Recycling in Richmond

Find out how and where to recycle various items

The City of Richmond offers many services for city residents through the Department of Public Works including a variety of recycling and proper disposal programs for many household waste items that can be diverted from local landfills. Check out the Recycling Wizard feature on this page to see what you can recycle in the City.

It’s all You. Your recycling matters. Recycle Right with CVWMA! Click here to see what items are accepted and what items to leave out of recycling containers.

Recycling Collection Schedule
    Appliances (White Goods)

    Appliances and white goods such as refrigerators, stove, washing machine. Recycle at East Richmond Road Public Use Area. $15 fee applies for each appliance (airconditioner, refrigerator, etc) containing Freon (CFC or HCFC gas). This charge is to offset the cost of properly recycling this regulated material from the appliance.

    The City does offer Bulk pickups with its Residential Trash Collection program. There is a $50 fee to dispose of appliances, which can be conveniently added to the customer’s utility bill. Refuse must be placed at the curb no later than 7 am on pickup day.

    Microwaves, toasters, blenders, mixers, toaster oven, etc (smaller type appliances). Recycle at City of Richmond East Richmond Road Convenience Center- Public Use Area or CVWMA special electronics recycling collection event.

    Automobile Fluids

    *Paints, Auto Fluids and Chemicals (Household Hazardous Waste)  (* Limit: 20 gallons a month per resident)

    Antifreeze. Recycle at East Richmond Road  Convenience Center Public Use Area in the used antifreeze tank at recycling area.

    Diesel Fuel. Recycle diesel fuel in the oil drum at the East Richmond Road Convenience Center Public Use Area in the recycling area.

    Gasoline. Recycle leaded and unleaded gasoline along with paint and solvents in the paint drums at the East Richmond Road Convenience Center Public Use Area in the recycling area.

    Motor Oil. Recycle at East Richmond Road Convenience Center Public Use Area. Accepted items in the used motor oil tank include: motor oil, automatic transmission fluid, power steering fluid, diesel fuel, gear oil, Aviation turbine engine oil, hydraulic oil and fuel oil (#2, #4,#6)

    Motor Oil Additives. Recycle motor oil additives along with paint and solvents in the paint drums at the East Richmond Road Convenience center Public Use Area in the recycling area.

    Oil Filters. Recycle at East Richmond Road Convenience Center- Public Use Area in the recycling area.

    Other Auto Fluids. Recycle auto fluids such as transmission fluid, power steering fluid, hydraulic fluid, gear oil, jet fuel, diesel fuel and fuel oil (#2, #4, #6) in the used motor oil tank at East Richmond Road Public Use Areas in the recycling area

    East Richmond Road Convenience Center ( Hours of Operation:7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat, Sunday – Closed.)

    Batteries

    Alkaline. Safe for disposal in your trash, or recycle through Call2Recycle.

    Lead acid. Recycle at the East Richmond Road Convenience Center, automotive supply stores, Battery Barn or Batteries Plus.

    Rechargeable. Recycle at the East Richmond Road Convenience Center, home improvement stores, electronics retailers, Battery Barn or Batteries Plus.

    East Richmond Road Convenience Center Hours of Operation:
    7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekdays
    8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays
    Closed Sundays

    When It Comes to Electronics and Batteries Recycling, Only You Can Prevent Fires (Source: The Recycling Partnership)

    Cartons

    Recycle food and beverage cartons such as milk, juice, juice boxes, soup, wine, creamer, egg substitutes. Empty, rinse and reattach plastic cap back on the carton to recycle before placing it in your recycling container. No straws.

    Clothing and Shoes

    Resell at local consignment stores or donate to Goodwill, Salvation Army, schools, churches, etc. Search online as well as on social media for local charitable organizations or consignment stores.

    Electronics

    Recycle unwanted electronics.

    Cell Phones. Recycle at CVWMA special electronics recycling collection event, some electronics retailers, donate , or return to your cellular service provider.

