Alexandria, VA trash pickup schedule

Alexandria trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.

Population 160,662 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked October 30, 2026Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.

Contents10 sections

Quick answer

Who collects	The city collects: City of Alexandria Resource Recovery Division (T&ES); recycling collected under contract by Bates Trucking; optional curbside food waste by Compost Crew City service covers detached single-family homes, duplexes and some townhouses with four or fewer units (Solid Waste User Fee on the real estate tax bill). Commercial properties and condominium complexes are not required users but may participate at the City's discretion for a fee; buildings without City service use private trash service.²⁴¹³
How often	Trash weekly, recycling weekly, same day as trash, yard waste weekly, same day as trash and recycling²⁴⁶
Set out	no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day (May 1-Sept 30 crews start an hour earlier: out before 6 a.m.); curb in most neighborhoods, alleys in most of Old Town²
Your pickup day	Zone map: experience.arcgis.com² · Look up your day here
Holiday	Veterans Day, Wed, Nov 11, 2026: Delayed one day. Wednesday: only Wed and Thu routes slide (Wed on Thu Nov 12, Thu on Fri Nov 13); food waste normal³

Bulk items: set-days (bulky household items next to the trash can on your regular collection day, any time of year; bulky metal/appliances and bulky yard waste by Alex311 request) (details). Drop-off sites: 3 listed (hours and fees).

Alexandria holiday trash schedule 2026

City’s rule	On City-observed holidays falling Monday-Thursday, trash, recycling and yard waste collection slides one day later for the rest of that week; exception: Thanksgiving, when Thursday collection runs on schedule. Some holidays are partial (see observed list).²³
Official notice	alexandriava.gov³
Other changes	Trash, recycling, yard waste, and leaf collection will be delayed one day only on Thursday, May 21.³ Trash, recycling, yard waste, and leaf collection will be delayed one day only on Thursday, December 10.³

Alexandria trash pickup on holidays, 2026
Holiday	Date	Pickup	What the city says
New Year's Day	Thu, Jan 1, 2026	Delayed one day	Thursday Jan 1: Thursday collection on Friday Jan 2 (Mon-Wed that week ran on their days, Dec 29-31)³
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Mon, Jan 19, 2026	Delayed one day	Mon-Thu routes one day later (Thu on Fri Jan 23); HHW center closed³
Presidents' Day	Mon, Feb 16, 2026	Delayed one day	Mon-Thu routes one day later (Thu on Fri Feb 20); food waste on regular schedule³
Memorial Day	Mon, May 25, 2026	Delayed one day	Mon-Thu routes one day later (Thu on Fri May 29)³
Juneteenth	Fri, Jun 19, 2026	No change	Friday; no impact³
Independence Day (Fourth of July)	Sat, Jul 4, 2026	No change	Saturday; no impact³
Labor Day	Mon, Sep 7, 2026	Delayed one day	Mon-Thu routes one day later (Thu on Fri Sep 11)³
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day	Mon, Oct 12, 2026	Delayed one day	Indigenous Peoples' Day: Mon-Thu routes one day later (Thu on Fri Oct 16)³
Veterans Day	Wed, Nov 11, 2026	Delayed one day	Wednesday: only Wed and Thu routes slide (Wed on Thu Nov 12, Thu on Fri Nov 13); food waste normal³
Thanksgiving Day	Thu, Nov 26, 2026	No change	Thursday collection takes place on Thanksgiving Day; food waste does not slide³
Christmas Eve	Thu, Dec 24, 2026	No change	City offices closed; no impact on collection³
Christmas Day	Fri, Dec 25, 2026	No change	Friday; trash/recycling/yard/leaf not impacted; Friday food waste moves to Sat Dec 26³

Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.

