Recycling Center Restrictions include:
Disposal of liquid quantities of recycled material per day is limited to the following:
- Paints, 2 gallons per day
- Motor Oil, 4 gallons per day
- Antifreeze, 4 gallons per day
- Other Category 1 Household Hazardous Waste, 1 gallon per day
Disposal of organic waste consisting of stumps, trees and tree limbs is limited to materials having diameters less than six inches.
Disposal of insecticides, poisons, acids and other caustic compounds, appliances containing Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB’s) or other toxic materials is prohibited.
Disposal of electronic devices including, but not limited to televisons, cell phones, computers or monitors at the Recycling Center is prohibited.
Click here for listing of accepted items and Hours of Operation
- 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.
Appliances and white goods such as refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, air conditioners. Recycle at Recycling Center or arrange for bulk item collection with weekly residential trash collection. You must call the Trash Collection Hotline at 804-425-0500 at least one day in advance to schedule your bulk items for collection. Freon must be safely removed from all appliances before disposal at the Recycling Center or at a bulk item collection. There is a $10.00 fee for this service, payable to the City Treasurer in advance at the City Treasurer’s Office, 201 James Avenue, Colonial heights, VA. Proof of payment (receipt) must be shown to the Recycling Center Attendent before disposal or sticker must be attached to bulk waste item placed at curb in front of your house for pick-up.
Microwaves, toasters, blenders, mixers, toaster oven, etc (smaller type appliances). Donate working items to local charity. Recycle at CVWMA special collection event or arrange for bulk item collection with weekly residential trash collection. You must call the Trash Collection Hotline at 804-425-0500 at least one day in advance to schedule your bulk items for collection.
Antifreeze. Recycle at Recycling Center. Limit of 4 gallons per day.
Diesel Fuel. Recycle diesel fuel in the oil drum at the Recycling Center.
Gasoline. Recycle leaded and unleaded gasoline along with paint and solvents in the paint drums at the Recycling Center.
Motor Oil. Recycle at Recycling Center. Limit of 4 gallons per day. Accepted items in the oil drum 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 Recycling Center.
Oil Filters. Recycle at Recycling Center.
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 oil drum at Recycling Center.
Click here for Hours of Operation.
Alkaline. Safe for disposal in your trash, or recycle through Call2Recycle.
Lead acid. Recycle at the Colonial Heights Recycling Center, automotive supply store, Battery Barn or Batteries Plus.
Rechargeable. Recycle at the Colonial Heights Recycling Center, home improvement centers, electronics retailers, Battery Barn or Batteries Plus.
When It Comes to Electronics and Batteries Recycling, Only You Can Prevent Fires (Source Recycling Partnership)
Recycle food and beverage cartons such as milk, juice, juice boxes, soup, wine, creamer, egg substitutes. Rinse and place cap back on the carton before placing it in your recycling container.
Recycle through Colonial Heights curbside recycling program or at the Recycling Center.
Donate to Goodwill, Salvation Army, schools, churches, etc or resell at local consignment stores. See telephone directory or search online for addresses and phone numbers of charitable organizations or consignment stores.
Disposal of electronic devices including, but not limited to televisons, cell phones, computers or monitors at the Recycling Center is prohibited.
Cell Phones. Recycle at CVWMA special collection event, some electronics retailers, donate , or return to your cellular service provider.
Computers and Computer Accessories. Computer systems (hard drive, CPU, monitor),Computer accessories (cables, wires, keyboards, mouse, speakers, etc.). Printers, scanners & copiers, fax machines, VCRs & camcorders, stereos, etc. Recycle at CVWMA special 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 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 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 bottles and jars (no lids please). Recycle through Colonial Heights curbside recycling collection program or at the drop-off recycling containers located at the Recycling Center.
No other glass items accepted for recycling.
Click here for Hours of Operation.
Drain fluids before bringing to the Recycling Center.
Aluminum and steel cans ( no lids, please). Recycle through Colonial Heights curbside recycling collection program or at the drop-off recycling containers located at the Recycling Center.
Miscellaneous Metal. Contact City staff to see if they can recycle your metal items. If you want to recycle a lawnmower, please see section in this Recycling Wizard feature for that item.
Fuel Oil (#2,#4, and #6). Recycle in oil drum at the Recycling Center. Limit of 1 gallon per day.
Motor Oil. Recycle at the Recycling Center. Limit of 4 gallons per day.
Accepted items in the oil drum 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). Check with Recycling Center attendent on amount of quantities can recycle per day.
Oil Filters. Recycle at the Recycling Center.
Latex paints. Not accepted for recycling. Reuse by offering larger quantities of left-over paint to neighbors, school drama departments, or county/city graffitti cleanup program. Dispose by allowing paint to dry out and include in your regular trash . Accelerate drying by adding kitty litter, sawdust, or other absorbent material to paint in can. Or purchase paint-drying compunds 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 redcuers, Varsol, mineral spirits, turpentine, other flammable solvents at the Recycling Center. Category 1 (Household Hazardous Waste) materials limited to 1 gallon per day.
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 Colonial Heights curbside recycling collection program or at one of the drop-off recycling containers located at the Recycling Center.
No other type of paper items are accepted.
Click here for Hours of Operation.
*Hardback cover books. Must remove cover and binding to be recycled. Or donate to local book exchange, charities, schools, churches, etc.
NO PLASTIC BAGS, please. Recycle at local grocery/retail stores. Many stores work with Trex in Winchester, VA.
Household kitchen, laundry and bath plastic bottles and containers (#1 -#7 on bottom), rinse and replace lids and caps (no food residue).
Recycle through Colonial Heights curbside recycling collection program, or at the Recycling Center.
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.
Recyle at the Recycling Center.
Used Tires. Return to retail location where new tires are purchased or recycle at the Recycling Center.
Christmas Trees. Recycle at Recycling Center. Check locality website for specific dates and times.
Yard Waste (brush).Recycle at Recycling Center or set out with regular trash collection. Brush must be bagged and securely tied together or bundled. Brush must be tied in bundles less than four feet in length and weighing less than 75 pounds. Brush is included as part of the 1/2 ton pickup truck limit.
Yard Waste (leaves, grass clippings). Recycle at Recycling Center, compost at home, or set out with regular trash collection. Yard waste, such as grass clippings, weeds, and leaves must be bagged and securely tied together or bundled. Bagged leaves will be collected year round. The limit per collection is not to exceed the capacity of a 1/2 ton pickup truck. The 30 bags, each weighing no more than 50 pounds is included as part of the 1/2 ton pickup truck limit.
For additional options, please consider the following resources: