Inert Materials & Paper Shredding

Note: As of July 2024, free monthly paper shredding hours at the Trades Center are reduced to 8 a.m. to noon.

Inert Materials

Materials accepted at Inert Materials and Scrap Metal Drop-Off Facility:

• Asphalt
• Ceramic tile (no metal mesh)
• Concrete (no metal rebar, mesh or other metal)
• Earth
• Masonry block
• Rock
• Sand

Only a small pickup truck load or 3 cubic yards of material can be accepted at the Inert Materials and Scrap Metal Drop-Off Facility.

The following is not accepted as part of the Inert Material Drop-Off Program:

• Brush
• Construction debris (paint, drywall, lumber, etc.)
• Electronic waste (TVs, computers, etc.)
• Bulk waste (furniture, mattresses, etc.)
• General trash

Look Up Your Item & How To Prepare

Free Paper Shredding

• First Saturday of each month (barring holiday weekends or cancellations), from 8 a.m.-noon at the Inert Materials and Scrap Metal Drop-Off Facility. Check the calendar of events for specific information or cancellation notices due to inclement weather. Holiday weekends mean the shredding event takes place the following weekend.
• Paper shredding is for Arlington County, Va. residents only (sorry, businesses are not allowed). Residents must be prepared to show ID with an Arlington address.
• Limit of two boxes (no larger than 18 in. x 11 in. x 10 in.), or two paper bags per customer.
• Acceptable: paper (including staples, paper clips), checks/checkbooks.
• Unacceptable: magazines, catalogs, credit cards, three-ring binders or phone book-sized material.
• Residents are no longer able to view the shredding process (as of 2023), and give tacit approval by entering the drive-thru routing.  

Cart Washing Service – April through November

• Cart washing is for County-provided carts only (Recycling, Trash and Yard Waste).
• By appointment, bring carts empty to the Earth Products Yard at the Trades Center.
• The wash cycle takes approximately 2-3 minutes per cart. Allow time to air dry.
• Available April through October.

Recycling Right Q&A