Fairfax City residents receive weekly single-stream curbside recycling through the Public Works Solid Waste Division. Accepted materials include paper, cardboard, glass bottles, metal cans, and hard plastics numbered one through seven when clean and empty. Plastic bags, food-soiled items, and tanglers are prohibited in curbside carts and must go to drop-off facilities or trash.
The City of Fairfax participates in the regional Northern Virginia recycling market and operates a single-stream program: paper, cardboard, glass, metal, and rigid plastic can all be placed together in the blue recycling cart. Accepted items include newspapers, magazines, flattened cardboard (cut to fit inside the cart), office paper, aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles and jars, and plastic containers #1–#7 that are clean and empty. Prohibited items include plastic film and bags (take to grocery drop-off), Styrofoam, textiles, food waste, hoses and wires, pizza boxes heavily soiled with grease, light bulbs, and batteries. Glass has remained curbside in Fairfax City even though neighboring Fairfax County moved to purple glass-only drop-off bins; residents may also use the I-66 Transfer Station purple bins for glass. Electronics, household hazardous waste, and paint are accepted at the I-66 Transfer Station and periodic city collection events. Contamination (wrong items in the cart) can lead to a rejected pickup and an Oops tag explaining the problem. Commercial recycling is mandated by VA Code §10.1-1411 through the state recycling rate requirement and must be arranged through private haulers. Yard waste is collected separately and composted regionally rather than landfilled.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Fairfax, VA
City of Fairfax Code Chapter 62 (Noise) establishes nighttime quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM on weekdays and 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM on weekends and holida...
Fairfax, VA
The City of Fairfax primarily enforces noise using a plainly-audible standard, but commercial and industrial zones carry implied decibel limits of roughly 65...
Fairfax, VA
Commercial establishments in the City of Fairfax must keep HVAC, loading, trash compaction, and amplified sound within limits set by Chapter 62 and the zonin...
Fairfax, VA
City of Fairfax prohibits using RVs or campers for habitation on public streets. VA Code §46.2-1222.1 authorizes Fairfax City to regulate or prohibit parking...
Fairfax, VA
Commercial vehicles in the City of Fairfax are restricted from overnight parking on residential streets and in residential zoning districts. Vehicles over 12...
Fairfax, VA
On-street parking in the City of Fairfax is generally permitted in residential areas unless posted. Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, on sidewalks, b...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Fairfax County.
See how other cities in Fairfax County handle recycling requirements.
See how Fairfax's recycling requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.