Our Community in Fairfax County, Virginia

I used to think that all I had to do to get rid of oversized trash and brush was to call 703-802-3322, push a lot of buttons on my phone, and wait for the trash to disappear.  I also thought that I could load the gray trash container with as heavy trash as I wanted.  It turns out, there are limits.

• Your gray trash tote should not be loaded with more than 100 lbs. and your personal trash containers and individual plastic bags should not weigh more than 50 lbs. each when full.
• Materials placed out for special pickup must be no more than six cubic yards.
• The county will NOT collect any debris resulting from contractor work.  Residents are responsible for making arrangements with the contractor or a private hauler to have the debris removed.
• Special collections are limited to FOUR free collections per address per year.  If you need more than four special collections or if you have material that exceeds six cubic yards, you can use the MegaBulk program.  With this program, a staff member will visit your address and provide you a cost estimate on the additional fee for collection.  MegaBulk is charged at $5 per cubic yard for loose material and $10 per cubic yard for logs/wood over 6 inches.

Recycle large cardboard boxes by first cutting them down to 2 feet by 3 feet pieces or smaller.

It seems that there is a well kept secret in Westlawn, and here and now, I am going to let the cat out of the bag.  Fairfax County will come out to your house, right to the street in front of your house, in fact, and will pick up large items of trash, branches, couches, mattresses, etc.  And, they don't even charge any extra for this fantastic service!  One of the fees/taxes that the county collects from homeowners (if you are a renter, there is still someone paying taxes on your house) is money for trash pickup. This trash pickup fee covers the weekly curbside pickup, and it also includes the items mentioned above.  There is one catch, however.  You must call them, at 703-550-3481. When you call, they will ask for your address, and a description of the items you have to be picked up.  That's it!   They don't even need your name. Make an effort, and make the call.  Help keep Westlawn clean.

Wheeled carts are "customer friendly" and easy to roll from home to curb. Should your trash exceed cart capacity, simply place overflow items in your own cans. (CAUTION: overflow containers may not exceed 50 lbs. each.) . . .  Wheeled carts are to be used for trash only, do not place yard debris in carts.  If you move, please note that the County-issued cart must remain at your current address. . . .  Currently, our crews pick up and empty trash in your neighborhood by hand.  This puts us at risk from injury caused by contact with sharp or unwieldy items or from repeated heavy lifting.  Wheeled trash carts are emptied using truck-mounted lifts and have three major benefits: reducing risk of injury by eliminating manual lifting; improving neighborhood appearance; and providing an easier way for you to take trash to the curb.

This document updates the 1995-1996 booklet previously mailed to your household entitled "Rules and Regulations Governing the Collection of Household Refuse and Recycling." (To obtain a replacement copy of the booklet, call 703-324-5040.)

• 1997 Holiday Schedule
• Severe Weather Information
• Christmas Tree Recycling Guidelines
• Important Set Out Reminders
• Special Collection Tips
• Safety Tips
• 24-Hour Recorded Information (call 703-550-3481)

Collection service occurs on all holidays except Christmas Day:

1997 - No collection on Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25th; customers receive next-day pickup on Friday, December 26th.

During severe weather, we want to keep your household informed! Please call 550-3481 for up-to-date 24-hour recorded information on trash and recycling collection operations.

Collections will be canceled when the following conditions exist:

Emergency Administrative Leave is in effect for Fairfax County Government (County offices are closed).
- or when -
Severe storm conditions jeopardize the safety of crews and vehicles.

Christmas trees do not require a request for special collection if they are placed at the curb during the first two weeks of January (January 1 - January 15). After January 15, you must call 703-550-3481 and request a special pickup. Trees must be free of stands, lights, and decorations! Collections will be made on your regular collection day.

• Refuse containers, recycling bins and yard debris must be at the curb or streetline by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled day of collection. Help us find your container! Remove blocking snow; always clear a spot for your container! Crews need a clear path to your trash and recyclables.


• Make sure that trash and yard debris are placed at least three (3) feet from one another at the curb. It is important that crews be able to visually distinguish between what should be disposed (trash) and what should be recycled (yard debris) to ensure proper treatment of each material.


• Refuse and yard debris containers must not exceed 32 gallons in capacity and/or 50 lbs. in weight when filled. There is no limit on the number of containers of refuse or yard debris generated from your property that may be placed on the curb.


• No more that four (4) tires will be collected on a single day.


• From April 1 - December 31, residents are required to set out leaves and grass clippings for separate collection. Large quantities of brush will be separately collected and recycled year round (Note: large quantities of brush require a special collection and must be prescheduled for pickup -- call 703-550-3481).

There are two types of "special collections."  One is for the removal of large, bulky items such as appliances, mattresses, furniture, metal and lumber. The second refers to large quantities of brush.  Collection alternates every other week between brush and bulk.

• Recorded information on the next available brush week: Call 703-550-3481; press "1," then "3," then "1."


• Recorded information on the next available bulk week: Call 703-550-3481; press "1," then "4," then "2."

Special collections must be prescheduled at least 24 hours in advance to assure pickup. Call 550-3481, M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Note that telephone lines are busiest Mondays and Tuesdays; midweek calls are encouraged and appreciated.

• To prevent injury to our crews, glass or other sharp objects should not be placed loose inside trash; instead, these items must be packed in sturdy cardboard boxes.  The boxes must weigh less than 50 pounds, be completely enclosed, taped, and have contents visibly labeled.


• To allow for safe collection, please do not allow recyclables or trash to extend out over the top of the containers.


• Pet manure and/or disposable diaper contents will not be collected. Diaper contents should be flushed; throw away only the diaper.


• Household hazardous waste (e.g., automotive fluids, solvents, pesticides, paint thinners, oil-based paints, etc.) must be disposed of at special County collection sites.  Call 703-324-5068 for details.


• Fireplace ashes must cool for at least 72 hours before they are set out at the curb.

Call 24 hours a day and get all the background information you need on County trash and recyclables service!  To serve you better, we have recently automated our central customer service line, 550-3481.  If you require additional assistance, Customer Service Representatives are available M-F from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. TTY: 1-800-828-1120.