Fairfax County, VA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum frequency
- Weekly for single-family homes/townhouses
- Other properties
- Weekly unless Director approves reduction
- Flammable-waste generators
- May be ordered to more frequent pickup
- Collector license
- County-issued CTO required
- Schedule-change notice
- 30 days' written notice to customers
- Penalty
- CTO suspension up to 1 year + Class II misdemeanor
Summary
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.
(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 be fixed by the Fire Marshal or Chief of Fire and Rescue Department upon a determination that more frequent collections are necessary for the preservation of the public safety with respect to any particular establishment producing flammable MSW.(d)Any solid waste management bond or other surety held by Fairfax County as required by Article 4 may be used to pay for collection of waste where the collector for whom the bond/surety was issued has failed to meet the minimum collection frequency specified in this Article. (13-15-109.1.)
Full Breakdown
" Subsection (b) extends that same weekly floor to all other properties, unless the property has an approved reduced-frequency or alternative recycling arrangement on file with the Director in writing. Subsection (c) lets the Director, or separately the Fire Marshal or Chief of Fire and Rescue, order more frequent collection from any establishment producing flammable municipal solid waste when needed for public safety. 1-5-2(g)(2) separately bars on-call service or any collection cycle less frequent than weekly unless the Director signs off in writing. 1-5-4(d) lets the county tap the collector's required performance bond to pay for the missed service. 1-5-7(a)(4), except in emergencies the Director declares.
Violations & Fines
A collector that fails to maintain the required weekly frequency risks having its CTO suspended, restricted or denied for up to a year under Section 109.1-9-4(b)(2). Absent a more specific penalty, a violation of the collection-frequency requirement is punishable as a Class II misdemeanor with a fine set in the Solid Waste Management Program Enforcement Manual under Section 109.1-9-8, and the Director can pursue an escalated financial penalty against a collector or customer with three or more violations in a 12-month span under Section 109.1-9-9.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must my trash be collected in Fairfax County?
Can my trash company skip a week or switch to on-call pickup?
What if a company producing flammable waste needs more frequent pickup?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfax County
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