Starting April 1, Fairfax City will no longer accept glass bottles and jars in curbside recycling containers. Residents are encouraged to reuse glass containers or take them to the purple, glass-only recycling containers located throughout the area. Glass that cannot be delivered to a purple container should be placed in the trash.
Recycling centers in our region are not equipped to sort glass collected in single-stream recycling (curbside collection programs). Glass containers break during collection and processing; liquids in the glass bottles and jars negatively impact paper and cardboard; and broken glass pieces can collect in other processed materials, which is hazardous to machinery and workers. Glass received at the recycling center is processed as waste and hauled to a landfill.
Two years ago, Fairfax City joined the Purple Can Club, a regional recycling program with Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and other jurisdictions. This program provides glass-only containers for residents to drop off clean glass for recycling. Collecting recyclable glass separately results in a higher quality of glass and more of it. The source-separated glass is sold and recycled to make new bottles and jars.
When using the purple containers, resident should ensure their glass is empty, clean, and dry. Labels and lids may be left on. If a container is full, please try another location or return on another day. Do not leave glass outside of the container.
Material that is not accepted: plastic bags/wrap; lightbulbs and lamps; ceramics, Pyrex, and porcelain; and mirrors, windows, and plate glass.
City residents can use any of the purple containers in the region. Conveniently located drop-off locations in or near Fairfax City include:
- Burkholder Center: 10700 Page Ave., Fairfax
- I-66 Transfer Station: 4618 West Ox Road., Fairfax
- Fairfax County Government Center: 12000 Government Center Parkway., Fairfax
- Providence Community Center: 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax
