Alexandria Trash Pickup, Recycling, Yard Waste & Holiday Schedule 2026
This Alexandria, VA guide is built like a local resident’s working checklist: how to find your weekly pickup day, when to put containers out, what happens on holidays, what belongs in recycling, how yard waste and bulky yard waste work, where to drop off glass, HHW and electronics, and when to use Alex311.
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Alexandria trash pickup schedule garbage collection is address-based. City trash, recycling, and yard waste are collected once weekly, Monday through Thursday. Use the official Refuse Pickup Day Map and Recycle Pickup Day Map from the City of Alexandria to confirm your collection day before placing containers out.
Set out trash, recycling, and yard waste containers no earlier than 5:00 PM the day before collection and no later than 6:00 AM on collection day. During hot-weather operations from May 1 through September 30, crews may start earlier, so the 6:00 AM deadline matters.
Alexandria Trash Pickup Day Lookup — Find Your Exact Refuse and Recycling Day
Alexandria’s trash day is not one citywide date. Your collection day depends on where your property is located. The safest resident workflow is to check your official pickup day first, then confirm whether your address is a required City service user, and finally set reminders for trash, recycling, yard waste, and holiday slide weeks.
Open the Refuse Pickup Day Map
Use the official City of Alexandria Refuse Collection page and open the pickup day map. Enter your exact street address, not only the ZIP code.
Check recycling separately
The same page links to the Recycle Pickup Day Map. Confirm both trash and recycling rather than assuming both maps always show the same detail for your address.
Save the set-out window
Containers should go out no earlier than 5:00 PM the day before collection and no later than 6:00 AM on collection day.
Use Alex311 if the map or service is unclear
If your address is not clear, if you are unsure where collection occurs, or if your material was not collected and there was no oops tag, contact Alex311.
Official lookup path: Open the City Refuse Collection page, then use the Refuse Pickup Day Map and Recycle Pickup Day Map links.
Open Pickup PageAlexandria City Collection Eligibility — Houses, Duplexes, Townhouses, Condos and Apartments
City collection is mainly for Alexandria residents in detached single-family homes, duplexes, and some townhouses with four or fewer units. Commercial properties and condominium complexes are not required users, although they may participate at the City’s discretion for a fee.
- Detached single-family homes.
- Duplexes.
- Some townhouses with four or fewer units.
- Addresses where a refuse fee appears in the property tax history.
- Residents who receive City trash and recycling containers.
- Condos and apartment complexes.
- Commercial properties.
- HOA-managed communities.
- Old Town properties with alley collection or limited cart access.
- Properties using private trash or recycling contracts.
Local resident check: If you are renting, ask your landlord or property manager whether the refuse fee is included and whether the building uses City collection or private hauling. If you live in a condo or apartment, do not copy single-family curbside rules until your building confirms service.
Alexandria Trash Set-Out Rules — Containers, Old Town Alleys, Oops Tags and Summer Pickup
Trash should be bagged and placed in a City-provided container. Recyclables should be placed loose in the City recycling container, and yard waste should be in paper yard-waste bags or reusable rigid containers. The wrong container or wrong material can turn a normal pickup into a missed-collection problem.
- Set out trash, recycling and yard waste after 5:00 PM the day before pickup.
- Have everything out by 6:00 AM on collection day.
- Use City-provided trash and recycling containers when available.
- Place material at the normal curb or alley collection point.
- Remove collection containers from public property after service.
- Check for an oops tag if something is left behind.
- Do not put recycling in plastic bags.
- Do not mix trash with recycling.
- Do not use the City trash cart for yard waste if you want it composted.
- Do not set out items longer than 4 feet unless the correct service allows it.
- Do not place construction debris, dirt, brick, stones, gasoline or undried paint curbside.
- Do not block sidewalks, alleys, driveways, parked cars or collection access.
Old Town and limited-access homes
If you live in Old Town Alexandria or a townhouse community with limited access, your location may prevent use of the standard City trash cart. The City says residents in these situations should use approved trash containers for bagged trash outdoors. When in doubt, ask Alex311 where your trash should be placed.
