sewer or stormwater system without a permit is unlawful under City Code Sec. 11-13-2. Dumping hazardous, household hazardous, bulk or industrial waste is a class 1 misdemeanor under Sec. 11-13-8, and if waste is dumped from a vehicle, the vehicle's owner is presumed to be the one who dumped it.
Alexandria Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Alexandria, VA Code Sec. 11-13-2 - Illegal dumping prohibited
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to dump any waste on any property, in any waters or in any sanitary sewer or stormwater system, except as authorized by law or by applicable permit. It shall be the burden of the alleged violator to show proof of any applicable permits.(b)In the event waste is dumped from a motor vehicle or water craft in violation of this section, the owner of such motor ...
Yard Waste Collection
Alexandria defines yard debris as shrubbery and tree prunings, grass clippings, leaves and similar material under City Code Section 5-1-2(17), and requires residents to bundle it in ties no longer than four feet or bag it in plastic liners under Section 5-1-11(e) before the city's weekly collection.
Alexandria Yard Debris Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsCity Code §§ 5-1-2(17), 5-1-11(e)
(17) Yard debris. Shrubbery prunings, tree prunings not over two inches in diameter, grass clippings, leaves and similar materials. ... (e) Yard debris. Yard debris may be placed out for collection in securely tied bundles not exceeding four (4) feet in length or may be placed in plastic liners.
Dumpster Rules
Alexandria requires anyone who collects, transports or disposes of solid waste, including operators placing dumpster-type containers, to hold a Section 5-1-51 permit, and the director inspects every dumpster-type container (three to 10 cubic yards) and roll-off container (20 to 40 cubic yards) under Section 5-1-53(a) before approval.
Alexandria Commercial Dumpster & Roll-Off Rules
Significant RestrictionsCity Code §§ 5-1-51, 5-1-53(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person to collect, transport or dispose of any solid waste, trash, ashes, yard debris or recyclable material in the city without first obtaining a solid waste collection permit therefor from the director... The director, before issuing any permit, shall cause an inspection to be made of the premises within the city and vehicles named and described in the application...
Collection Schedule
Alexandria collects solid waste, ashes and yard debris weekly and recyclables every two weeks under City Code Section 5-1-31, and containers must reach the curb by 6 a.m. from May through September or 7 a.m. the rest of the year under Section 5-1-41(f).
Alexandria Trash & Recycling Collection Schedule
Some RestrictionsCity Code §§ 5-1-31, 5-1-41(f)
The city shall collect and dispose of solid waste (other than special collection items which may be collected pursuant to section 5-1-41(g)), ashes and yard debris on a weekly basis, and shall collect and dispose of recyclable material on a less frequent but regular basis, as determined by the director, from every required user property. Every required user shall use this collection and disposa...
Recycling Rules
Alexandria runs a mandatory recycling program under City Code Sec. 5-1-90, covering every single-family home, apartment building, business and government office in the city. The Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) administers the program, which took effect July 1, 2006, and enforces it with civil penalties up to $1,500 per repeat violation.
Alexandria Mandatory Recycling Program Rules
Some RestrictionsCity Code Sec. 5-1-90
Sec. 5-1-90 - Findings of fact and declarations of policy. The City Council of the City of Alexandria finds that in order to preserve natural resources, conserve energy, reduce the amount of disposable waste and the cost of waste disposal, and provide for a more efficient and effective means of disposing of waste materials, it is appropriate to exercise the police power in order to initiate a m...