What are Blue and Red weeks for recycling in Richmond?

Richmond recycling is collected every other week, alternating between Blue and Red weeks managed by CVWMA. Look up your week at cvwma.com or call 804-340-0900. Sign up for email reminders to never miss your week. Recycling must be out by 7:00 AM on collection day.

Can I use any trash can for collection in Richmond?

No. DPW only collects trash in city-issued supercans with a City of Richmond serial number. Non-city containers are not collected and a violation notice will be issued. One green supercan is provided free; additional brown cans cost $55 each via 3-1-1. Call (804) 646-1798 for supercan issues.

How does bulk item pickup work in Richmond?

Curbside bulk and brush collection happens every other week year-round — place items curbside next to your trash can; brush must be cut to 4-foot lengths and bundled. Expect pickup within two to four weeks. Appliance curbside pickup has a $50 fee (call 3-1-1). Free self-haul at East Richmond Road Convenience Center or Southside Transfer Station. Free neighborhood cleanup Saturdays run March through November.

Where can I drop off hazardous waste in Richmond?

East Richmond Road Convenience Center (3800 E. Richmond Road) accepts HHW free for city residents — Mon–Fri 7 AM–3:30 PM, Sat 8:30 AM–2 PM. Call (804) 646-4706. Accepted: chemicals, paint, motor oil, antifreeze, batteries, CFL bulbs. Proof of residency required.

How do I compost food scraps in Richmond?

Drop off food scraps in purple carts at 18 sites throughout Richmond through the CVWMA Food Scrap and Compostables Drop-Off Program. Accepts all food scraps plus certified compostable cups, plates, and utensils. Sites are serviced weekly. Find all 18 locations at cvwma.com.

How do I report a missed pickup in Richmond?

Call 3-1-1 (804-646-7000) or email askpublicworks@rva.gov for missed trash. For missed recycling, call CVWMA at 804-340-0900. First confirm your day, check for the 14 city holiday delays, and verify you used a city-issued supercan placed out after 4 PM the day before and removed by 7 AM the day after collection.

Richmond Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026

Q: What holidays affect trash pickup in Richmond?

Richmond observes 14 city holidays in 2026 — no trash is collected on any. Collection resumes the next day and continues through Friday. Holidays include standard ones plus Richmond-specific: International Women's Day (Mar 9), Spring Holiday (Apr 3), Juneteenth (Jun 19), Independence Day observed (Jul 3), Indigenous Peoples' Day (Oct 12), Election Day (Nov 3), Veterans Day (Nov 11), and multi-day Thanksgiving and Winter Holidays. Check rva.gov/holiday-closings.

Q: What can I recycle in Richmond?

Place loose in the recycling cart: flattened cardboard, paperboard, mixed paper, glass bottles and jars, metal cans, and #1–#7 plastic bottles/jugs/tubs. Not accepted: plastic bags, Styrofoam, food-contaminated items, shredded paper, foil balls, hoses/cords, electronics. Take plastic bags to grocery store drop-offs; take electronics to Securis first-Saturday events.

Find your DPW collection day, Blue/Red recycling week, neighborhood cleanup schedule, and holiday delays for Richmond, VA.

City of Richmond · Department of Public Works (DPW) · Recycling by CVWMA · Updated 2026

⭐ Collection Day Finder

Find Your Richmond Collection Day

Select your trash collection day to see your full schedule. Richmond collects trash weekly and recycling every other week (Blue or Red week) — all Mon–Thu. Your exact day depends on your address.

👈 Select your day above to see your complete Richmond collection schedule.

⚠ Don’t know your day? Use the DPW Service Finder at rva.gov or call 3-1-1 (or 804-646-7000). All contact options ↓

At a Glance

Richmond Waste Collection — Quick Facts

The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) collects trash from approximately 65,000 residences and small businesses across 90 routes, Monday through Thursday. Recycling is managed by the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA) and collected every other week on alternating Blue or Red weeks. Richmond observes 14 city holidays per year — one of the highest counts of any US city — with trash collection delayed one day when any holiday falls on a weekday.

