End To Vacuum Leaf Collection Considered By Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — After the upcoming fall season, the vacuums collecting leaves for Fairfax County's collection customers could be put away for good.

Fairfax County is considering eliminating its vacuum leaf service after the upcoming 2023-2024 leaf collection season. The change would impact 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.

Ending the vacuum leaf collection program would require approval by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors this fall. If the service ended, residents could set out leaves as yard waste, hire a contractor to provide vacuum leaf service, or manage leaves through mulching or backyard composting. If the program ends, so would the special tax of $0.012 per $100 of a home's assessed value that residents in the vacuum leaf sanitary districts pay.

"Providing vacuum leaf collection has negatively impacted our ability to deliver core trash, recycling, and yard waste collection services and cannot be provided consistently and safely for all customers," said Fairfax County's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services on its website.

Leaf collection typically happens with three collections between November and January. According to the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, equipment is typically only used during leaf season, and the equipment cannot collect frozen leaves.

A survey is available through Aug. 18 on the vacuum leaf collections.