Curbside Recycling & Refuse Guidelines

Residents on Town service receive curbside refuse and recycling collection. The Town currently contracts with Waste Management for trash and recycling collection.

Both refuse and recycling must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. the morning of pick up in the proper containers. Containers must be removed from the curb by 7:00 p.m. the night of pick up.

Residential solid waste must be stored in a 35, 64, or 96 gallon cart provided by the Town of Blacksburg. All residential refuse must be placed inside the container with the lid closed. Loose bags of trash left on the curb will not be picked up. Waste Management uses an automated system that allows trash carts to be picked up by a truck with a robotic arm.

Recycling:

Blacksburg recycling customers may recycle mixed paper and commingled containers curbside. Please refer to the following guidelines.

Mixed Paper:

• All clean, dry paper that can be torn including: newspaper, cardboard, office paper, magazines and catalogs, junk mail, phonebooks, paperboard (cereal boxes, shoe boxes, etc.), construction paper, colored paper, envelopes with and without windows, tissue paper, and wrapping paper.
• Cardboard must be no larger than 3’ x 3’. Please cut large pieces to this size. Place cardboard that will not fit in the bin underneath the bin.
• Items with food residue will not be accepted. Plastic padded envelopes, waxy or laminated paper, food to go boxes, carbon paper, paper towels, tissues, used paper plates and cups, and hardback books are also not accepted. Absolutely no non-paper items.

Commingled Containers:

• Aluminum cans and clean foil
• #1 & #2 plastic bottles and jugs - Caps may be left on bottles or jugs. Ideally, crush bottles and replace cap to reduce size.
• Glass bottles and jars - all colors
• Steel/tin cans
• Rinse all containers thoroughly
• No styrofoam, plate glass, ceramics, mirrors, light bulbs, non-bottle or jug plastics, or higher number plastics will be accepted.

Mixed paper must be separated from commingled containers using a paper bag, box, or other container in order for Waste Management to be able to collect recyclables. Items should be placed in the blue bin or other similar container clearly marked for recycling at the curbside.

Contact the Refuse & Recycling Office at (540) 961-1806 or recycle@blacksburg.gov for further information.