🗑

Garbage

Weekly

Mon–Thu, city-issued supercan

♻

Recycling

Every other week

Blue or Red week, CVWMA

📦

Bulk & Brush

Every other week

Year-round, curbside

🌿

Neighborhood Cleanups

Select Saturdays

Mar 14 – Nov 5, 2026

⏱

Set-Out Time

After 4 PM day before

Remove by 7 AM day after

🏭

City Holidays

14 per year

1-day delay each

⚠ City-issued supercans only. DPW will not collect trash in containers not issued by the City of Richmond. All cans must have a City of Richmond serial number. Additional brown cans may be purchased for $55 each through 3-1-1. A $50 fine may be assessed for cans left in the right-of-way outside permitted times.

🔗 Related Guide Want to understand how trash collection works across the US? Read: How Trash Collection Works in the US (Schedules, Times & Rules)

Collection System

Richmond’s Supercan & Recycling Cart System

Richmond uses a two-bin system: a city-issued green supercan for trash collected weekly by DPW, and a 95-gallon green cart with a blue lid for recycling collected every other week by CVWMA. All collection occurs Monday through Thursday. Trash and recycling are collected on the same day of the week, but recycling only happens on alternating Blue or Red weeks.

🗑

Green Supercan — Trash

City-issued only. Serial number required. One free green can per address. Additional brown cans available for $55 each via 3-1-1. Bagged refuse and flattened boxes collected during weekly pickup.

Weekly • DPW • Mon–Thu

♻

Green Cart / Blue Lid — Recycling

95-gallon cart provided free by CVWMA. Single-stream recycling. Items loose, never bagged. Out by 7:00 AM on collection day. Blue week or Red week — look up your week at cvwma.com.

Every other week • CVWMA • Blue/Red

⏰ Set-Out Rules

Place supercans and recycling carts near the property line or alley after 4:00 PM the day before collection.
Remove containers by 7:00 AM the day after collection.
Recycling cart must be out by 7:00 AM on collection day.
A $50 fine may be issued for receptacles left in the right-of-way outside designated times.
DPW will not service containers without a city-issued serial number.
Back Door Service is available for eligible elderly and disabled residents — contact DPW for the application.

💡 How to find your Blue or Red recycling week: Use the CVWMA web tool at cvwma.com to look up your exact recycling day and week color. You can also sign up for email reminders so you never miss your recycling week. Call CVWMA at 804-340-0900 for assistance.

🔗 Related Guide New to the US waste system? See: Trash and Recycling Guide in the US (Rules, Pickup & Recycling Explained 2026)

Holiday Schedule

Richmond Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026 — 14 City Holidays

Richmond observes 14 city holidays in 2026 — significantly more than most US cities. No trash collection occurs on any city holiday. When a holiday falls on a weekday, collection is delayed by one day and continues through Friday. For recycling holiday changes, check the CVWMA website. Richmond observes several holidays unique among major US cities, including International Women’s Day, a Spring Holiday, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Election Day.