Summer detail: From May 1 through September 30, the City notes that refuse and recycling should be placed for collection before 6:00 AM because crews may start earlier to avoid spring and summer heat.
Alexandria 2026 Holiday Trash Pickup Schedule — When Collection Slides One Day
Alexandria uses a holiday “slide” schedule. When a City-recognized holiday is observed on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, trash, recycling and yard waste usually slide one day later for the remainder of that week. Thanksgiving is a major exception in 2026 because the City lists normal trash, recycling, yard waste and leaf collection on Thanksgiving Day.
| Holiday / Event | 2026 Date | Collection Impact | Resident Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Jan. 1, Thursday | Thursday collection slides to Friday, Jan. 2. | Earlier week routes listed before Jan. 1; verify year-start dates. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Jan. 19, Monday | Monday-Thursday routes slide one day. | Monday becomes Tuesday; Thursday becomes Friday. |
| Presidents’ Day | Feb. 16, Monday | Trash, recycling, yard waste and leaf collection slide one day. | Check food waste notes separately. |
| National Public Works Event | May 21, Thursday | Thursday collection delayed to Friday, May 22. | Only Thursday affected according to the calendar. |
| Memorial Day | May 25, Monday | Monday-Thursday routes slide one day. | HHW/Electronics Center closed Monday. |
| Juneteenth | June 19, Friday | No trash/recycling/yard waste impact listed. | Use normal schedule unless City posts update. |
| Independence Day | July 4, Saturday | No collection impact listed. | Normal weekday service expected. |
| Labor Day | Sept. 7, Monday | Monday-Thursday routes slide one day. | Food waste also delayed one day in listed routes. |
| Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Oct. 12, Monday | Trash, recycling and yard waste slide one day. | HHW/Electronics Center closed Monday. |
| Veterans Day | Nov. 11, Wednesday | Wednesday and Thursday routes slide one day. | Monday and Tuesday remain normal. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Nov. 26, Thursday | Trash, recycling, yard waste and leaf collection follow normal schedule. | Food waste does not slide in listed 2026 note. |
| T&ES Winter All Hands | Dec. 10, Thursday | Thursday route delayed to Friday, Dec. 11. | Check City alerts that week. |
| Christmas Eve / Christmas Day | Dec. 24-25 | Trash, recycling, yard waste and leaf collection not impacted in listed calendar. | Friday food waste delayed to Saturday, Dec. 26. |
Do not guess from another city. Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Falls Church and Washington, DC run different waste programs. Use the City of Alexandria holiday calendar for Alexandria service only.
Alexandria Recycling Pickup — No Plastic Bags, Glass Drop-Off and 24-Hour Recycling Centers
Alexandria collects recycling weekly for eligible City collection customers. Recyclables should be loose in the blue City-provided recycling container. Plastic bags cause sorting problems and should not be used for curbside recycling.
- Aluminum and steel cans.
- Plastic bottles and jugs.
- Mixed paper, newspaper, magazines and catalogs.
- Junk mail and envelopes.
- Paperboard such as cereal boxes and paper towel rolls.
- Flattened, empty cardboard.
- Plastic bags, wrap or film.
- Styrofoam blocks, cups and trays.
- Glass bottles and jars in the blue bin.
- Garden hoses, cables, chains and other tanglers.
- Food waste or food-contaminated packaging.
- Hazardous waste, electronics or propane tanks.
Where does glass go in Alexandria?
Glass bottles and jars are not accepted in the blue single-stream recycling bin. Use the City’s purple glass-only drop-off bins at recycling drop-off locations. This is a high-impact sorting detail because many residents still assume glass belongs in the blue bin.
24/7 drop-off centers: Alexandria lists four recycling drop-off centers open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Recycling Drop-Off CentersAlexandria Yard Waste Pickup — Paper Bags, Reusable Containers and 45-Pound Limit
Yard waste is collected on the same day as trash and recycling for eligible City service customers. The City does not provide paper bags or reusable containers for yard waste, but adhesive labels are available by request for reusable containers.
