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Arlington County, VA Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Bulky item weight limit
500 pounds per item
Must fit
Rear-loading collection vehicle
Oversized brush limit
Over 10 ft long or 18 in diameter
Special Collection lead time
Arranged by work day before pickup
Appliance pickup fee
$10 first item, free additional items
General civil penalty
Up to $300 per violation (§10-11)

Summary

Arlington County will collect large household items like furniture, mattresses and box springs at the regular Collection Point as long as each piece weighs 500 pounds or less and fits into a rear-loading truck. Anything heavier, along with masonry, dirt, drywall and oversized tree debris, is the owner's responsibility to haul away privately.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Arlington County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Oversized bulky Trash items that are too large to be bagged, bundled, or placed in a cart such as furniture, mattresses, or box springs may be placed at the Collection Point as long as the item does not exceed 500 pounds and will fit into a rear-loading collection vehicle. ... At occupant's expense, privately dispose of: (1) All items weighing more than five hundred (500) pounds. (2) Building material such as brick, masonry block, rock, dirt, large quantities of drywall, or sand. ... (4) Trees, tree branches, shrubbery, or other plant material that exceed ten (10) feet in length or eighteen (18) inches in diameter or that are the result of the clearing of multiple trees from a property.

Full Breakdown

a, Oversized bulky Trash items too large to bag, bundle or fit in a cart, such as furniture, mattresses or box springs, can be placed at the Collection Point on the regular schedule as long as no single item exceeds 500 pounds and it will fit into a rear-loading collection vehicle. f requires the occupant to arrange and pay for private disposal of: any item over 500 pounds; building material such as brick, masonry block, rock, dirt, or large quantities of drywall or sand; construction debris from business work or materials not prepared to Code; and trees, branches, shrubbery or other plant material exceeding 10 feet in length or 18 inches in diameter, or resulting from clearing multiple trees off a property. a(10)). Nonprofit Organizations and nonresidential participants are not eligible for Special Collections at all. F).

Violations & Fines

Placing an oversized item without meeting the 500-pound and vehicle-fit limits, or dumping bulky waste anywhere other than the Collection Point, violates §10-4's ban on disposing Solid Waste except at an approved location, exposing the owner or occupant to a civil penalty of up to $300 per violation under §10-11. Items left at the curb because they weren't eligible for collection can also be removed by the County and billed back with a $300 removal fee plus disposal costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Arlington County pick up my old couch or mattress?
Yes, at the regular Collection Point, as long as it doesn't exceed 500 pounds and fits into a rear-loading collection vehicle under §10-6.B.1.a. Heavier furniture and anything that won't fit the truck has to be hauled away privately by the owner or occupant at their own expense under §10-6.B.1.f.
What construction debris won't the county collect?
Brick, masonry block, rock, dirt, large quantities of drywall or sand, and any building material generated by business work or not prepared according to the Code are excluded under §10-6.B.1.f. The occupant must arrange and pay for private disposal of these materials rather than setting them at the Collection Point.
How do I schedule pickup for tree limbs or brush?
Unbundled Brush up to 10 feet long and 18 inches in diameter needs a Special Collection arranged with the Department of Environmental Services no later than the work day before your regular pickup, per §10-6.B.1.a(10). Anything bigger, or debris from clearing multiple trees, must be privately disposed of under §10-6.B.1.f(4).
What happens if I dump bulk trash somewhere other than my Collection Point?
Section 10-4 makes it unlawful to dispose of Solid Waste anywhere except an approved place of final disposal. Violating that, or the placement rules in §10-6, exposes the owner or occupant to a civil penalty of up to $300 per violation under §10-11, plus a possible $300 removal fee.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Arlington County

All Arlington County rules

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