Sources: Trash Collection (Refuse Collection), Resource Recovery Holiday Collection Calendar Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Bulk trash pickup in Alexandria

How it works	set-days (bulky household items next to the trash can on your regular collection day, any time of year; bulky metal/appliances and bulky yard waste by Alex311 request)¹⁵
How to request	No booking for ordinary bulky items. Metal household appliances/large metal items: request via Alex311 (311 / 703.746.4311). Bulky yard waste (brush, logs, up to two felled trees): schedule online via Alex311. The HHW page gives 703.746.4410 (Resource Recovery Division) for the appliance pickup; appliances can also be self-hauled at no cost to Reworld, 5301 Eisenhower Ave. (proof of residency); refrigerant appliances go to the HHW center.⁶⁹¹²
Limits	items such as carpet or lumber must be under 4 feet; bulky yard waste: logs/branches under 18 in diameter and under 10 ft, no stumps, up to two felled trees²⁶
Fees	$20 per appliance for curbside appliance pickup; bulky household items with trash are covered by the Solid Waste User Fee⁹¹²
Not accepted	construction/building materials (asphalt, brick, concrete, drywall, etc.)² rocks, dirt, sand, stumps² household hazardous waste, electronics, rechargeable batteries (take to HHW center)² ammunition/explosives, radioactive/biological materials²

Sources: Trash Collection (Refuse Collection), Yard Waste Recycling, Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection, Local Solid Waste Disposal Facilities, Guide to Services 2025 (digital edition, PDF) Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Recycling in Alexandria

Pickup	weekly, same day as trash⁴
Type	single-stream⁴
Glass	drop-off only (purple glass-only bins; glass in curbside carts is not recycled)¹¹
Plastics	plastic bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, pails and buckets (the resin number alone does not decide recyclability)⁴

Accepted

mixed paper (office paper, newspaper, junk mail, magazines, phone books, paperback books, paperboard boxes)⁴
clean, unwaxed cardboard (break down large boxes); clean empty pizza boxes⁴
gable-top cartons (refrigerated milk and juice cartons)⁴
plastic bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, pails and buckets (lids on)⁴
metal food and beverage containers⁴
clean, empty, dry medication/vitamin bottles⁵

Not accepted

plastic bags, wrap and film; do not bag recyclables⁴
glass bottles and jars (use purple bins)⁴
small metal items (pots, pans, blinds), wire hangers⁴
coated paper, paper cups, waxed cardboard⁴
Styrofoam, packing peanuts, cups and trays⁴
tanglers (hoses, cables, chains)⁴
textiles, propane and helium tanks, hazardous and electronic waste⁴

Programs

Recycling carts: 18-gal bin, 35-gal or 65-gal cart; request/exchange via Alex311⁴
Four 24/7 recycling drop-off centers (S. Whiting St., 3224 Colvin St., 4251 Eisenhower Ave., Jones Point Park) with purple glass bins; glass bin also at MOM's Organic Market, 3831 Mt. Vernon Ave.¹⁰
Curbside food waste composting (opt-in, City fee-service customers): $5/month or $55/year, weekly, run by Compost Crew¹³

Sources: Recycling at Home (City Service), Recycling at Home in the City (Curbside Residential), Recycling Drop-Off Centers, Glass Recycling in Alexandria, Curbside Food Waste Composting Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups

Yard waste pickup	Yes⁶
Season	year-round⁶
How often	weekly, same day as trash and recycling⁶
Rules	rigid reusable containers or paper yard-waste bags (not the City trash can, not plastic bags); each under 45 lb; no dirt, sod, mulch, stumps, rocks; yard-waste labels for reusable containers available on request via Alex311⁶
Food scraps	opt-in curbside food waste composting, $5/month or $55/year, for City trash customers¹³
Christmas trees	Last published season (January 2026): natural trees at the regular yard waste point by 6 a.m. on collection day between Friday Jan 2 and Friday Jan 16; no bags, remove ornaments/lights/stands; ground into mulch. 2026-27 dates not yet published.⁸
Leaf collection	Nov 2026-Jan 2027: three leaf-vacuum passes across five zones (Residential Leaf Collection Viewer); paper leaf bags collected on regular collection day from Nov 3 to early Jan 2027; free paper bags at City facilities (limit 15 per visit)⁷

Sources: Yard Waste Recycling, Leaf Collection, Reduce Holiday Waste (Christmas tree collection), Curbside Food Waste Composting Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste

Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection Center

Type	Household hazardous waste
Run by	The city
Address	3224 Colvin Street, Alexandria, VA · Map⁹
Hours	Monday and Saturday 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.⁹
Fees	free⁹
Who can use it	Alexandria residents only (ZIPs 22301, 22302, 22304, 22305, 22311, 22312, 22314); government ID or utility bill⁹

Reworld Alexandria Waste-to-Energy Facility (resident drop-off)