Holiday	2026 Date	Trash Impact
New Year’s Day	Thu, Jan 1	1-Day Delay Thu→Fri; Fri routes collected Sat. Mon–Wed routes normal.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day	Mon, Jan 19	1-Day Delay Mon→Tue; all week shifts one day through Fri.
Presidents’ Day	Mon, Feb 16	1-Day Delay Mon→Tue; all week shifts one day through Fri.
International Women’s Day	Mon, Mar 9	1-Day Delay Mon→Tue; all week shifts one day through Fri.
Spring Holiday	Fri, Apr 3	1-Day Delay Fri routes collected Sat. Mon–Thu routes normal that week.
Memorial Day	Mon, May 25	1-Day Delay Mon→Tue; all week shifts one day through Fri.
Juneteenth	Fri, Jun 19	1-Day Delay Fri routes collected Sat. Mon–Thu routes normal.
Independence Day (observed)	Fri, Jul 3	1-Day Delay Jul 4 falls on Sat; city observes Fri Jul 3. Fri routes collected Sat.
Labor Day	Mon, Sep 7	1-Day Delay Mon→Tue; all week shifts one day through Fri.
Richmond Indigenous Peoples’ Day	Mon, Oct 12	1-Day Delay Mon→Tue; all week shifts one day through Fri.
Election Day	Tue, Nov 3	1-Day Delay Tue→Wed; remaining days of week shift one day through Fri.
Veterans Day	Wed, Nov 11	1-Day Delay Wed→Thu; Thu→Fri. Mon–Tue routes normal.
Thanksgiving Holidays	Wed Nov 25 – Fri Nov 27	Multi-Day Delay Richmond observes three Thanksgiving days. Wed, Thu & Fri routes all delayed — confirm specific impacts at rva.gov.
Winter Holiday	Thu Dec 24 & Fri Dec 25	Multi-Day Delay Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are observed. Thu & Fri routes delayed — check rva.gov for confirmed schedule.

⚠ Richmond observes 14 holidays — the most in this guide. International Women’s Day, Spring Holiday, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Election Day are among the holidays unique to Richmond. Always check rva.gov/holiday-closings for the official 2026 city holiday list. For multi-day holidays (Thanksgiving, Winter), DPW posts specific delay details ahead of each occurrence.

🔗 Related Guide Holiday delays confuse millions of US residents every year. For a national overview: Holiday Trash Pickup in the US (Schedule Changes & Delays Explained)

Recycling — CVWMA

Richmond Recycling — What Goes in the Cart (Blue & Red Weeks)

Richmond uses single-stream recycling managed by CVWMA in a 95-gallon green cart with a blue lid. Recycling is collected every other week on your same collection day as trash, alternating between Blue weeks and Red weeks. Look up your week at cvwma.com. Items must be placed loose — never in bags. Have recycling out by 7:00 AM on your collection day.

✅ Accepted in the Recycling Cart

Corrugated cardboard — flattened
Paperboard (cereal boxes, tissue boxes, paper towel rolls, shoeboxes) — flattened
Mixed paper: newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper, envelopes, paper bags, brochures
Glass bottles and jars — all colors, rinsed
Metal cans: aluminum, steel/tin (rinsed)
#1–#7 plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs — rinsed, caps discarded

🚫 Not Accepted in the Cart

Plastic bags or film → grocery store drop-off (Kroger, Walmart, Target, Food Lion)
Plastic bagged recyclables (never bag recycling)
Styrofoam / polystyrene
Food-contaminated items (greasy pizza boxes, soiled paper)
Sheets or balls of aluminum foil
Shredded paper (too small to sort)
Hoses or cords
Electronics or batteries → E-Cycle events or HHW

🚩 Drop-Off Recycling Sites

Several drop-off recycling containers are available throughout the city for overflow or convenient recycling outside your biweekly schedule. One location is Parker Field Annex, 1710 Robin Hood Road, open 7 AM–dusk. Find all current drop-off locations on the CVWMA website.

💡 Sign up for recycling day email reminders through CVWMA at cvwma.com. You can also request a printed recycling collection calendar or obtain a new/replacement recycling cart through CVWMA at 804-340-0900.

🔗 Related Guide Learn what the most common recycling mistakes are and how to avoid them: How to Recycle Properly in the US (Rules, Bins & Common Mistakes)

Bulk & Brush

Bulk & Brush Collection — Every Other Week, Year-Round

Richmond DPW provides curbside bulk and brush collection every other week on a year-round basis. Large items such as brush may be placed for collection next to your trash can for pickup within two to four weeks. Items can also be taken free of charge directly to either city facility (see HHW section). There is a $50 fee for appliance curbside pickup — payment must be arranged in advance.

