Hard-to-Recycle Items

Curbside Recycling Alternatives

Acceptable electronics at annual Recycling Extravaganza:

  • Calculators
  • Cell phones
  • Computers
  • Computer components
  • Copiers
  • Fax machines
  • Pagers
  • Radios
  • Scanners
  • Stereos
  • Telephones and answering machines
  • TVs and VCRs
  • Typewriters
  • Walkmans

Bring bikes, sewing machines, clothing and textiles, canes, crutches, walkers, strollers, paired socks running shoes, eye glasses, hearing aids, printer cartridges, and cell phones for recycling, donation, or reuse.


Other Recycling Options

The City of Falls Church does not endorse the businesses listed below.

  • Aluminum, Copper, or Brass:
    • City of Falls Church Recycling Center
      217 Gordon Road
      Falls Church, VA 22046
    • G&L Metals
      2945 Eskridge Road
      Merrifield, VA 22031
    • I-66 Transfer Station: Fairfax County 
      4618 W. Ox Road
      Fairfax, VA 22030
  • Antifreeze: 
    • City Sunoco
      934 West Broad St.
      Falls Church, VA 22046
    • Jiffy Lube
      1014 W. Broad St.
      Falls Church, VA 22046
    • Fairfax county Hazardous Waste Facility
      4618 W. Ox Road
      Fairfax, VA 22030
    • Annual City of Falls Church Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event.
    • Other service stations
  • Batteries: Button, car, lithium, mercury, and rechargeable batteries are considered hazardous waste. Regular alkaline A, AA, AAA, C, and D batteries are non-hazardous and may be disposed of in the trash.
  • Bicycles:
  • Books: Donate books in good condition to:
  • Cars: Donate to:
  • Cell Phones:
  • Clothing and Textiles:
    • Semi-annual Recycling Extravaganza
    • Recycling Center drop off box
    • Local thrift stores.
  • Coat Hangers: Take metal coat hangers back to the drycleaner and donate plastic coat hangers to thrift stores.
  • Light Bulbs (Compact Fluorescent, Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), and Tube Fluorescent): These light bulbs contain mercury and are hazardous waste. Take to Home Depot, the Fairfax county Hazardous Waste Facility, or the annual City of Falls Church Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event. For more information about recycling light bulbs, visit the Know Toxics website.
  • Computers and Computer Components: Some options have an associated cost.
  • Construction and Demolition Debris: See the Metropolitan Council of Governments' Builders' Guide to Reuse and Recycling.
  • Eyeglasses and Hearing Aids: Lions Club boxes at the Library, city Hall, Community Center and eyewear shops.
  • Foam Packing Pieces:
    • UPS
      1069 West Broad St.
      Falls Church, VA 22046
    • Other mailing shops.
  •  Furniture: Donate to:
    • Falls Church Community Services Council: 703-222-0880, TTY 711
    • Homestretch
    • Thrift stores
  • Inkjet Printer Cartridges: eAsset Solutions, LLC.
  • Medical Supplies: Canes, crutches, wheel chairs and walkers can be donated to the semi-annual Recycling Extravaganza.
  • Motor Oil: 
    • City Sunoco
    • Jiffy Lube
    • Other service stations
    • Fairfax county Hazardous Waste Facility
    • Semi-annual City of Falls Church Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
  • Plastic Bags: Please do not put plastic bags in your recycling containers. Plastic Bags cause damage to the recycling facility machines. If you are unable to reuse your plastic bags, the best way to ensure plastic bags are recycled is to take them to a local grocery store.
    • Giant Food Store
      1230 W. Broad St.
      Falls Church, VA 22046
    • Other supermarkets
  • Scrap Metal: 
    • Falls Church Recycling Center
      217 Gordon Road
      Falls Church, VA 22046
    • Fairfax County I-66 Transfer Station
    • G&L Metals
      2945 Eskridge Road
      Merrifield, VA 22031
  • Strollers: Semi-annual Recycling Extravaganza
  • TVs: If you are a City of Falls Church residential curbside customer, call 703-248-5160 for a special collection (fee of $30 per TV for pickup and recycling). You can also use one of the following events:
    • Semi-annual Recycling Extravaganza (free)
    • Fairfax county Recycling Events (free)
    • eAsset Solutions (free to City Residents)