Fairfax County is considering a major change to how trash and recycling are managed for single-family homes. The proposal, called Unified Sanitation Districts (USD), would shift responsibility for managing waste collection contracts from individual homeowners to the County. While private companies would still perform the collections, Fairfax County would handle the bidding, contracting, and billing for services. This model is used in other regions, but it would be new for Fairfax County.
What’s Being Proposed
If approved, the USD system would not take effect until 2030. However, the County must first begin a state-required five-year planning period, which would start after a public hearing on June 24, 2025.
During this five-year transition, the County would:
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Engage with residents and waste haulers
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Design and finalize the service model
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Hire staff to oversee operations
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Put infrastructure in place to support the new system
County officials say the goal is to reduce service complaints, create consistent pricing, and cut down on the number of garbage trucks driving through neighborhoods.
What This Means for Greenbriar
In Greenbriar, residents currently individually contract with private waste haulers. While this gives homeowners flexibility to choose a provider that fits their needs and budget, it can also mean uneven service and truck traffic from multiple haulers in the same area.
If USD is implemented, residents would no longer choose their own trash company. Instead, the County would assign service providers through competitive bidding and manage customer billing. All homes—including those that currently self-haul to the landfill—would be required to pay for service, regardless of use.
Pros of Unified Sanitation Districts
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May reduce the number of trash trucks in Greenbriar, lessening wear on streets and noise
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Could simplify billing and service for residents
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Might improve service consistency for residents unhappy with their current hauler
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Aligns with County efforts to reduce waste and improve recycling
Cons of Unified Sanitation Districts
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Greenbriar residents would lose the ability to select their own provider
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Reduced competition may lead to higher prices or a drop in service quality
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May impose new rules like mandatory recycling and composting
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Risk of new fees such as a Zero Waste Fee or “Pay-as-You-Throw” billing based on trash can size
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Could force out smaller local haulers who currently offer competitive service
Have Your Voice Heard
This proposal could significantly affect Greenbriar households. It’s important for residents to stay informed and participate in the decision-making process.
Virtual Town Hall:
Supervisor Pat Herrity will host a Town Hall on June 3, 2025, at 6:30 PM on Facebook Live and Channel 16.
Public Hearing:
The Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing on June 24, 2025, at 4:00 PM to vote on whether to begin the transition process.
We encourage you to attend, ask questions, and share your feedback. You can also email comments to the Board at springfieldbos@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Learn more at:
👉 fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/recycling-trash/unified-sanitation-districts