📅 How Bulk & Brush Collection Works

Place bulk items curbside or in the alley next to your regular trash can on your normal collection day. Large brush must be cut into 4-foot lengths and bundled.
For appliances requiring curbside pickup: a $50 fee applies. Call 3-1-1 or send payment (check/money order) to DPW Customer Care, 900 E. Broad Street, Room 704, Richmond, VA 23219. Include the service address.
Free self-haul option: Residents can take bulk items, appliances, and brush free of charge to either the East Richmond Road Convenience Center (3800 E. Richmond Road) or the Southside Transfer Station (3520 N. Hopkins Road). ID required.
For scheduling, call 3-1-1 (804-646-7000).

✅ Accepted for Bulk Curbside or Self-Haul

Furniture: sofas, chairs, dressers, bed frames, mattresses
Appliances: washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves ($50 curbside fee; free if self-hauled)
Brush: branches and tree limbs cut to 4-foot lengths and bundled
Tires: up to 4 per household (at transfer stations; fee for more than 4)
Carpets and rugs
Miscellaneous large items

🚫 Not Accepted Curbside or at Facilities

Electronics → E-Cycle events (first Sat of month, Henrico)
Construction or demolition debris
Hazardous waste → East Richmond Road HHW facility
Glass (at Southside Transfer Station)
Off-road or oversized tires
Commercial waste

🔗 Related Guide Bulky pickup rules vary widely across the US: Bulk Trash Pickup in the US (Rules, Scheduling & What’s Accepted)

Neighborhood Cleanups

Neighborhood Cleanup Days 2026 — Free Saturday Bulk Events

Richmond DPW operates a free Neighborhood Cleanup program on select Saturdays, March 14 through November 5, 2026. DPW crews visit each of the city’s 15 neighborhood zones, collecting bulk items, trash, appliances, tires, and brush curbside. All cleanups run from 8:00 AM to noon, rain or shine. Use the DPW Service Finder to verify your neighborhood’s specific cleanup date.

📅 Neighborhood Cleanup Rules

Place items curbside or in the alley Friday evening before your cleanup Saturday.
DPW crews collect almost everything: furniture, mattresses, tires (up to 4 per household), appliances, brush.
Brush must be cut into 4-foot lengths and bundled.
Items NOT collected at neighborhood cleanups: electronics, construction/demolition debris, hazardous waste, glass.
Cleanup runs 8:00 AM to noon. Items placed after crews pass will not be collected.
Find your zone’s 2026 date using the DPW Service Finder at rva.gov.

💡 Neighborhood cleanups are the best time to dispose of large quantities of bulk items for free. All 15 zones are visited on rotating Saturdays throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Electronics and hazardous waste must still go to designated drop-off events.

HHW & Convenience Centers

Household Hazardous Waste & Convenience Centers

Richmond residents can dispose of household hazardous waste free of charge at the city’s East Richmond Road Convenience Center. Proof of residency required. Both convenience centers accept bulk items, appliances, and recyclables for free self-haul drop-off.

🚩 East Richmond Road Convenience Center (HHW)

3800 East Richmond Road

Mon–Fri: 7:00 AM–3:30 PM • Sat: 8:30 AM–2:00 PM • Closed Sun & holidays

📞 (804) 646-4706

HHW accepted free for city residents. Proof of residency required. Free self-haul of bulk items and appliances.

🚩 Southside Transfer Station

3520 North Hopkins Road

Mon–Fri: 6:30 AM–4:30 PM • Sat: 8:30 AM–2:00 PM • Closed Sun & holidays

📞 (804) 232-8488

Accepts large bulk items, furniture, appliances, tires (up to 4 free; $1 each for car tires 5+; $5 each for tractor-trailer tires). No HHW or glass.