    Computers and Computer Accessories. Computer systems (hard drive, CPU),fee will apply for CRT monitors, Computer accessories (cables, wires, keyboards, mice, speakers, etc.),Printers, scanners & copiers, Fax machines,VCRs & camcorders, Stereos, etc.  Recycle at CVWMA special electronics recycling collection event or donate to charitable organization. Before donating a computer to a charitable organization (such as Goodwill or Salvation Army), find out if the organization has use for your particular model. See telephone directory or search online for addresses and phone numbers of charitable organizations.

    Televisions. Recycle at CVWMA special electronics recycling collection event (fees may apply) or donate working TV’s to charitable organization. Newer, operational items may be donatable to a charitable organization, but check first to find out if the item is desired.See telephone directory or search online for addresses and phone numbers of charitable organizations.

    Stereos and VCRs.  Recycle at CVWMA special electronics recycling collection event or donate to charitable organization. Before donating a computer to a charitable organization (such as Goodwill or Salvation Army), find out if the organization has use for your particular model. See telephone directory or search online for addresses and phone numbers of charitable organizations.

    Toner and Ink. Recycle with cartridge recycling companies or office supply retail stores. See telephone directory or search online for addresses and phone numbers of cartridge recycling companies or office supply retail stores.

    When It Comes to Electronics and Batteries Recycling, Only You Can Prevent Fires (Source Recycling Partnership)

    Glass

    Glass bottles and jars (no lids please). Empty, rinse to recycle.

    Recycle through City of Richmond’s residential recycling collection program or at one of the drop-off recycling collection sites.

    No other glass items accepted for recycling.

    Lawnmowers

    Drain fluids and recycle at one of East Richmond Road Convenience Center Public Use Areas.

    East Richmond Road Convenience Center: Hours of Operation 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat, Sunday – Closed.

    Metal

    Aluminum and steel cans.  Empty, rinse to recycle. Recycle through City of Richmond’s residential recycling collection program or at one of the drop-off recycling collection sites

    Miscellaneous Metal. Contact City of Richmond staff to see if they can recycle your metal items.

    East Richmond Road Convenience Center- Hours of Operation 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat, Sunday – Closed.

    Oil

    *Paints, Auto Fluids and Chemicals (Household Hazardous Waste)  (* Limit: 20 gallons a month per resident)

    Fuel Oil (#2,#4, and #6). Recycle in the used motor oil tank at East Richmond Road Public Use Areas in the recycling area.

    Motor Oil. Recycle in the used motor oil tank at East Richmond Road Public Use Areas in the recycling area.

    Accepted items in the used motor oil tank include: motor oil, automatic transmission fluid, power steering fluid, diesel fuel, gear oil, Aviation turbine engine oil, hydraulic oil and fuel oil (#2, #4,#6)

    East Richmond Road Convenience Center: Hours of Operation 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat, Sunday – Closed.

    Paints and Solvents

    *Paints, Auto Fluids and Chemicals (Household Hazardous Waste)  (* Limit: 20 gallons a month per resident)

    Latex paints. Not accepted for recycling. Reuse by offering larger quantities of left-over paint to neighbors, school drama departments, or county/city graffiti cleanup program.  Dispose by allowing paint to dry out and include in your regular trash or at a trash container located at one of the East Richmond Road Public Use area. Accelerate drying by adding kitty litter, sawdust, or other absorbent material to paint in can. Or purchase paint-drying compounds at area home improvement centers or paint retailers.

    Oil-Based paints and other Category 1 items. Recycle oil-based paints, varnish/shellac, stains and tints, lacqueer thinners, polyurethane, primers, paint reducers, Varsol, mineral spirits, turpentine, other flammable solvents in the paint area at East Richmond Road Convenience Center Public Use Area.

    East Richmond Road Convenience Center- Hours of Operation 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat, Sunday – Closed.

    Paper

    NO shredded paper.

