Environmental Services
Recycling Drop-off Centers
Quincy Park Recycling Center Now Open
The drop-off center previously located at 530 N. Quincy St. has moved to Quincy Park (corner of Quincy St. and Washington Blvd). The new Quincy Park Recycling Drop-off Center is open to residents during park hours (sunrise to sunset) and will accept recyclable materials including newspapers, magazines, mixed paper, catalogs, metal and aluminum cans, glass bottles and jars, plastics containers #1-7, food boxes, and corrugated cardboard. (view map) This park features a recycling interpretive center that exhibits the reuse and recycling of organic and inert materials collected throughout Arlington County. Small metal items can now be recycled at the Columbia Pike & S. Four Mile Run Recycling Center.
Drop-Off Recycling Centers Now Accepting All Plastic Containers! You can now recycle all plastic containers (# 1-7) at the Drop-off Centers, including yogurt cups, margarine tubs, and flower pots!
Location of Recycling Drop-off Centers
Arlington County operates two recycling Drop-off Centers:
- The North Arlington site - Quincy Park (corner of Quincy St. and Washington Blvd.) (view map, picture). This park features a recycling interpretive center that exhibits the reuse and recycling of organic and inert materials collected throughout Arlington County.
- The South Arlington site - at the corner of Columbia Pike and South Four Mile Run (view map, picture). The park contains a container for small metal recycling.
Both centers have large containers with marked openings for the deposit of recyclables. It is important to recycle only those materials specifically listed on the containers and to place them in the appropriate bin. If you're not sure whether an item is recyclable, discard it with your regular trash.
Drop-off Center Guidelines
- Recycle only the materials specifically listed and place them in the appropriate bins. Placing other materials in the bins may make the entire load unmarketable, and might even cause the loss of a buyer for future loads.
- Make sure all containers are rinsed clean.
- Keep the recycling center litter-free.
- Please report any problems encountered while using the drop-off centers to 703-228-6570.
For any other issues pertaining to the management of Arlington's Drop-Off Recycling Centers please contact Michael Clem at 703-228-6570 or by email at wclem@arlingtonva.us
Materials Accepted at the Drop-off Centers
Glass Bottles and Jars
 | YES: Glass bottles and jars, rinsed clean, separated by color, with lids and caps discarded. (Put blue glass in with green glass.) Containers must be rinsed clean, with all caps and lids removed. Place material loose in recycling bin (no plastic bags or paper). |
| Metal Food and Beverage Cans | |
 | YES: All types of metal food and beverage cans, rinsed clean. Lids are okay. Aluminum foil is OK too. |
| Plastic Bottles and Jugs | |
 | YES: Plastic bottles and jugs (#1 through #7), such as milk jugs, soda bottles, laundry detergent bottles, yogurt cups, margarine tubs, flower pots, and medicine containers. Please rinse them clean. Labels, caps and neck rings are OK. |
| Newspapers, Magazines, and Catalogs | |
 | YES: Clean newspapers, newspaper inserts, magazines and catalogs. Leave the papers loose, tie them with string or bundle them in paper bags with all plastic wrapping discarded. |
| Mixed Paper | |
 | YES: Office paper, brochures and other glossy paper, telephone books, file folders, junk mail, envelopes with and without windows, paperboard (such as cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, shoe boxes, beverage cartons, gift boxes, and any other single-layered paperboard not coated with wax), egg cartons, Post-It notes, self adhesive paper, soft cover books, and paper bags. Leave the mixed paper loose, tie it with string, or place it in paper bags. Flatten paperboard boxes and discard liners and all plastic wrappings. |
| Corrugated Cardboard | |
 | YES: Clean, multi-layered corrugated cardboard, flattened, and with all packing material removed. Pizza boxes are okay if all the pizza and cheese is removed. |
Materials NOT Accepted at the Drop-off Centers
- Plastic bags
- Cookware
- Drinking glasses
- Light bulbs
- Mirrors
- Window glass
- Styrofoam
- Containers that held toxic or hazardous materials
- Tissue, napkins, or paper towels
- Wax paper items (paper cups, juice cartons, milk cartons, frozen food boxes)
- Hardcover books
- Paper/books containing plastic or metal binders (3-ringed)
- Carbon paper
- Copy ream wrappers
- Food wrappers or other paper contaminated with food waste
Small Metal Item Recycling
Metal items such as pots, pans, tools, pipes, Venetian blinds, small appliances, and other metal items fitting an 11 1/2 inch by 46 inch opening can be dropped off at the Columbia Pike & S. Four Mile Run Recycling Center.
To recycle larger metal items and appliances, place a Special Appliance/Bulk Metal Pickup order online.
Related Recycling Dropoff Programs
Inert materials and scrap metal drop-off program, a drop-off program for residents to recycle inert materials, such as concrete, asphalt, brick, earth and other materials, or scrap metal.
Household HazMat Program, a drop-off program for residents to dispose of household hazardous waste, such as paint, automotive fuel, lawn and garden chemicals.