- Use reusable, hard-sided containers or paper yard-waste bags.
- Place yard waste next to your trash cart.
- Each bag or container must weigh less than 45 pounds.
- Keep leaf bags separate in autumn.
- Set yard waste out no earlier than 5:00 PM the day before collection.
- Have it out by 6:00 AM on collection day.
- Plastic bags.
- Too-heavy bags or containers.
- Dirt, soil, mulch, sod, rocks, stones or stumps.
- Construction debris mixed with brush.
- Dangerous liquids such as gasoline or undried paint.
- Yard waste mixed with regular trash.
Micro-level tip: Do not use your City-issued trash container for yard waste if you want the material recovered as yard waste. The City warns that yard waste in the trash container is treated as regular trash.
Alexandria Bulky Yard Waste, Metal Items and Appliance Pickup — What Needs an Appointment
Brush, branches and logs that are too bulky or heavy to fit into a container are collected curbside by request. Residents should schedule bulky yard waste collection online through Alex311. Metal household appliances and large metal items may also require a special request or fee.
- Branches/logs must be less than 18 inches in diameter.
- Branches/logs must be less than 10 feet long.
- No tree stumps.
- Place brush curbside, not in the yard or alley.
- Keep 25 feet of overhead clearance.
- Keep 10 feet of clearance from parked cars.
- Schedule metal or appliance pickup through Alex311.
- Refrigerant-containing items need special handling.
- The City lists a $20 curbside appliance pickup fee for eligible City disposal customers.
- Refrigerant-containing items can also be taken to the HHW/Electronics Center.
- Do not place appliances out without checking the fee/request path.
Do not mix lumber or construction debris with brush. The City specifically warns against construction debris, dirt, brick, stones and similar material in curbside collection. Those materials generally require private disposal or a facility that accepts them.
Alexandria Food Waste and Curbside Composting — What Residents Should Check
Alexandria’s Resource Recovery program includes food waste and curbside composting resources. Food waste collection can follow a different delay note than trash, recycling and yard waste during some holidays, so residents should check the holiday calendar carefully instead of assuming all streams slide the same way.
- Use the City’s food waste and composting resources.
- Check whether you are eligible for curbside composting.
- Watch holiday notes because food waste may slide differently.
- Use farmers’ market composting or backyard composting if curbside is not available.
- Some 2026 holidays list food waste as regular schedule.
- Some 2026 holidays list food waste as delayed one day.
- Christmas 2026 notes Friday food waste delayed to Saturday.
- Always read the food waste line separately on the holiday calendar.
Alexandria HHW, Electronics, Batteries and Disposal Facilities — Where to Take Items the Truck Will Not Collect
Not everything belongs in weekly trash or recycling. The City provides a Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Center for City residents only, plus local disposal facility guidance for materials that cannot be collected curbside.
- Location: 3224 Colvin Street, Alexandria, VA.
- For City residents only; proof of residency required.
- Accepts household hazardous waste and electronics.
- Leave hazardous materials in original labeled containers.
- Seal and package containers for safe transport.
- Do not mix chemical substances.
- Monday: 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, except holidays.
- Saturday: 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, except holidays.
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday: closed.
- Check holiday closures before going.
Reworld Alexandria Waste-to-Energy Facility
Alexandria residents can drop off small amounts of metal, non-metal items, brush and yard waste once per week, up to 500 pounds, free of charge at Reworld Alexandria. No household trash is accepted, and residents must show proof of residency. The facility is at 5301 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA.
Do not bring the wrong item: Reworld does not accept household trash, stumps, rocks, dirt, sand, pressurized cylinders, construction debris, hazardous waste, ammunition, explosives, regulated medical waste, tires, televisions, electronics, liquids or radioactive/geological materials.
