Fairfax County, VA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Recycling in Fairfax County operates through mandatory hauler-provided service established under County Code Chapter 109.1. All licensed residential haulers must offer single-stream recycling to their customers, collecting commingled recyclables in a single bin. Accepted materials typically include: paper (newspapers, magazines, office paper, mail), corrugated cardboard, paperboard (cereal boxes), aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles and jars (all colors), and rigid plastics marked 1, 2, and 5 (some haulers also accept 3, 4, 6, and 7). Not accepted: plastic bags and film (return to grocery store drop-offs), styrofoam, food-soiled paper, pizza boxes with grease, batteries, electronics, and hazardous materials. Fairfax County operates a robust network of drop-off recycling centers at I-66 Transfer Station, I-95 Landfill Complex, and various community sites. Electronics recycling events occur regularly. Virginia Code 10.1-1411 requires localities to achieve a minimum 25 percent recycling rate (or 15 percent for smaller jurisdictions); Fairfax County consistently exceeds this threshold. Commercial recycling is also required under Chapter 109.1 for businesses generating certain waste streams. Contamination (non-recyclable items in recycling bins) can result in hauler refusal to collect and potential fines.