    Cardboard boxes and Mixed Paper (such as brown paper bags, newspaper, magazines, junk mail, cracker boxes, cereal boxes, macaroni boxes, phone books, paperback *books, white office paper.) Recycle through City of Richmond’s residential recycling collection program or at one of the drop-off recycling collection sites

    No other type of paper items are accepted.

    *Hardback cover books. Must remover cover and binding to be recycled. Or donate to local book exchange, charities, schools, churches, etc. See telephone directory or search online for addresses and phone numbers of charitable organizations.

    Plastics

    Recycle Household kitchen, laundry, and bath plastic bottles, tubs and containers . Empty, rinse and replace cap back on to recycle.  Recycle through City of Richmond’s residential recycling collection program,  or at one of the city’s drop-off recycling locations.

    No plastic bags or plastic bagged recyclables. If you use plastic bags, click here for local drop-off locations at retail/grocery stores to recycle them. Many stores work with Trex in Winchester, VA

    Here is a YouTube video showing how they are recycled.

     

    Can I recycle a motor oil bottle with a #2 on the bottom?

    No. Motor oil residue has always been one of the biggest contaminants for our plastics markets. The oil residue seeps into the porous plastic and cannot be removed through the washing process after the plastic is ground up. Oil and water do not mix. Of course you should never try to rinse or wash a motor oil bottle yourself since motor oil down the sink or storm drain causes a much larger environmental crisis than a plastic bottle in the trash.

    Save those containers to pour used motor-oil back in to for return to your local automotive parts store.

    Oil, paint, bleach, insecticides and other hazardous substance containers are human health threats if disposed of improperly.

    Propane Tanks

    Propane Tanks. Recycle at East Richmond Road Convenience Center Public Use Area. Ask personnel at the facility where to place these items.

    East Richmond Road Convenience Center- Hours of Operation 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat, Sunday – Closed.

    Tires

    Used Tires. Recycle at East Richmond Road Convenience Center or Southside Transfer Station. Tires without rims, limit four at no charge. Additional tires $1 each; $5 each for tractor-trailer tires. City of Richmond residents only.

    See Department of Public Works webpage for details, including hours of operation.

    Yard and Vegetative

    Christmas Trees. Recycle at City of Richmond’s “Bring One for the Chipper” annual event held the second Saturday in January. Contact Darlene Mallory with the Clean City Commission for more information on this annual event.

    Yard Waste (brush). Recycle at East Richmond Road Public Use Area. Residents can place large bulk items, like brush, besides their Supercans. These items will be picked up at no charge within a 2-4 week period. There is no need to separate yard waste from household waste. For more information on the collection of solid waste and bulk wastes, visit City Of Richmond Department of Public Works website or please call the Department of Public Works Customer Care Center at 804-646-0999

    Yard Waste (leaves, grass clippings). Compost at home or recycle at East Richmond Road Convenience Center Public Use Area. Residents can place large bulk items, like brush, besides their Supercans. These items will be picked up at no charge within a 2-4 week period. There is no need to separate yard waste from household waste. . For more information on the collection of solid waste and bulk wastes, visit City website or please call the Department of Public Works Customer Care Center at 804-646-0999

    The City also offers Leaf Collection Service.

    East Richmond Road Convenience Center- Hours of Operation 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat, Sunday – Closed.

     

    Other Options

    For additional options, please consider the following resources:

    • Earth 911: national online database of recycling and waste reduction resources organized by zip code
    • 1-800-Got-Junk?: national company that loads and hauls away unwanted items to recycling or waste facilities for a flat fee (check the telephone directory for similar waste hauling companies)
    • Junk King of Central Virginia: local company that provides turnkey junk removal services to residential and business customers in great Richmond region. They recycle at least 60 % or more of everything they pick up.
    • Trash Fairies: local company that provides valet doorstep recycling and trash service for multi-family housing.
    • Car donations. See telephone directory or search online for addresses and phone numbers of local charitable organizations that accept car donations.
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