July 19, 2002
Recycling Information
The following items can be recycled in Fairfax County:
Aluminum Cans, appliances, batteries, automotive batteries, button batteries, electronics batteries, rechargeable batteries, brush (tree branches), cardboard, catalogs, magazines, cereal boxes, clothing & household, computers, food cans, glass bottles, jars, grass, household hazardous waste, junk mail, leaves, mixed paper, motor oil, newspapers, office paper, plastics (#1/#2 bottles and jugs), scrap metal, telephone books, yard debris.
For information on how they can be prepared visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gov/dpwes/recycling:
Recyclable materials can be taken to the following recycling centers:
Alexandria
Mt. Vernon Recreation Center
2017 Belle View Boulevard, (upper parking lot), Alexandria
Open: Daylight hours
Materials accepted: Newspaper; plastic (#1 and #2 bottles & jugs); glass jars and bottles; mixed paper (cardboard, "junk mail," magazines, envelopes, catalogs, office paper); metal cans (food & beverage).
Fairfax
I-66 Citizens' Recycling and Disposal Facility
4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax
Summer Hours: (April 1 - Oct. 31)
Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday: 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Winter Hours (Nov. 1 - March 31)
Monday: - Friday 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Materials accepted: Plastic (#1 & #2 bottles and jugs); glass jars and bottles; mixed paper (cardboard, "junk mail," magazines, envelopes, catalogs, office paper); metal cans (food & beverage); small and large appliances; used motor oil; used automotive batteries; leaves, grass and brush. Some fees apply.
Newspaper collection is also available via a separate program operated by Alhambra/PortoCaravan, a non-profit association.
Household hazardous waste is also accepted at this site during limited hours.
City of Fairfax
3410 Pickett Road, Fairfax
Open: Daylight hours
Materials accepted: Newspaper; plastic (#1 and #2 bottles and jugs); glass jars and bottles; mixed paper (cardboard, "junk mail," magazines, envelopes, catalogs, office paper); metal cans (food and beverage); used motor oil; and used automotive batteries.
Town of Herndon
Public Works Maintenance Facility
1479 Sterling Road, Herndon
Materials Accepted: Newspaper; plastic (#1 and #2 bottles and jugs); glass jars and bottles; metal cans (food and beverage); seasonal collection of telephone books.
Oakton
Blake Lane Park
10031 Blake Lane, Oakton
Open: Daylight hours
Materials accepted: Newspaper; plastic (#1 and #2 bottles and jugs); glass jars and bottles; mixed paper (cardboard, "junk mail," magazines, envelopes, catalogs, office paper); metal cans (food and beverage).
Reston
Reston Park & Ride
2531 Reston Parkway, (adjacent to parking area), Reston
Open: Daylight hours
Materials Accepted: Newspaper; plastic (#1 and #2 bottles and jugs); Glass jars and bottles; Mixed Paper (cardboard, "junk mail," magazines, envelopes, catalogs, office paper); Metal Cans (food & beverage).
Baron Cameron Park
11300 Baron Cameron Avenue, Reston
Open: Daylight hours
Material accepted: Newspaper only.
Vienna
National Wildlife Federation
8925 Leesburg Pike (front parking lot), Vienna
Open: Daylight hours
Materials accepted: Newspaper; plastic (#1 and #2 bottles and jugs); glass jars and bottles; mixed paper (cardboard, "junk mail," magazines, envelopes, catalogs, office paper); metal cans (food and beverage).
Curbside Recyclables:
Curbside recyclables include: bundled newspapers, glass bottles & jars, metal food and beverage cans, #1 and #2 plastic bottles & jugs, branches and bagged leaves and grass. These materials are picked up from the curb on the scheduled collection day.
Trash Information
Fairfax County provides refuse collection and recycling service to approximately 39,000 residential homes per week; as well as seasonal vacuum leaf collection service to about 18,000 homes.
Homes receiving county collection service are located within areas which the Virginia State Code refers to as Sanitary Districts. Participating households are charged a user fee on their real estate
tax assessment.
Collection Requirements
County code requires weekly collection of trash and recyclables. However, some companies offer twice a week collection of materials. Prices and services vary among collectors.
Collection Companies
Approximately 30 private haulers are licensed for residential trash and recycling collection in Fairfax County. In addition, more than 38,000 homes receive County Collection Service. County service is provided for a fee and can only be obtained through a petition process.
If unsure who collects trash and recyclables, the service is probably contracted through a third party. In this case, contact the president of the homeowners association or the manager of the apartment/condominium complex for more information.
The following materials are generally collected by most haulers:
General trash and these recyclables:
Newspaper; glass bottles and jars; metal food and beverage cans; yard debris (leaves, grass, brush); #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs. What you are required to recycle depends on what type of home you live in.
Large and/or bulky materials may require a separate collection. Ask the hauler about special collection services and associated fees.
There are self-haul garbage options as well. Residents may take their own trash and recyclables directly to the I-66 Transfer Station in Fairfax, 4618 West Ox Road, 703-631-1179. Another option is the I-95 Complex in Lorton, 9850 Furnace Road, 703-690-1703. Fees are charged for trash, yard debris and bulk loads.
Another self-haul option is the county's Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Center Program. This is a fee for service program that requires purchase of an annual permit. Permit holders can take refuse and recyclables to one of two locations on Saturdays. Hours are limited. Call 703-802-3322 for information.
Commercial Hazardous Waste Disposal:
Fairfax County sponsors a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG) program for certain businesses located in Fairfax County. A CESQG is any business which generates less than 220 lbs. or 27 gallons of HAZMAT during a month. There is a fee for disposal of HAZMAT from a CESQG. Under this program a CESQG directly pays the fee to the contractor. To arrange for a collection, call Curbside, Inc., at 1-800-449-7587. For more information and details regarding the CESQG program, call 703-324-5230.
Commercial hazardous waste generators that do not qualify as CESQGs should look to commercial hazardous waste disposal companies for support.
Household Hazardous Waste Disposal:
The following types of household waste are not accepted:
Ammunition — contact Police Dept. 703-246-2253
Illegal fireworks — contact Fire Prevention Division 703-246-4741
Explosives
Radioactive materials
Compressed gas cylinders
Propane tanks — accepted if empty and valve removed
For disposal information on items not listed above, call the Division of Solid Waste Disposal & Resource Recovery at 703-324-5230.
The Household Hazardous Waste Program is operated at the I-66 Transfer Station and the I-95 Landfill. Operating hours vary at each site. Do not leave hazardous waste at these sites during non-business hours.
The following items are accepted at both locations: acids, aerosol sprays, asbestos products (call 703-324-5230 for list of acceptable asbestos products, automotive fluids, batteries (see below), coal tar products, creosote products, driveway sealers, floor care products, fungicides, glue (solvent base), herbicides, inks & dyes, insecticides, mercury products, moth balls, paint (oil base), paint thinner, pesticides, poisons, polishes, pool chemicals, rust removers, varnish and stains, weed killers and wood preservatives.
Household hazardous waste may be transported to the collection centers in cardboard boxes. All materials must be properly labeled. It is important not to put waste in plastic trash bags.
Auto batteries, motor oil and antifreeze are accepted separately seven days a week at the Citizen's Disposal Facility.
Button, rechargeable (NiCAD), mercury and lithium batteries are the only household batteries accepted by this program. All other batteries may be safely thrown away with your regular waste.