Recycling in Virginia
Where to recycle, donate or get rid of things in 29 cities and towns across Virginia. Pick your city, or search for your item. We also pick up anywhere in the state.
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Albemarle County
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Chesterfield County
Fairfax County
Frederick County
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Henrico County
Loudoun County
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Montgomery County
Other
Prince William County
Virginia rules
- DEQ: many manufacturers run take-back programs and many localities hold ongoing electronics collection events; contact your local recycling program manager for options. Source: Virginia DEQ: Computer & Electronics Recycling (opens in new tab)
- DEQ: many manufacturers have set up take-back programs or funded regional collection programs. Source: Virginia DEQ: Computer & Electronics Recycling (opens in new tab)
- Virginia's manufacturer recovery law covers computers only; televisions are expressly excluded. No separate Virginia TV recovery law was found in the Waste Management Act. Source: Code of Virginia 10.1-1425.27: Definitions (Computer Recovery and Recycling Act) (opens in new tab)
More Virginia rules (35)
- DEQ points residents with computers, TVs, cell phones and other electronics to its Computers and Electronics Recycling page. Source: Virginia DEQ: Recycling Guidance by Material (household hazardous waste) (opens in new tab)
- A Virginia locality may ban cathode ray tubes and mercury thermostats from its disposal facilities if it runs a recycling program able to handle all of them generated locally. Source: Code of Virginia 10.1-1425.26: Cathode ray tube and mercury thermostat special waste recycling program (opens in new tab)
- DEQ counts e-waste (computers, TVs, VCRs, stereos, copiers, fax machines) as special waste that mostly should not go out with regular trash. Source: Virginia DEQ: Special Waste (HHW, e-waste, white goods) (opens in new tab)
- Virginia levies a tire recycling fee on tire retailers of $0.50 for each new tire sold (since July 1, 2011). Source: Code of Virginia 58.1-641: Imposition of tire recycling fee (opens in new tab)
- The tire recycling fee is imposed on every retailer of tires in Virginia. Source: Code of Virginia 58.1-641: Imposition of tire recycling fee (opens in new tab)
- Tire recycling fee money goes to the Waste Tire Trust Fund, which pays for the state waste tire plan, partial reimbursement for using waste tires, and tire pile removal. Source: Code of Virginia 10.1-1422.3: Waste Tire Trust Fund established (opens in new tab)
- It is unlawful to store, dispose of or place more than 100 waste tires on public or private property without a permit. Source: Code of Virginia 10.1-1418.2: Improper disposal of tires; exemption; penalty (opens in new tab)
- DEQ: waste tires may be stored at tire replacement businesses, DMV-licensed salvage yards, permitted tire processors and solid waste facilities; ask your local Public Works office whether its collection center takes tires. Source: Virginia DEQ: Automotive Waste (vehicles, waste tires, fluids, batteries) (opens in new tab)
- DEQ runs a voluntary waste tire hauler registration; haulers must deliver collected tires directly to a processor or licensed disposal point. Source: Virginia DEQ: Automotive Waste (vehicles, waste tires, fluids, batteries) (opens in new tab)
- Private owners cleaning up certified tire piles may get Red Stamps that waive a tip fee at a participating tire recycler. Source: Virginia DEQ: Automotive Waste (vehicles, waste tires, fluids, batteries) (opens in new tab)
- It is unlawful to put a used lead acid battery in mixed municipal solid waste; it may go only to a battery retailer or wholesaler, a secondary lead smelter, or an authorized collection or recycling facility. Source: Code of Virginia 10.1-1425.1: Lead acid batteries; land disposal prohibited; penalty (opens in new tab)
- Improper disposal of a lead acid battery is punishable by a fine of up to $50 per battery. Source: Code of Virginia 10.1-1425.1: Lead acid batteries; land disposal prohibited; penalty (opens in new tab)
- DEQ: you can also ask your local Public Works office whether the county or city solid waste collection center accepts vehicle batteries. Source: Virginia DEQ: Automotive Waste (vehicles, waste tires, fluids, batteries) (opens in new tab)
- Virginia has no statewide rechargeable battery trash ban, but a locality may ban rechargeable batteries (removable dry-cell, under two pounds) from its disposal facilities if it runs a recycling program for them. Source: Code of Virginia 10.1-1425.39: Rechargeable battery recycling and disposal program (opens in new tab)
