Recycling Center

New Hours

  • Vehicles Can Drive-In: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
    Otherwise, the center is closed to drive-in traffic, but customers may park and carry items in.
  • Pedestrians Can Walk-In: Monday through Sunday, dawn to dusk
    Parking is extremely limited outside the center.

About the Center


  • This self-serve facility provides a convenient place for residents and businesses to drop off commonly recycled items.
  • 217 Gordon Road, Falls Church, VA 22046

No Illegal Dumping


Illegal dumping is prohibited. This includes:
  • Items that cannot be recycled (Hazardous Waste, Furniture, propane tanks, etc.);
  • Items that are too big to place in the containers (large plastic container, plastic toys, etc.);
  • Items left outside the containers;
  • And improperly prepared items.
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Accepted Items and How to Prepare Them for Recycling


Please be aware of the following acceptable items and how to properly prepare them. Contaminated dumpsters at the Recycling Center could be thrown out by the processor -- please take care to prepare the items you want to recycle!

Clothing & Textiles
  • How to Prepare
    • Bag the items and drop off in the green bin just outside the entrance. Textiles must be clean.
  • Acceptable Items
    • Clothing, paired socks, belts, handbags and hats
    • Paired shoes tied together
    • Drapes and curtains
    • Sheets and towels
    • Fabric remnants 
  • Unacceptable Items
    • Pillows
    • Bedding
    • Rugs
    • Wet and mildewed cloth
Glass Containers
  • How to Prepare
    • Rinse
    • Lids and labels are okay
    • Do not include bags in the container at the Recycling Center
  • Acceptable Items
    • Glass bottles
    • Glass jars
  • Unacceptable Items
    • Light bulbs
    • Mirrors
    • Windows
    • Pyrex or cooking pans
Scrap Metal
  • How to Prepare
    • Items must be small enough to fit into the container at the Recycling Center.
  • Acceptable Items
    • Siding
    • Bed frames
    • Metal Fencing
    • Chairs
    • Shelves
    • Tire rims
    • Ladders
    • Pipe
    • Microwaves
    • Coat hangers
  • Unacceptable Items
    • Non-metallic items
    • Air conditioners with refrigerant
    • Fire extinguishers
    • Propane tanks
    • Other hazardous material
Mixed Container
  • How to Prepare
    • Rinse
    • Do not include plastic bags in the container at the Recycling Center
  • Acceptable Items
    • Plastic bottles and jugs (Number 1 & 2)
    • Metal/Steel food and beverage cans
Mixed Paper
  • How to Prepare
    • Do not include plastic bags in the container at the Recycling Center
  • Acceptable Items
    • Newspaper
    • Colored paper
    • Office paper
    • Junk mail
    • Paperboard (cereal boxes, cracker boxes etc.)
Cardboard
  • How to Prepare
    • Flatten boxes
    • Trim pieces to fit into the container at the Recycling Center
    • Remove packing materials like bubble wrap, plastic wrap, Styrofoam, etc. Only cardboard should go into the container at the Recycling Center.