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Roanoke County, VA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)

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

Key Facts

Service
Free weekly curbside garbage collection
Set-out time
Within 5 feet of curb by 7:00 a.m.
Container return
10 feet from street by 7:00 a.m. next day
Not covered
Town of Vinton, has own service (§ 20-21)
Penalty
Class 3 misdemeanor (§ 20-26)

Summary

Roanoke County provides free weekly curbside garbage collection to residential customers under Roanoke County Code § 20-24(a), outside the Town of Vinton, which runs its own service under § 20-21. Containers must go out within five feet of the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day and come back at least ten feet from the street by 7:00 a.m. the next day.

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

All county residents shall be entitled to receive solid waste collection service consistent with the provisions of this article, subject to the determination of the county administrator, or his designee, regarding the economic feasibility of providing such service to any particular location subject to the provisions of this chapter and the policies of the board of supervisors. ... (a)Weekly curbside collection. The county shall provide weekly curbside garbage collection of household waste at no charge to all residential customers, meeting requirements of this chapter, in the county. To receive curbside collection, the following general rules must be followed:(1)All containers placed within five (5) feet of the curb line of a qualified road by 7:00 a.m. of the scheduled collection day.(2)Containers shall be removed at least ten (10) feet from the public street right-of-way no later than 7:00 a.m. of the day following the scheduled collection day.

Full Breakdown

Section 20-23 of the Roanoke County Code entitles all county residents to solid waste collection service, subject to the county administrator's determination that providing it to a particular location is economically feasible, and residents apply through the office of general services; service reaches homes along a 'qualified road' (a state primary or secondary highway) and can extend to a private road only if at least three homes sit on it, all owners give written permission and assume damage risk, and the director of general services approves.

the following day. All material must be bagged, and the section separately bars dead animals, hazardous material, automobile parts, ashes, liquids, construction waste and other unsafe material from the containers, requires sharps to be in sealed disposal containers, pet waste to be double-bagged, and latex paint to be fully solidified before disposal. Section 20-24(b) limits automated-service customers to two containers per household, and § 20-25 layers on free supplemental services: brush and bulk collection every other week, seasonal bagged-leaf collection for six weeks starting the first Monday in November, and a one-week Christmas tree pickup in January.

Section 20-21 exempts the Town of Vinton entirely from this article because the town provides its own solid waste collection. A violation of Article II, including improper set-out or use of the service, is a class 3 misdemeanor under § 20-26, and the county can also suspend collection service until the violation is corrected.

Violations & Fines

Violating any part of Roanoke County's solid waste collection article, such as setting out prohibited material like hazardous waste or construction debris under § 20-24(a), is a class 3 misdemeanor under § 20-26, and the county can suspend a resident's collection service entirely until the violation is corrected. The Town of Vinton is exempt under § 20-21 because it runs its own collection program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Roanoke County pick up my trash every week?
Yes, for residential customers on a qualified road, under Roanoke County Code § 20-24(a). Free weekly curbside garbage collection is provided at no charge; containers must be set within five feet of the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day and pulled back within a day.
Does the Town of Vinton get county trash collection?
No. Section 20-21 exempts Vinton entirely from the county's collection article because the town council provides its own solid waste collection service for town residents.
What happens if I put out prohibited items or violate the collection rules?
It's a class 3 misdemeanor under § 20-26, and the county can also suspend your collection service until you fix the violation. Section 20-24(a) bars hazardous material, automobile parts, ashes, liquids and construction waste from curbside containers.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Roanoke County

All Roanoke County rules

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