Landfill & Drop-off Services
- Trash & Recycling
The Virginia Beach Landfill and Resource Recovery Center offer a range of services following strict environmental standards. Before landfilling your discards forever, consider whether they have value. Donate gently used items. Recycle what can be recycled, even beyond what can go in the blue cart. If your discards have no further use, please practice proper disposal, especially with potentially hazardous materials.
Residential vehicles only.
Residential vehicles are defined as those that are privately owned, noncommercial automobiles, pickup trucks, station wagons, passenger vans, and minivans. Examples of nonresidential vehicles are those with ladder racks, commercial signage, work equipment, trailers longer than 10 feet, and cargo or panel vans.
Proof of Virginia Beach residency is required. This includes a valid Virginia driver's license with the resident's primary Virginia Beach address. Residents without a local driver's license must produce a utility bill, rent receipt, or check draft (with name on documentation matching picture ID.)
Due to the potential risk of fire, the landfill restricts trailers from bringing in yard waste. Trailers 10 feet and smaller are permitted. Any trailer that is over 10 feet or has a dump bed will be turned away.
The City reserves the right to refuse landfill access when: there is unsafe weather, lack of storage area, mechanical breakdowns, or if the material is not needed at that time.
Only use the landfill for items that can’t be discarded at the Resource Recovery Center or Recycling Drop-Off. Staff members are available to answer questions about what items can be recycled.
Residents are not allowed on the landfill. They must instead put items in the convenience center containers. Items can’t be left outside the containers, so bring someone to help lift items if needed.
The following items are not accepted at the landfill:
- All waste materials generated from commercial operations
- Animal carcasses
- Animal manure
- Bagged yard debris
- Boats
- Commercial tires, agricultural equipment, and industrial tires
- Oil drums (unless both ends are cut out and rinsed)
- Dust or severely dust-laden waste
- Hazardous waste
- Heavy construction and demolition rubble
- Large quantities of cable, wire rope, and similar materials
- Large tree trunk stumps and timber over 6 inches in diameter, unless cut to firewood length (18 inches)
- Loose and bagged leaves
- Materials containing friable asbestos
- Medical waste
- PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) waste
- Radioactive waste
- Railroad ties and creosote-treated materials
- Special waste - including contaminated soil, pesticide containers, sandblasting wastes, sludge, etc.
- Engine blocks, transmissions, and axles, unless disassembled and drained of free liquids
- Waste deemed unacceptable by the landfill superintendent or designee or prohibited by the city’s operating permit.
The landfill is closed during city-observed holidays and during inclement weather such as high winds, lightning, icy roads, snow, or other unsafe conditions.
Items that can be placed in your blue carts for curbside pick-up are accepted at the Recycling Drop-Off Center. Please break down all cardboard boxes before placing them in the bins. All containers must be emptied and rinsed.
The following items are accepted:
- Paper: office paper, newspaper, junk mail, magazines, phone books, paper bags
- Cardboard and chipboard: flattened, unwaxed, clean, and dry
- Plastic bottles Nos. 1 -7. NO plastic bags.
- Cartons, including food and beverage cartons (juice, milk, soy milk, soup, broth, etc.)
- Glass bottles and jars: clear, green, and brown; remove and discard lids.
- Metals: aluminum, steel, or tin food and beverage cans; clean aluminum foil
Only waste generated at the primary residence of Virginia Beach citizens may be received at the Virginia Beach Landfill and Resource Recovery Center. Waste must be delivered in a privately owned, non-commercial automobile, station wagon, passenger van or minivan, unmodified low-sided pickup truck, or a trailer that is no larger than a pickup truck bed.
The Resource Recovery Center accepts the following:
Batteries
- Automotive and all rechargeable batteries such as Lithium-ion, Ni-Cd, Ni-MH
- The scale attendant must be informed that batteries are included in a load. These items should be dropped off at the household hazardous waste facility and not be commingled with other items.
Concrete, brick, and stone
- Free of steel reinforcement and other materials
- Cooking grease and oil
Electronics
- Calculators, cameras, cell phones, computer monitors, computers, DVD players, electronic scanners, electronic tablets, e-readers, facsimile machines, laptops, MP3 players, printers, Radios, Televisions, TTYs
- No CRT televisions or monitors
Household hazardous waste
- Aerosol spray cans, automotive fluids, herbicides, pesticides, household cleaners, gasoline (up to 5 gallons), fertilizer, free liquids, pool chemicals, CFLs or fluorescent tubes, oil- and water-based paint, propane tanks
Metal
Appliances
- Appliances containing freon gases brought by citizens from their primary residence in Virginia Beach will be processed and disposed of free of charge.
- Aluminum, Bed Frames, Electrical Cords, Ferrous Metal, Lawn Mowers, Metal Lawn Furniture, Stainless Steel
Oyster and clamshells
Porcelain
- Porcelain toilets and sinks must be stripped of plastic and metal parts.
- No non-porcelain bathroom fixtures such as cast cultured plastics
- No cardboard
- Tires
Up to four automobile or light truck tires with or without rims can be disposed of free of charge by Virginia Beach citizens from their primary residence.
Wood pallets
Yard debris
- Brush and branches will be accepted up to 6 inches in diameter.
- Branches larger than 6 inches in diameter must be cut lengthwise into pieces no longer than 18 inches (firewood length).
- No commercial yard waste is accepted.
- Note: The Public Works Department Waste Management Division has a contract for recycling yard waste. The best way for residents to ensure these materials are recycled is to put the bagged material to the curb for collections. The landfill isn’t equipped to recycle bagged yard waste.
There are many opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle in Virginia Beach. Before discarding your items in your black can or taking them to the landfill, check these alternative recycling resources and drop-off locations. Help us keep Virginia Beach beautiful, one item at a time.