York County, VA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- York County Code § 19-70
- Recycling schedule
- every other week (§ 19-66(b))
- Trash schedule
- once per week
- Containers provided
- 1 recycling + 1 solid waste (§ 19-64(a))
- Separation required
- no, for accepted materials
- Fee
- $32.00 bi-monthly, recycling-only (§ 19-73)
Summary
In York County, Virginia, curbside recyclables are collected every other week while trash goes weekly, under County Code Sec. 19-66(b). Every enrolled household gets one recycling container under Sec. 19-64(a), and acceptable materials placed in it need not be separated for collection under Sec. 19-70(b).
(a)Each household and qualified small business that is to receive solid waste and recycling collection services from the county or county agent shall be provided one container for solid waste and one container for recycling. ... (b)Dates and time of collection. The regularly-scheduled collection times shall be once per week for solid waste and every other week for recycling containers, except in the case of inclement weather or other emergencies, on such dates and times as shall be established and announced by the County Administrator. ... (a)All households and qualified small businesses are encouraged to recycle. For the county's customers, items that are acceptable for collection are listed by the county or VPPSA and can be determined by contacting the Waste Management Division. These items are variable and are affected by the market for recyclable materials.(b)For the county's customers, acceptable recyclable materials placed in the county or agent of the county furnished container are not required to be separated for collection.
Full Breakdown
Section 19-64(a) provides each participating household or qualified small business one container for solid waste and one for recycling. Sec. 19-66(b) sets recycling collection every other week, alternating with weekly solid waste pickup, on dates the County Administrator establishes and announces, adjusted for holidays or emergencies. Sec. 19-70(a) leaves the list of acceptable recyclable materials to the county or the Virginia Peninsulas Public Service Authority (VPPSA), noting the list varies with the market for recyclables and can be confirmed by contacting the Waste Management Division.
Sec. 19-70(b) relieves customers of any duty to separate acceptable materials placed in the county-furnished container. Yard waste is excluded from recycling collection under Sec. 19-70(c) unless bagged and placed in the solid waste container, and larger limbs or tree trunks require a special collection arranged in advance under Sec. 19-70(d), priced the same as the bulky-item special collection fees in Sec. 19-67(b). Containers themselves may not exceed 240 pounds when filled under Sec. 19-64(c), and tampering with a container set at the roadside is separately barred by Sec. 19-69. A curbside recycling-only service, for residents who decline trash pickup, costs $32.00 bi-monthly under Sec. 19-73(a).
Violations & Fines
Failing to use the county-furnished recycling container properly, mixing prohibited yard waste into it, or tampering with a container set at the roadside violates Sec. 19-70 and Sec. 19-69. Chapter 19 violations carry a fine of up to $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail per offense under Sec. 19-3(a), with each day of a continuing violation counted separately, and the county may refuse collection under Sec. 19-68(b) until the violation is corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does York County pick up recycling?
Do I need to sort my recyclables before putting them in the county bin?
How many recycling containers does the county provide?
Can I put yard waste in my recycling container?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in York County
Compare York County to another location·View the Virginia trash & recycling overview
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