Composting
As much as a quarter of Fairfax City's residential waste is organic material that can be composted. By composting, you can turn what would otherwise end up completely wasted into a valuable, nutrient-rich compost which can be used as fertilizer.
24-Hour Composting Drop-off Center
Drop off your food scraps at the Composting Center, adjacent to the Community Garden on the west side of Fairfax City Hall (10455 Armstrong Street). Only those who live and work in the City of Fairfax are eligible to drop off food scraps at the Composting Center.
What Materials can be Composted at the Composting Center?
Please review the compost guidelines and be sure to include only those items.
Compost these items!
- Fruits and Vegetables (can also be composted in your backyard)
- Egg Shells (can also be composted in your backyard)
- Coffee Grounds and Filters (can also be composted in your backyard)
- Meat and Bones
- Seafood and Shellfish
- Bread, Pasta and Grains
- Leftovers and Spoiled Food
- Dairy Products
- Tea Bags (remove metal staples)
- Food Soiled Paper
- Certified Compostable Bags/Products
- Certified Compostable Waste Bags
- Paper Bags and Plates (no plastic coating, wax okay)
Don't compost these items!
- Twist Ties
- Plastic Bags
- Oil or Crisco
- Styrofoam
- Recyclables
Use Compostable Bags Only - No Plastic Bags!
Food scraps must be placed in approved certified compostable bags before being dropped of at the Composting Center. Free certified compostable bags will be available at the Composting Center. Compostable bags will usually be tinted green and will have the certified compostable logo(s) printed directly on the bag.
Food scraps must be placed in approved certified compostable bags(DOCX, 3MB) before being dropped of at the Composting Center. Free certified compostable bags will be available at the Composting Center. Compostable bags will usually be tinted green and will have the certified compostable logo(s) printed directly on the bag.
Download the Print Friendly Compost Guides
Download print friendly Composting Center Acceptable Items Guide for information on what materials are accepted at the Composting Center. The Composting Center Acceptable Items Guide is available in multiple languages:
Download the Detailed List(PDF, 344KB), for a more detailed list of acceptable and unacceptable items. The Detailed list is available in multiple languages:
Free Compost Caddy Available to Residents
Need a vessel to transport your food waste?
Free compost caddies are available to residents while supplies last. Pick up a caddy at Fairfax City Hall Atrium, 10455 Armstrong St., weekdays between 8:30 A.M and 5:00 P.M. (excluding holidays)
Pumpkin Composting
Dispose of your pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, gourds, painted pumpkins, and other decomposable food décor at the City of Fairfax Composting Center. Make sure to remove any inorganic items that cannot be composted such as candles, foil, lights, or plastic decorations. Pumpkins can also be composted in backyard composters or even buried your backyard.
If you are unable to take pumpkins to the composting center or compost them at home, place pumpkins in the trash. Please do not dispose of pumpkins or food waste in woods or parks. Disposing of pumpkins in natural areas can pose a risk to the health and safety to wildlife and residential populations. Properly dispose of pumpkins in your backyard composter, drop them off at the Composting Center, or place them in the trash.