Trash & Recycling in Fairfax County, VA (2026)
8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Fairfax County mandates weekly trash collection for every single-family home and townhouse, with the same minimum frequency required for most other customers under Section 109.1-5-4.
Fairfax County Weekly Trash Pickup Rule
Some RestrictionsFairfax County, VA, Code of Ordinances Section 109.1-5-4
(a)MSW shall be collected no less than once weekly from single-family residences and townhouses.(b)MSW from all other sources shall also be collected no less than once weekly, unless a reduced collection frequency or alternative recycling system is approved in writing by the Director.(c)MSW shall be collected more frequently, as may be fixed by the Director or collected more frequently as may b...
Bin Placement Rules
Fairfax County requires residential trash and recycling containers to be stored on the property they serve, not left in the street or right-of-way. Section 109.1-5-5 lets closed-top bags sit outside no more than 12 hours before collection, and waste stranded at the curb over ten days can be removed at the customer's expense.
Fairfax County Cart Set-Out and Removal
Some RestrictionsFairfax County, VA, Code of Ordinances Section 109.1-5-5(a)
(1)Containers for residential use shall be stored upon the residential premises.(2)The outside storage of refuse and recyclables in plastic bags with closed tops for not more than 12 hours is allowed by residential customers only. ... (7)If MSW placed at the curb or in the public right-of-way by a residential customer is not picked up within ten days, the County may remove them and recover the ...
Bulk Item Disposal
Fairfax County caps curbside bulk items at four feet in length and 50 pounds per bundle or container. Dead animals, tree stumps, dirt, rock, brick, containerized liquids, friable asbestos, lead-acid batteries and oversized scrap metal or appliances over 50 pounds or 48 inches are excluded from routine curbside collection entirely.
Fairfax County Bulk Item Bundle Size Limit
Some RestrictionsFairfax County, VA, Code of Ordinances § 109.1-5-3(c)
(b)The following materials are not subject to the collection requirement of 109.1-5-3:(1)Dead animals and pets;(2)Manure;(3)Tree stumps;(4)Dirt, stone, rock, and brick;(5)Containerized liquids;(6)Friable asbestos;(7)Lead-acid batteries;(8)Appliances containing ozone-depleting chemicals;(9)Scrap metal and discarded appliances that are over 50 pounds in weight or 48 inches in length; and(10)Poiso...
Recycling Requirements
Fairfax County requires single-family homes and townhouses to source-separate glass, metal cans, plastic bottles, cardboard, mixed paper, yard waste and scrap metal for recycling. Multi-family owners must set up a working recycling system for residents within 30 days of taking ownership, sized so no one has to dump recyclables on the ground.
Fairfax County Residential Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsFairfax County, VA, Code of Ordinances § 109.1-2-2(a)
(a)Occupants of single-family homes and townhouses shall source-separate: container glass; metal food and beverage containers; plastic bottles and jugs; yard waste; scrap metal; and cardboard and mixed paper, including but not limited to corrugated cardboard, magazines, newspaper, office paper, and miscellaneous paper products.(b)Owners of multi-family dwelling units or their designees shall, w...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping trash, garbage, refuse, litter, or a companion animal for disposal onto public property, a right-of-way, or private land without the owner's written consent is a misdemeanor in Fairfax County, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a $250 to $2,500 fine.
Fairfax County Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsFairfax County Code § 82-1-29.1
(a)No person shall dump or otherwise dispose of trash, garbage, refuse, litter, a companion animal for the purpose of disposal, or other unsightly matter, on public property, including a public highway, right-of-way, property adjacent to such highway or right-of-way, or on private property without the written consent of the owner thereof or his agent.(b)When any person is arrested for a violati...
Yard Waste Collection
Fairfax County requires weekly curbside yard waste and brush pickup from March 1 through December 24, capped at ten bags, containers, or bundles under 50 pounds each.
Fairfax County Yard Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsFairfax County, VA, Code of Ordinances Section 109.1-5-3(d)(3)
(3)Yard waste from single-family and townhouse residential units, including brush, from March 1 to December 24, weekly removal for recycling of up to ten individual paper bags, reusable containers, or bundles. Yard waste may be limited to individual pieces or bundles of no greater than 50 pounds in weight, four feet in length, and no piece larger than six inches in diameter. Yard waste set out ...
Dumpster Rules
Fairfax County requires commercial dumpsters, compactors, and roll-off containers to be watertight, reflectorized, and marked with the owner's name under Section 109.1-5-6.
Fairfax County Dumpster Construction Standards
Some RestrictionsFairfax County, VA, Code of Ordinances Section 109.1-5-6(a)
Containers (including compactors, front-end containers and roll-off containers) used to collect refuse and recycling shall comply with the following: ...(5)All roll-off containers and compactors shall have safety reflectors affixed to both sides and ends of container. ...(6)All solid waste collection containers with a capacity of two cubic yards or larger and are used for the collection of soli...
Collection Schedule
Fairfax County requires permitted collectors to pick up trash from single-family homes and townhouses at least once a week, and the same weekly floor applies to other properties unless the Director approves a written reduction. Businesses generating flammable waste can be ordered to more frequent pickup by the Fire Marshal.
Fairfax County Mandatory Weekly Waste Service
Some RestrictionsFairfax County, VA, Code of Ordinances § 109.1-5-4(a)
(a)MSW shall be collected no less than once weekly from single-family residences and townhouses.(b)MSW from all other sources shall also be collected no less than once weekly, unless a reduced collection frequency or alternative recycling system is approved in writing by the Director.(c)MSW shall be collected more frequently, as may be fixed by the Director or collected more frequently as may b...
Trash & Recycling by City in Fairfax County
2 cities in Fairfax County have their own trash & recycling rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Fairfax County ordinances
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