Fairfax County, VA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Collection window
- March 1 - Dec 24
- Weekly limit
- 10 bags/bundles
- Weight limit
- 50 lbs each piece
- Bag material
- No plastic bags
Summary
Fairfax County requires weekly curbside yard waste and brush pickup from March 1 through December 24, capped at ten bags, containers, or bundles under 50 pounds each.
(3)Yard waste from single-family and townhouse residential units, including brush, from March 1 to December 24, weekly removal for recycling of up to ten individual paper bags, reusable containers, or bundles. Yard waste may be limited to individual pieces or bundles of no greater than 50 pounds in weight, four feet in length, and no piece larger than six inches in diameter. Yard waste set out for collection shall not be placed in plastic bags. Outside this period, yard waste may be collected with refuse.(4)Christmas trees from single-family and townhouse residential units: removal and recycling of all trees of less than 8 feet in length that are set out during the first two weeks of January.(e)Nothing in this Chapter shall preclude the collector from providing a higher level of service than required, with regard to frequency, quantity, size, material type, or other factor.(f)All MSW collected by the collector, upon being loaded into the collection vehicle, shall become the property of the collector. (13-15-109.1; 04-21-109.1.)
Full Breakdown
Single-family and townhouse residents get weekly yard waste and brush collection from March 1 to December 24 under County Code Section 109.1-5-3. Up to ten paper bags, reusable containers, or bundles are collected per week, each capped at 50 pounds, four feet in length, and six inches in diameter. Plastic bags are not allowed for yard waste. Outside the March-December window, yard waste is instead collected together with regular refuse. Licensed haulers operating under a County Certificate to Operate must follow these minimum service levels.
Violations & Fines
Bagging yard waste in plastic, or setting out bundles over 50 pounds or four feet, gets the material left uncollected at the curb. Haulers that skip the required weekly service also fall out of compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put yard waste in plastic bags in Fairfax County?
Is yard waste collected in winter in Fairfax County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfax County
Compare Fairfax County to another location·View the Virginia trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.