Our Community in Fairfax County, Virginia
We are fortunate to live in a part of Fairfax county that provides many services free of charge, including oversize trash pick-up (furniture, appliances) and tree branch pick-up. 703-802-3322 With just one call, a dispatcher will arrange to have a county truck pick these items up from your curbside. 703-802-3322 The trucks come by every Thursday, alternating weeks between oversize trash and yard debris. 703-802-3322 The trucks will just drive by if you don't call, so call 703-802-3322 now!
By the way, it technically is petty larceny to look through and take other people's trash, even if it is sitting on the curb for trash pick-up. Although this law is not generally enforced, it is best to ask permission from the owner before taking their trash.
For years, many of us have wondered who the people are who dump their oversized trash next to Route 50 instead of leaving it on the curb in front of their house and calling for a special pick-up. Police Capt. Slyman appears to have the answer.
The culprit is . . . probably not anyone in Westlawn! There are neighborhoods close to Westlawn where the county does not provide free trash service, and it costs money even if people take their oversized trash directly to the dump. Apparently, it is easier and cheaper for them to dump their trash alongside Route 50 late at night and let us call the county to pick it up.
Effective April 2000, you can help ensure that yard debris is recycled and not disposed as trash. Due to a change in the County Ordinance, dark plastic bags may no longer be used for setting out yard debris. You may set out your grass clippings and/or leaves in transparent plastic bags, re-usable plastic or metal containers, or Kraft paper yard debris bags.
The ban on using dark colored plastic bags for recyclables will help your hauler see the difference between your trash and your yard debris. For obvious safety reasons, trash collection crews do not open bags to determine the contents. So, if the hauler cannot see that a bag contains yard debris, it might be put in the trash truck!
Transparent recycling bags and Kraft bags are available at most supermarkets, hardware stores and garden centers. Your trash can still be placed in the opaque plastic bags. If you have any questions concerning this change, please contact your hauler directly.
Of course, composting and mulching yard debris is still the "greenest" alternative! For easy instructions on how to compost or "grasscycle", or to get a free composting bin, call 703-802-3322.