HHW / Electronics Center Map
Missed Trash Pickup Alexandria VA — What to Check Before Filing an Alex311 Ticket
If your trash, recycling or yard waste is not collected by the end of the day, check for an oops tag first. The tag usually explains the reason: too heavy, wrong material, mixed streams, item too long, hazardous liquid, construction debris or another preparation issue.
Confirm the day and holiday slide
Use the official map and holiday calendar. If a holiday occurred earlier in the week, your route may have slid one day.
Check the oops tag
If the crew left a tag, fix the issue before submitting a missed collection ticket. The City emphasizes correct preparation for safe and neat collection.
Match the right service stream
Trash, recycling, yard waste, bulky yard waste, appliance pickup, food waste, HHW and drop-off each have different rules. Do not report a curbside miss if the item needed a special appointment.
Use Alex311 if there is no tag
If there is no oops tag and the material was prepared correctly, request a missed collection ticket through Alex311 or call 703-746-4311.
Official missed pickup route: Use Alex311 when material was prepared correctly and no oops tag explains the issue.
Open Alex311Alexandria Waste Video Guide — Official Video Check
No official relevant embeddable video was found from the City of Alexandria Resource Recovery Division, Transportation & Environmental Services, or an official waste authority page at the time of writing. Because no verified official video was found, this article does not embed a random YouTube or creator video.
Best for: Alexandria residents should use the official written City links below for pickup maps, holiday slides, yard waste rules, recycling drop-off, HHW/electronics, missed collection and disposal facility details.
If the City later publishes or directly links an official trash, recycling, yard waste, curbside composting, HHW or Alex311 video, it should be added here using the official embed URL only.
Alexandria Trash Pickup Phone Numbers, Official Links, Address and Map
| Need | Official Contact | Use This For |
|---|---|---|
| Alex311 | 703-746-4311 | Missed pickup, cart issues, bulky yard waste requests, collection questions. |
| Resource Recovery | Official Resource Recovery page | Trash, recycling, yard waste, food waste, HHW and drop-off programs. |
| HHW / Electronics Center | 3224 Colvin Street, Alexandria, VA | Household hazardous waste and electronics for City residents with proof of residency. |
| Reworld Alexandria | 5301 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA / 703-370-7722 | Eligible resident drop-off for limited metal, non-metal, brush and yard waste. |
| City Hall | 301 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 | General City government routing and official public service reference. |
City Hall Map
Official Alexandria Waste Links
Related Trash Pickup Guides — Internal Links for Nearby and Similar Collection Help
These related guides help residents compare pickup rules, holiday delays, bulk scheduling and recycling systems in nearby or similar service areas. They also keep similar trash-pickup.org pages connected for better user navigation and indexing.
Alexandria Trash Pickup FAQ — Local Questions Residents Actually Ask
Source Verification and Editorial Note
Independent information guide — not affiliated with the City of Alexandria, Alex311 or Resource Recovery. trash-pickup.org is a public information resource. We do not operate trash collection, recycling pickup, yard waste collection, curbside composting, HHW/electronics drop-off, recycling centers, bulky yard waste pickup or Alex311.
Trash collection timing, eligibility, set-out rules, holiday slide guidance, yard waste rules, recycling restrictions, glass drop-off, HHW/electronics center details, disposal facility notes and official contact details were checked against official City of Alexandria resources as of May 2026. Schedules, routes, fees, hours, accepted items and service alerts can change. Always verify through Alexandria Resource Recovery and Alex311 before acting.
Official Sources — Verified May 2026
- City of Alexandria — Resource Recovery
- City of Alexandria — Refuse Collection
- City of Alexandria — Resource Recovery Holiday Collection Calendar
- City of Alexandria — Yard Waste Recycling
- City of Alexandria — Recycling Drop-Off Centers
- City of Alexandria — HHW and Electronics Collection
- City of Alexandria — Local Solid Waste Disposal Facilities
- Alex311 Service Requests
Franklin TN Trash Tools
Holiday calculator | Buck-A-Bag counter | Recycling checker
Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Call (615) 794-1516 to confirm