Navigating Trash and Recycling Pickup in Vienna, Virginia During the Holidays

The holidays often come with changes to normal trash and recycling pickup schedules. If you live in Vienna, Virginia, it’s important to be aware of any adjustments by the Town to ensure your waste is collected properly. This guide breaks down trash and recycling collection in Vienna, with a focus on schedule changes around holidays and other key times of year.

Overview of Regular Collection

Vienna provides weekly curbside pickup of trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulk items to residents. Pickup occurs on set days based on location:

• Mondays: North of Maple Ave, west of Mill St
• Tuesdays: North of Maple Ave, east of Mill St
• Wednesdays: South of Maple Ave, east of Park St
• Thursdays: South of Maple Ave, west of Park St, and Tapawingo Rd
• Fridays: South of Tapawingo Rd, west of Park St

Recycling is collected in a single-stream method, meaning all recyclables can go loosely into one bin. Yard waste must be contained in paper bags or reusable bins. Brush is collected in bundles no larger than 4’ x 4’ x 8’. One bulk item pile per house is allowed weekly, up to 8’ x 4’ x 4’.

Holiday Schedule Changes

The regular collection schedule is subject to changes around holidays and inclement weather. Major holidays that impact pickup are:

• New Year’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

If the holiday falls on a weekday, collection for the remainder of that week is pushed back by one day. For example, if the holiday is on Monday, Monday’s pickup moves to Tuesday, Tuesday’s moves to Wednesday, etc.

Two holidays – Thanksgiving and Christmas – span multiple collection days. Due to their length, pickup occurs as follows:

Thanksgiving: No collection on Thursday or Friday of the holiday week. The rest of that week stays the same. The following week, Thursday and Friday’s pickup is combined and completed on Friday.

Christmas: No collection on the holiday day (December 25) or on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day when they fall during the week. The rest of that week stays the same. The following week, Thursday and Friday’s pickup is combined and completed on Friday.

If New Year’s Day, Independence Day (July 4), or Christmas Eve fall on a Friday or Saturday, the holiday has no impact on the collection schedule.

The day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day are also not affected if they occur on a Saturday.

Inclement Weather Policy

Snow or icy conditions may also interrupt normal pickup. If weather causes unsafe road conditions, trash and recycling collection is suspended until conditions improve.

Once conditions are safe again, crews first complete the most recent day’s collection. After finishing the current day, they go back to pick up any missed collections from previous days.

So if snow forced a suspension on Monday, the crews would complete Monday’s collection first once they can safely drive again. Then they’d circle back for any missed stops from the previous Friday.

Notifications of Changes

The Town notifies residents of holiday schedule changes and weather delays through:

• Website notices: Current trash collection information is posted at https://www.viennava.gov/residents/town-services/trash-and-recycling

• Email and text alerts: Sign up for notifications at https://www.viennava.gov/list.aspx

• Recorded phone message: Call 703-255-6382 for a pre-recorded message about collection status

• Social media: Follow Vienna’s Facebook and Twitter pages

• Local news: Changes are shared with local TV stations and newspapers

If you’re unsure of your pickup status, check the resources above before putting waste at the curb. This avoids items being left out for extended periods if collection is delayed.

Holiday Tree Collection

Live Christmas trees are collected curbside each January. All decorations, lights, and stands must be removed. Trees can be set out any time after Christmas.

Note: Due to equipment limitations, artificial trees are not included in this service. They must be disposed of as a bulk item on your regular collection day.

Leaf Vacuuming

Every fall, Vienna vacuum trucks collect leaves raked to the curb. This complimentary leaf vacuuming typically runs from October through December.

Monitor the Town website and social media for the leaf collection schedule. Rake leaves to the curb in a long pile, but avoid piling them on storm drains or areas that could create traffic hazards.

Leaf collection may be delayed by snow or ice. If so, keep leaves piled until vacuum trucks can get around safely.

Quarterly Recycling Days

Four times a year on Saturdays, Vienna holds special collection events for:

• Electronics
• Automotive waste
• Scrap metal

These quarterly recycling days generally occur in March, June, September, and December. The exact dates are posted on Vienna’s event calendar at https://www.viennava.gov/calendar.aspx.

Loads can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Public Works Northside Yard, located at 600 Mill Street NE.

Key Takeaways

• Holiday and inclement weather delays push Vienna’s pickup days back by one, with Thursday and Friday combined the following week after Thanksgiving and Christmas.

• Check the Town website, email alerts, phone recording, or social media for current collection information.

• Christmas tree pickup runs each January with all decorations removed.

• Leaf vacuuming typically takes place October through December as weather allows.

• Special recycling days for electronics, car waste, and metal occur quarterly on Saturdays.

Stay up-to-date on any changes to Vienna’s normal trash and recycling collection by regularly checking the resources provided by the Town. Build reminders into your schedule for leaf and tree disposal periods. And above all, only place materials at the curb when you’ve confirmed the collection schedule to avoid items being left out indefinitely.