✅ Accepted at East Richmond Road HHW Facility

Household chemicals: cleaners, solvents, pool chemicals
Paint: latex and oil-based
Motor oil, antifreeze, automotive fluids
Pesticides and herbicides
Batteries: all types
Fluorescent and CFL bulbs
Grass clippings and leaves (for recycling/composting)
Large bulk items and appliances (free self-haul)

🚫 Not Accepted at HHW Facility

Fire extinguishers
Asbestos
Road flares
Herbicides or pesticides (commercial quantities)
Explosives or shock-sensitive materials
Radioactive or infectious materials
Commercial or out-of-city waste

💻 Electronics (E-Waste) Recycling

Richmond partners with CVWMA for electronics recycling. Electronics must go to reputable vendors or special community events only — never in curbside or drop-off recycling containers. CVWMA contractor Securis holds a free electronics recycling event on the first Saturday of each month at 8419 Glazebrook Ave., Henrico. Open to all Central Virginia residents. Fees may apply for some items. The City also holds periodic Richmond E-Cycle Day events — in 2026, one was held May 16 at 1710 Robin Hood Road — check rva.gov for next events.

Food Scrap Composting

Food Scrap Composting — Purple Cart Drop-Off Sites

The City of Richmond participates in the CVWMA Food Scrap and Compostables Drop-Off Program. This free service is available to residents at 18 sites throughout the city. Look for the purple carts at drop-off locations for food waste and certified compostable items such as cups, utensils, and plates. Sites are serviced weekly by local NOPE Compost Co.

✅ Accepted in Purple Compost Carts

All food scraps: fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy
Coffee grounds and paper filters
Certified compostable cups, plates, utensils, and food packaging (labeled compostable)
Food-soiled paper
Yard trimmings (at East Richmond Road facility)

🚫 Not in Purple Carts

Non-compostable plastic bags or film
Glass, metals, or regular plastics
Pet waste
Yard trimmings (drop off at East Richmond Road instead)

💡 Richmond’s purple cart composting program accepts certified compostable tableware — unlike Boise’s program, which rejects compostable cups and plates. Grass clippings and leaves can be taken to the East Richmond Road Convenience Center for recycling/composting, or composted at home. Find the 18 drop-off purple cart locations at cvwma.com.

Missed Pickup

What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Richmond

Confirm your collection day. Use the DPW Service Finder at rva.gov or call 3-1-1 (804-646-7000). Also confirm your Blue or Red recycling week at cvwma.com.
Check for a city holiday delay. Richmond observes 14 city holidays in 2026. When any falls on a weekday, collection shifts by one day and continues through Friday. Check rva.gov/holiday-closings.
Verify your can. DPW only collects city-issued supercans with a valid serial number. Non-city containers will not be collected and a violation notice will be issued.
Check set-out timing. Cans must be out after 4:00 PM the day before and removed by 7:00 AM the day after collection.
Report the missed pickup by calling 3-1-1 (804-646-7000) or emailing DPW at askpublicworks@rva.gov. For missed recycling, contact CVWMA at 804-340-0900.

Local Tips

Richmond Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know

🏠 New to Richmond or Just Moved In?

Use the DPW Service Finder at rva.gov to find your trash day, recycling day (and Blue/Red week), and your neighborhood cleanup date. Call 3-1-1 or DPW at (804) 646-0999 for service questions. Your address should already have a green supercan — if missing, call 3-1-1 to request one (ID number required). Additional supercans (brown) cost $55 each. Sign up for CVWMA recycling week email reminders to stay on top of the biweekly Blue/Red schedule.

