Elimination Of Vacuum Leaf Collection On Pause In Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Residents receiving Fairfax County's leaf vacuum collection service can continue to leave their leaf piles at the curb for now.

A county staff proposal to permanently end the leaf vacuum collection was supposed to be presented to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors this fall. However, staff postponed the proposal, meaning vacuum leaf service will continue through at least the 2025-2026 winter season. There will not be a public hearing on the proposal in 2023.

The change would have impacted about 25,000 homes in small pockets of Fairfax County that receive the service, which include parts of the Seven Corners, Bailey's Crossroads, Lake Barcroft, West Falls Church, McLean, Dunn Loring, Rose Hill, Groveton, Hybla Valley and Fort Hunt communities.

The pause on the proposal came after a county survey found most respondents support keeping the service, and many need more information about alternatives to manage leaves. Although the service continues for now, the county will do outreach on environmentally-friendly alternatives to vacuum leaf collection that residents can do in their yards.

According to the county, "seasonal vacuum leaf service is not necessary to maintain healthy trees, has negative environmental impacts, detracts from the County’s core residential trash collection service, and creates public safety challenges."

Residents can still petition to voluntarily withdraw from the leaf vacuum collection service.