Solid Waste Management

 

Motor oil, oil filters, and anti-freeze from residents are accepted at the County Landfill and  Compost Facility during normal operating hours. 

See A to Z Disposal Guide for more details.

 

Residents using the Landfill or Balls Ford Road site must place regular household and rechargeable batteries, including nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH), lithium-ion (Li-ion), small, sealed lead (Pb) batteries in designated bins. Please place tape over the terminals or place them in individual plastic bags to prevent the batteries from short-circuiting and possibly resulting in a fire.

In addition to the disposal of batteries at Solid Waste facilities, residents may also drop batteries and cell phones at retail locations throughout the community. Collection containers can be found at retailers such as Home Depot, Lowes, Staples, Sears, and Best Buy. A list of collection sites and addresses can also be found at http://www.call2recycle.org.

Cell phones and rechargeable batteries can be recycled at Prince William County Solid Waste facilities.

See A to Z Disposal Guide for details and times.

Construction and Demolition Debris (C&D) - The County limits C&D disposal at the landfill because it is bulky and takes up a large amount of space. By restricting construction debris, the County can save valuable space for future municipal solid waste disposal needs. PWC residents may dispose of small amounts of C&D from home improvement projects. There is no charge for regular-size pick-up truck loads (2.5 cubic yards); larger loads are not accepted. The Solid Waste Fee does not include the disposal of large amounts of construction and demolition debris.

Businesses and contractors may drop off small amounts of C&D, up to a regular-size pickup truck load (2.5 cubic yards) for $25, larger loads are not accepted.

For information about disposing of or recycling large amounts of construction and demolition debris, see this alternative disposal listing or call (703) 792-5750 (TTY:711) to get more information. Violations carry penalties and fines.

A Builder's Guide to Reuse & Recycling has been published by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG). This guide also contains information about the benefits of recycling, the basics of C&D recovery, tips for a job site collection, etc. Businesses and contractors may also consult the Internet or phone book for a list of C&D disposal facilities in the area.

 

Residents can recycle electronics through the County's Electronics Recycling program or a private firm.

See A to Z Disposal Guide for more details.

 

The American Flag Collection Center is available at Prince William County solid waste facilities. This service is available to residents and businesses.

The American Flag Collection Center is a joint effort between the Boy Scouts of America Occoquan and Bull Run Districts, Keep Prince William Beautiful and Prince William County Solid Waste Division.

A collection center is located at the County Landfill and the Compost Facility. Users may bring torn, faded, worn, or old American flags that have been folded and place them in the special collection bin during normal operating hours for the facility.

All flags received at the collection center will be picked up on a regular basis by local Boy Scout troops and distributed among the troops and local civic organizations, such as the VFW and American Legion to be retired in a Flag Retirement Ceremony. All flags are retired during a solemn, dignified ceremony.

In accordance with the United States Flag Code, all appropriate flags will be burned during the ceremony in a manner consistent with the traditions of the responsible organization.

 

Residents can dispose of products with freon, such as refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners at the landfill for recycling. The freon is safely removed by a licensed company. Businesses can also recycle appliances, but they must have the freon removed first and provide documentation that the freon has been removed before bringing the appliance to the landfill.

See A to Z Disposal Guide for more details.

Glass bottles, jugs and jars can be brought to any purple bin location for recycling: 

• Prince William County Landfill
• Compost Facility 
• Dr. A. J. Ferlazzo Building parking lot
• James J. McCoart Building park lot at Greatbridge Rd./Prince William Pkwy.
• James Long Regional Park, Route 15 between Dominion Valley and Route 234
• Other purple bin locations are available in Northern Virginia.

Recycling trailers are also available at each Prince William location. 

Do not put drinking glasses, ceramics, cookware, incandescent light bulbs, mirrors, or windows in the purple bins. These items should be put in the trash if they are unsuitable for donation/reuse.

Florescent bulbs should be brought to the Household Hazardous Waste program for safe disposal.

See the A to Z Disposal Guide for more details.

These items are not accepted for recycling at the County Landfill or Compost Facility. Find a convenient plastic bag and film recycling collection location in the community at a grocery store or retailer, using a zip code.

Please recycle only clean, dry plastic bags and film. Remove receipts or any other items from bags*

These items are not accepted for recycling at the County Landfill or Compost Facility. Find a convenient plastic bag and film recycling collection location in the community at a grocery store or retailer, using a zip code.

Please recycle only clean, dry plastic bags and film at these special drop-off locations. Remove receipts or any other items from bags*

·Furniture wrap

·Electronic wrap

·Plastic retail bags (hard plastic and string handles removed)

·Plastic dry cleaning bags

·Plastic food storage bags (clean and dry) – (e.g. Ziploc® Bags)

·Plastic cereal box liners (if it tears like paper do not include)

·Tyvek® (remove or cut off labels)

·Plastic shipping envelopes, bubble wrap, and air pillows (deflate/remove labels if possible)

·Case wrap (e.g., snacks, water bottles)

·All clean, dry bags labeled #2 or #4

*Not all items are accepted at all drop-off locations. Please check with your local drop-off location to see what is accepted

Plastic Items Not Accepted at drop-off locations:

·NO frozen food bags

·NO prewash salad bags

·NO degradable bags

Metal items such as appliances, car parts, bicycles, swing sets, mowers (fluids removed), metal pipes, metal fixtures, metal siding, chain, microwave ovens, sheet metal, tire rims, fencing, cable, etc. may be brought to the Prince William County Solid Waste facilities and possibly scrap metal recyclers.

See A to Z Disposal Guide for more details.

1. Prepare your needles and sharps

Store in a rigid, puncture-resistant, plastic container with a screw-on lid. Examples include empty laundry detergent bottles with screw-on lids. You can also purchase a sharps disposable container from a pharmacy. Do NOT use a glass container.

Label the empty container, "Do not recycle: Household sharps."

Put used needles into the container point first. Note: Do not put unused medicines contained in sharps (epi-pens) in your container.

Only fill your container half full of needles and sharps.

Keep the lid screwed on the container to prevent spills.

2. Dispose of needles and sharps at the Landfill drop-box.

Staff will guide you to the needles and sharps drop-off area at the landfill. Your sharps must be in a proper container, and you will be responsible for placing your container into the drop-off bin. This service is available to residents, no business or medical offices.

Note: Sharps will not be accepted if not in a rigid, puncture-resistant, plastic container with a screw-on lid. Staff will not handle needles and sharps.

Visit www.pwcva.gov/disposalguide for additional information. 

Tires - The County Landfill or Compost Facility accepts up to four (4) tires (passenger and pick-up truck tires only) per month at no charge. No tires from businesses are accepted.