🚫 5 Common Mistakes Richmond Residents Make

Using non-city containers for trash — DPW only collects city-issued supercans with serial numbers
Missing recycling day because Blue/Red weeks are confusing — sign up for CVWMA email reminders
Putting plastic bags in the recycling cart — bag recycling at grocery store drop-offs (Kroger, Walmart, Target)
Forgetting that Richmond has 14 city holidays that delay trash — more than almost any other US city
Missing the neighborhood cleanup window — items must be out Friday evening before the Saturday crew comes

🌿 Yard Waste & Grass Clippings

Grass clippings and leaves cannot go in the trash supercan. Take them to the East Richmond Road Convenience Center (3800 E. Richmond Road) for recycling, or compost them at home. Brush may be placed curbside next to your trash can for pickup within two to four weeks, or bundled in 4-foot lengths for neighborhood cleanup Saturdays.

💳 Fee Exemptions

Residents may be eligible for an exemption from solid waste and recycling fees under City Ordinance No. 2019-029 (real estate tax relief for permanently and totally disabled) and Section 26-365. Review the guidelines at rva.gov/public-works/trash-collection or call 3-1-1.

Contact

Contact DPW & CVWMA — Richmond Waste Services

Contact	Details
RVA 311 — City General	📞 3-1-1 (local) or 804-646-7000 — trash questions, missed pickups, supercan requests, appliance pickup scheduling, back door service applications
DPW Solid Waste Division	📞 (804) 646-1798 — supercan ID numbers, supercan replacement • Email: askpublicworks@rva.gov
DPW Customer Care (Appliance Pickup)	900 E. Broad Street, Room 704, Richmond, VA 23219 • $50 appliance curbside fee • Include service address with payment
CVWMA (Recycling)	📞 (804) 340-0900 • cvwma.com — recycling day lookup, Blue/Red week, missed recycling pickups, email reminders, new recycling carts
DPW Service Finder (Online)	rva.gov/public-works/trash-collection — enter your address to find trash day, recycling day, and neighborhood cleanup date
East Richmond Road Convenience Center (HHW)	3800 East Richmond Road • Mon–Fri 7 AM–3:30 PM, Sat 8:30 AM–2 PM • 📞 (804) 646-4706 • Free for city residents
Southside Transfer Station	3520 N. Hopkins Road • Mon–Fri 6:30 AM–4:30 PM, Sat 8:30 AM–2 PM • 📞 (804) 232-8488 • Bulk items, appliances, tires
Electronics (E-Cycle) — Securis	8419 Glazebrook Ave., Henrico • First Saturday of each month • Open to all Central Virginia residents • Fees may apply
Holiday Closings	rva.gov/holiday-closings — official list of all 14 city holidays for 2026

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions — Richmond Trash Pickup

Richmond DPW collects trash weekly, Monday through Thursday. Your specific day depends on your address. Use the DPW Service Finder at rva.gov/public-works/trash-collection or call 3-1-1 (804-646-7000) to find your exact collection day. Recycling is also Monday through Thursday but only every other week, alternating Blue and Red weeks managed by CVWMA.

Use the DPW Service Finder at rva.gov/public-works/trash-collection — enter your address to find your trash day, recycling day (and Blue/Red week), and neighborhood cleanup date. You can also call 3-1-1 (804-646-7000) or the Solid Waste Division at (804) 646-1798. For recycling week, use the CVWMA lookup at cvwma.com or call 804-340-0900.

Richmond recycling is collected every other week, alternating between Blue weeks and Red weeks — both managed by CVWMA. Your address is assigned either a Blue or Red week. Look up your specific week at cvwma.com or call CVWMA at 804-340-0900. You can also sign up for email reminders so you never miss your recycling week. Recycling must be out by 7:00 AM on your collection day.

Richmond observes 14 city holidays in 2026 — one of the most of any US city. No trash is collected on any city holiday; collection resumes the next day and continues through Friday. The 14 holidays include standard ones like New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, plus Richmond-specific ones: International Women’s Day (Mar 9), Spring Holiday (Apr 3), Juneteenth (Jun 19), Independence Day observed (Jul 3), Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Oct 12), Election Day (Nov 3), and Veterans Day (Nov 11). Check rva.gov/holiday-closings for the complete official list.

