Trash & Recycling in Frederick County, VA (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Frederick County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
In Frederick County outside Winchester, Stephens City and Middletown, the County's curbside program under § 142-28 limits residential collection to single-family homes and manufactured homes in the Urban Service Area. Refuse must reach the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before pickup and no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day, capped at three 44-gallon containers per household.
Frederick County Curbside Trash Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsFrederick County Code § 142-28(H), (J)
§ 142-28. Curbside refuse collection by County. ... ... H. Schedule. ... All refuse, ashes or other waste material to be collected shall be placed on the curb or other approved place of collection not earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the day prior to and not later than 7:00 a.m. on the day of regular collection. All garbage not collected because of noncompliance with this article shall be removed at o...
Bin Placement Rules
In Frederick County outside Winchester, Stephens City and Middletown, curbside refuse containers must be watertight, durable, rust-resistant and either tight-covered or sealed plastic bags under Section 142-28(E). Set-out is limited to between 6:00 p.m. the day before collection and 7:00 a.m. on collection day, with empty cans removed the same day.
Curbside Container Placement in Frederick County
Some RestrictionsFrederick County Code § 142-28(E), (H)
E. General container requirements. All refuse to be collected by the County shall be placed in watertight containers of durable construction, which shall be rust-resistant, nonabsorbent, easily washable, with tight-fitting covers and handles, or properly sealed plastic or polyethylene refuse bags of sufficient construction to keep out water, to prevent animals and entrance by insects and to be ...
Bulk Item Disposal
Frederick County's curbside program will not take bulky items. Under § 142-28K(1) of the County Code, furniture, mattresses, white goods, tires and yard waste are excluded from collection outside Winchester, Stephens City and Middletown, and residents who set such items out must remove and properly dispose of them themselves.
Frederick County Bulk Item Disposal Rules
Some RestrictionsFrederick County Code § 142-28(K)(1)
K. Refuse not acceptable for collection. (1) No hazardous material, asbestos-laden material, explosives, radioactive material, animal manure, human excreta, industrial waste, masonry waste, infectious waste, automobiles or parts, bulky items such as furniture and mattresses, white goods, tires or yard waste will be collected. In the event that such refuse is discovered, the person placing such ...
Illegal Dumping
Frederick County bans dumping litter anywhere in the county outside authorized receptacles. Section 142-101 of the County Code makes it unlawful to drop, deposit, discard or otherwise dispose of litter on public or private property, and a conviction under Article V carries a fine of $50 to $500 and up to 30 days in jail.
Frederick County Illegal Dumping Penalties
Some RestrictionsFrederick County Code §§ 142-101(A), 142-107
§ 142-101. Unlawful disposal of solid waste; litter. A. It shall be unlawful for any person to drop, deposit, discard or otherwise dispose of litter in or upon any public or private property within the County, including but not restricted to any street, sidewalk, park, body of water and vacant or occupied lot, except in public receptacles or in authorized private receptacles provided for public...
Yard Waste Collection
In Frederick County outside Winchester, Stephens City and Middletown, 'yard waste' means grass clippings, leaves, wood chips, brush and tree prunings, but not roots or stumps over six inches in diameter (Section 142-2). County convenience sites specifically bar yard waste from collection containers and compactors under Section 142-26.
Yard Waste Disposal Rules in Frederick County
Some RestrictionsFrederick County Code §§ 142-2, 142-26
YARD WASTE That fraction of municipal solid waste that consists of decomposable waste materials generated by general yard and lawn care such as grass clippings, leaves, wood chips, brush and tree prunings. Yard waste does not include roots or stumps that exceed six inches in diameter. § 1 ... 42-26. ... Convenience sites. ... No person shall place building materials, tires, furniture or other l...
Collection Schedule
In Frederick County outside Winchester, Stephens City and Middletown, Section 142-28(A) lets the County provide curbside refuse and recyclables collection based on population density, limited to single-family dwellings inside the Urban Service Area with frontage on a public road. The option has been available since Resolution No. 7-98 took effect after August 2003.
Curbside Refuse Collection in Frederick County
Some RestrictionsFrederick County Code § 142-28(A)
§ 142-28. Curbside refuse collection by County. A. Service area. Pursuant to the provisions of Resolution No. 7-98, anytime after August 2003, the County shall have the option of providing curbside refuse and recyclables collection based on population densities. Collection will be limited to residential single-family or one-family dwellings located within the Urban Service Area and having front...
Recycling Rules
Frederick County treats curbside recycling as voluntary. Under § 142-28M of the County Code, residents who choose to participate bundle or box newspaper, metal, glass and plastic and set it at the curb on the days the County schedules for recyclables, separate from regular trash days.
Frederick County Curbside Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsFrederick County Code § 142-28(M)(1), (2)
M. Collection of material for recycling. (1) Source separation of material for recycling shall be on a voluntary basis. Persons electing to participate in recycling efforts shall separately bundle, box or secure materials for recycling and deposit them at the curb on the days scheduled for pickup of recyclable material. (2) Recyclable material in the form of discarded newspaper, metal, glass or...
All Frederick County ordinances
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