Public Works and Environmental Services
Before recycling, consider ways to reduce your trash, reuse items in other ways, then recycle where possible before throwing stuff away.
Department Resources
Related Resources
Disposal and Recycling Guidelines:
- Drop-Off Locations. Fairfax County residents can recycle holiday trees at the I-66 Transfer Station (I-66) or the I-95 Landfill Complex (I-95) with a recycling fee. Remove all ornaments, decorations, tinsel, and stands before you drop it off.
- Recycling Real Trees. Licensed collectors must collect and recycle real Christmas trees under 8 feet in single-family and townhouse communities during the first two weeks of January. Contact your collection service for details.
- Pick up Free Mulch. The trees are placed in a wood-chipper with other brush and recycled. Residents can pick up this mulch for free at I-66 and I-95.
- Donating Artificial Trees. Donate artificial trees in good condition to charitable organizations. For options, visit the Human Services Resources Guide.
- Tree Lights Recycling. Tree lights can be recycled year-round for free at electronic waste locations at I-66 and I-95.
- Environmental Reminder. Do not dispose of live Christmas trees, trash, or yard waste in Fairfax County parks. It is illegal and harms the environment.
Subscribe to Fairfax Recycles
Glass Recycling and the Purple Can Club
Please don't place plastic bags in recycling bins
Plastic bags get wrapped around the rollers and stop the conveyor belt. Workers then remove the bags by hand. Plastic bags that make it past the rollers contaminate the other recyclable materials. Please take bags back to the grocery store, place them in the trash, or choose reusable bags
Source reduction is the first goal of sustainability; then reuse. Recycling is last. Try to reduce waste in the first place, or reuse items before recycling. Give unwanted or unneeded clothing, household goods, books, etc. a second life by donating them to worthy causes. Reducing waste by repurposing unwanted but usable goods is an important part of the Fairfax County Environmental Vision.
Household Hazardous Waste
Fairfax County Waste Metrics
For more resources on reducing, reusing and recycling, as well as litter prevention efforts, visit Clean Fairfax.