Type	Transfer station
Run by	Reworld (City-designated residential drop-off)
Address	5301 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA · Map¹²
Hours	Mon-Fri 6 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat 6 a.m.-11:30 a.m.¹²
Fees	free, once per week, up to 500 lb of metal, non-metal items, brush and yard waste; no household trash¹²
Who can use it	Alexandria residents only; government ID (e.g. driver's license) or utility bill at the scale house; contractors turned away¹²

City recycling drop-off centers (S. Whiting St., 3224 Colvin St., 4251 Eisenhower Ave., Jones Point Park)

Type	Recycling center
Run by	The city
Address	see name¹⁰
Hours	24 hours a day, 7 days a week¹⁰
Fees	free (2025 Guide to Services lists the centers as 'Free')¹⁰
Who can use it	residents and small businesses¹⁰

Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.

Sources: Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection, Recycling Drop-Off Centers, Local Solid Waste Disposal Facilities Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Missed pickup and contacts

Missed pickup form	alex311.alexandriava.gov²
Phone	Alex311: 311 or 703.746.4311²
311	Alex311 (call 311 or 703.746.4311; online at alex311.alexandriava.gov)²
Official website	alexandriava.gov¹

Sources: Resource Recovery, Trash Collection (Refuse Collection) Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Nearby cities

All Virginia cities: Virginia trash pickup schedules.

Alexandria trash pickup FAQ

What day is trash picked up in Alexandria?

Trash is collected weekly. Alexandria does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s zone map (experience.arcgis.com).

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving Day 2026 in Alexandria?

Thanksgiving Day falls on Thu, Nov 26, 2026. No change: Thursday collection takes place on Thanksgiving Day; food waste does not slide

Is trash picked up on Christmas Day 2026 in Alexandria?

Christmas Day falls on Fri, Dec 25, 2026. No change: Friday; trash/recycling/yard/leaf not impacted; Friday food waste moves to Sat Dec 26

Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2026 in Alexandria?

New Year's Day falls on Thu, Jan 1, 2026. Delayed one day: Thursday Jan 1: Thursday collection on Friday Jan 2 (Mon-Wed that week ran on their days, Dec 29-31)

How do I get rid of bulky items in Alexandria?

set-days (bulky household items next to the trash can on your regular collection day, any time of year; bulky metal/appliances and bulky yard waste by Alex311 request). No booking for ordinary bulky items. Metal household appliances/large metal items: request via Alex311 (311 / 703.746.4311). Bulky yard waste (brush, logs, up to two felled trees): schedule online via Alex311. The HHW page gives 703.746.4410 (Resource Recovery Division) for the appliance pickup; appliances can also be self-hauled at no cost to Reworld, 5301 Eisenhower Ave. (proof of residency); refrigerant appliances go to the HHW center. Fees: $20 per appliance for curbside appliance pickup; bulky household items with trash are covered by the Solid Waste User Fee.

Does Alexandria recycle glass?

Glass: drop-off only (purple glass-only bins; glass in curbside carts is not recycled).

How do I report a missed trash pickup in Alexandria?

Use the city’s online form (alex311.alexandriava.gov) or call Alex311: 311 or 703.746.4311.

Sources

1
Resource RecoveryCity · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
2
Trash Collection (Refuse Collection)City · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
3
Resource Recovery Holiday Collection CalendarCity · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
4
Recycling at Home (City Service)City · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
5
Recycling at Home in the City (Curbside Residential)City · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
6
Yard Waste RecyclingCity · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
7
Leaf CollectionCity · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
8
Reduce Holiday Waste (Christmas tree collection)City · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
9
Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics CollectionCity · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
10
Recycling Drop-Off CentersCity · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
11
Glass Recycling in AlexandriaCity · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
12
Local Solid Waste Disposal FacilitiesCity · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
13
Curbside Food Waste CompostingCity · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
14
City Bulk Waste Pick Up Suspended Through April 10City · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
15
Guide to Services 2025 (digital edition, PDF)City · alexandriava.gov · checked October 30, 2026
16
Refuse Day Zone and Recycle Truck Zones layers (City of Alexandria GIS, ArcGIS Online)City · services2.arcgis.com · checked October 30, 2026

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Second-pass verification against every source: October 30, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.