No. DPW only collects trash in city-issued supercans that have a City of Richmond serial number. Non-city containers will not be collected and a violation notice will be issued. Each address receives one green supercan free. Additional brown supercans can be purchased for $55 each through 3-1-1. If your supercan is missing or damaged, call (804) 646-1798.

Richmond provides curbside bulk and brush collection every other week on a year-round basis. Place items curbside or in the alley next to your trash can; large brush must be cut to 4-foot lengths and bundled. Expect pickup within two to four weeks. A $50 fee applies for curbside appliance pickup — call 3-1-1 to arrange. Residents can also self-haul bulk items, appliances, and brush free of charge to the East Richmond Road Convenience Center or Southside Transfer Station. Free neighborhood cleanup days run select Saturdays from March through November.

Place loose in the 95-gallon recycling cart: flattened corrugated cardboard, paperboard, mixed paper (newspapers, magazines, office paper, envelopes), glass bottles and jars, metal cans (aluminum and steel), and #1–#7 plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs. Not accepted: plastic bags, Styrofoam, food-contaminated items, shredded paper, aluminum foil balls, hoses or cords, and electronics. Take plastic bags to grocery store drop-offs; take electronics to Securis first-Saturday events or Richmond E-Cycle Day events.

The East Richmond Road Convenience Center (3800 E. Richmond Road) accepts household hazardous waste for free — Mon–Fri 7 AM–3:30 PM, Sat 8:30 AM–2 PM. Accepted items include chemicals, paint, motor oil, antifreeze, batteries, and CFL bulbs. Proof of residency required. The facility does not accept fire extinguishers, asbestos, road flares, or radioactive materials. Call (804) 646-4706 for questions.

Richmond residents can drop off food scraps and certified compostable items in purple carts at 18 sites throughout the city, through the CVWMA Food Scrap and Compostables Drop-Off Program. The program accepts all food scraps plus certified compostable cups, plates, and utensils. Sites are serviced weekly by NOPE Compost Co. Find all 18 locations at cvwma.com.

Call 3-1-1 (804-646-7000) or email askpublicworks@rva.gov for missed trash pickup. For missed recycling, contact CVWMA at 804-340-0900 or cvwma.com. First confirm your day, check for holiday delays (14 city holidays in 2026), and verify you used a city-issued supercan placed out after 4 PM the day before and not yet removed by 7 AM the day after.

Official Source

Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?

Use the DPW Service Finder or CVWMA’s online tool to confirm your exact trash day, recycling day, Blue/Red week, and neighborhood cleanup date. Both tools accept your address directly.

🔍 Official Richmond Lookup & Contact Options

All of the following are free and will confirm your exact schedule and service details:

🔍 DPW Service Finder ♻ CVWMA Recycling Lookup

DPW Service Finder	rva.gov/public-works/trash-collection — enter your address to find trash day, recycling day, and neighborhood cleanup date.
RVA 311	📞 3-1-1 or 804-646-7000 — trash, missed pickups, supercan requests, appliance pickup scheduling.
DPW Solid Waste Division	📞 (804) 646-1798 • askpublicworks@rva.gov — supercan ID, replacement cans, service questions.
CVWMA (Recycling)	📞 (804) 340-0900 • cvwma.com — Blue/Red week lookup, recycling carts, email reminders, missed recycling.
2026 Holiday Schedule	rva.gov/holiday-closings — official list of all 14 city holidays for 2026.
Neighborhood Cleanups	rva.gov/public-works/neighborhoodcleanups — 2026 schedule by zone, Mar 14–Nov 5.

You will leave this website when using any of the links above. DPW and CVWMA are the authoritative sources for Richmond collection schedules.

Other Cities

Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities

Looking for waste collection information in another city? Here are cities we’ve already covered with full schedules, recycling rules, and bulk pickup guides:

🏭 New York City 🏭 Philadelphia 🏭 Baltimore 🏭 Washington DC 🏭 Virginia Beach