UPDATE: New Trash Rule Delayed 'Til July in Fairfax City

PHOTO by Americandisposal.com

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UPDATE: Fairfax City will continue to collect yard waste in plastic bags from the curb until July 2017 and not start the program this week, as earlier announced.

This date change is due to policy adjustments by the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program, to include a grace period to allow municipalities to help residents prepare for the policy change, the City said.

The change will be implemented in the future because Fairfax County facilities will no longer accept yard debris in plastic bags — and the city is among area municipalities that work in cooperation with Fairfax County for its refuse and recycling services, according to the City announcement. Yard waste is used to create mulch (which is made available to the public), and plastic debris created with collection in plastic bags degrades the quality of resulting mulch product.

The City encourages residents to begin disposing of yard debris in sturdy, compostable paper bags and in toters/reusable containers. Yard waste paper bags may be purchased at area hardware and home improvement stores.

The City notes that in April, leaves will be collected curbside. During curbside collection periods, bagged leaves are not collected.

The City of Fairfax Public Works Department will provide curbside leaf collection on Tuesdays in April:

• April 12
• April 19
• April 26

Residents are asked to have leaves raked to the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day.

The city uses vacuum trucks with special dust filters to collect leaves curbside. However, despite the filters, there will be an unavoidable amount of dust as a by-product of this service, the City warns. For most people, this will be unnoticeable — but rest assured, it is harmless and will not damage property, the City noted.

Click here for more information on leaf collection service.