- Virginia law lists nickel, cadmium, mercuric oxide, manganese, zinc-carbon and lead batteries among household hazardous wastes. Source: Code of Virginia 10.1-1400: Definitions (Virginia Waste Management Act) (opens in new tab)
- DEQ: white goods (stoves, washers, water heaters, refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers) may contain refrigerants, oil, PCBs or mercury that must be removed before recycling or disposal. Source: Virginia DEQ: Special Waste (HHW, e-waste, white goods) (opens in new tab)
- DEQ lists washers among white goods that may contain fluids or parts to be removed before recycling or disposal; check with your locality. Source: Virginia DEQ: Special Waste (HHW, e-waste, white goods) (opens in new tab)
- Refrigerants should not be vented to the air or drained to the ground or sewer. Source: Virginia DEQ: Special Waste (HHW, e-waste, white goods) (opens in new tab)
- Check with your locality whether white goods are accepted; many landfills, transfer stations and scrap metal recyclers recover refrigerants for customers, possibly for a fee. Source: Virginia DEQ: Special Waste (HHW, e-waste, white goods) (opens in new tab)
- Many solid waste facilities and scrap metal recyclers handle refrigerant recovery for customers, but there may be a fee. Source: Virginia DEQ: Special Waste (HHW, e-waste, white goods) (opens in new tab)
- Virginia's vehicle mercury switch regulations were repealed in 2019; DEQ still asks that mercury switches be managed safely. Source: Virginia DEQ: Automotive Waste (vehicles, waste tires, fluids, batteries) (opens in new tab)
- The Waste Management Board must adopt regulations encouraging the recycling of mercury thermostats, CRTs and electronics; localities with recycling programs may ban mercury thermostats from disposal. Source: Code of Virginia 10.1-1425.26: Cathode ray tube and mercury thermostat special waste recycling program (opens in new tab)
- Many localities are starting to collect fluorescent bulbs; some retailers such as Ikea and Home Depot collect CFLs. Source: Virginia DEQ: Recycling Guidance by Material (household hazardous waste) (opens in new tab)
- Virginia law defines household hazardous waste as household waste that would otherwise be hazardous, including certain batteries, solvent-based paint and paint thinners, used motor oil, and fluorescent bulbs. Source: Code of Virginia 10.1-1400: Definitions (Virginia Waste Management Act) (opens in new tab)
- DEQ: many Virginia communities offer annual HHW collection events or permanent collection locations; check your county or city website. Source: Virginia DEQ: Recycling Guidance by Material (household hazardous waste) (opens in new tab)
- DEQ: if your community has no HHW program, or you cannot wait for the next event, you may put HHW in your regular trash, after drying or absorbing liquids. Source: Virginia DEQ: Recycling Guidance by Material (household hazardous waste) (opens in new tab)
- DEQ: many localities offer convenience centers or special collection days for HHW; check with your local Public Works office. Private vendors may offer free or fee-based services. Source: Virginia DEQ: Special Waste (HHW, e-waste, white goods) (opens in new tab)
- DEQ: your local government website or recycling coordinator is the best source for recycling and special collection events; for electronics or tires, contact your locality's Recycling Program Manager. Source: Virginia DEQ: Statewide Recycling Programs (opens in new tab)
- Every county, city, town or regional authority must run recycling programs meeting a minimum recycling rate of 15% or 25%, depending on density and unemployment. Source: Virginia DEQ: Virginia Recycling Mandates (opens in new tab)
- DEQ lists old paints and paint-related products as household hazardous waste and points residents to local convenience centers or collection days. Source: Virginia DEQ: Special Waste (HHW, e-waste, white goods) (opens in new tab)
- PaintCare's state list (California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington) does not include Virginia: there is no PaintCare paint stewardship program in Virginia. Source: PaintCare: Paint recycling and drop-off locations (state list) (opens in new tab)
- PaintCare runs paint recycling programs only in states with paint stewardship laws. Source: PaintCare: Paint recycling and drop-off locations (state list) (opens in new tab)
- The Mattress Recycling Council operates statewide mattress recycling only in California, Connecticut, Oregon and Rhode Island; Virginia has no state mattress program. Source: Mattress Recycling Council (opens in new tab)
- MRC operates recycling programs only in states that have passed mattress recycling laws. Source: Mattress Recycling Council (opens in new tab)
- With no Virginia mattress law, there is no MRC/Bye Bye Mattress program for mattresses or box springs in Virginia. Source: Mattress Recycling Council (opens in new tab)