Residents Urged To Not Put Trash At Fairfax Glass Recycling Sites

FAIRFAX, VA — A new concern arose at the purple glass recycling bins that replace curbside recycling of glass products in Fairfax County.

The county tweeted out photos of apparent trash dumped outside the purple recycling bins. Officials asked residents to avoid this illegal dumping, as the trucks that collect at the purple bins are not able to handle trash. As a result, a separate collection is required for the trash.

Fairfax County stopped curbside recycling of glass in October 2019, citing costs of recycling glass as well as broken glass contaminating other recyclable materials. The change means residents must put glass products in the trash or take them to the purple glass recycling bins.

The purple bins only accept all colors of glass bottles and jars, and the materials must be clean. Items not accepted include lamps, light bulbs, ceramics, porcelain, mirrors, windows and sheet glass.

Several jurisdictions are offering purple recycling bins, with recycled glass processed into sand and gravel for paving, construction, landscaping and other purposes. To date, Fairfax County has 13 purple bin locations.

Since several jurisdictions launched glass collections at the purple recycling bins, over 4 million pounds of glass was collected, according to a Fairfax County report in late January. Some Fairfax County purple recycling bins see collections twice a week due to the high interest, while other collections happen once a week.

Find locations of the glass recycling bins below.