Albemarle County, VA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

County Code § 13-304, in Article II of Chapter 13, bars anyone except a permitted waste collector from salvaging or otherwise removing recyclable materials once a resident has set them out for pickup. The rule backs up the county's permit system: under County Code §§ 13-101 through 13-104, only a business that holds a current waste collection and recycling permit from the department of engineering and public works may operate as a waste collector in Albemarle County, and that permit must be renewed each year between June 1 and June 15.

Because § 13-201 requires permitted collectors to gather source-separated newspaper, magazine, container glass, metal cans, and plastic soda, milk and water containers from participating residential units, an unpermitted scavenger pulling those same materials off the curb before the collector arrives undercuts the very program the article is meant to fund and regulate. 00 fine, unless a similar state offense caps it lower.