Quick answer: Herndon runs its own curbside yard waste program. Reston residents mostly use a private hauler through their HOA. Either way, Fairfax County requires yard waste in paper bags or rigid containers — no plastic — and collection only runs March through December. For anything bigger than a normal weekly pile, self-hauling or a same-day pickup is faster.
Every spring and fall, the same question comes up around Herndon and Reston: what do I actually do with this pile of branches, leaves, or storm debris? The answer depends on where you live, how big the pile is, and what time of year it is — Herndon and Reston aren't run the same way, and neither follows the same rules as your regular trash.
This guide covers the real options — curbside, self-haul, composting, and professional pickup — so you know which one actually fits what's in your yard right now.
Curbside Collection — Herndon vs. Reston
This is the part that trips people up most: Herndon and Reston are not on the same trash system.
Herndon
The Town of Herndon runs its own trash and recycling contract, separate from Fairfax County. Yard waste can go out in reusable containers, or bundled and bagged per the town's guidelines — label containers "yard waste." The town also runs seasonal vacuum leaf collection, alternating between the north and south sides of the W&OD Bike Trail, weather permitting. One thing to know: Herndon's annual fall clean-up (curbside pickup of bulky items like furniture and appliances) specifically does not include yard waste — that's a separate program.
Reston
Reston is unincorporated Fairfax County, not its own town — only about 10% of Fairfax County residents get trash service directly from the county. The other 90%, which includes most of Reston, use a private hauler, billed either directly or through an HOA. If you're in Reston, your yard waste rules come from your specific hauler or HOA, not a single county-wide program — worth checking your HOA's website or your hauler's own guidelines.
💡 Not sure if you're a county collection customer? Fairfax County has a lookup tool on their public works site — search "Does Fairfax County pick up my trash" to check your address.
The Rules That Apply Either Way
Regardless of who collects it, Fairfax County sets the actual rules for how yard waste has to be prepared, since it all goes through the same composting system:
- No plastic bags — ever. Fairfax County banned plastic bags for yard waste because they contaminate the composting process. Use paper yard waste bags, a rigid reusable container clearly marked "yard waste," or bundle branches with natural twine.
- Seasonal, not year-round. Curbside yard waste collection runs March 1 through December 24. Outside that window, curbside pickup isn't an option regardless of who your hauler is.
- Size and weight limits on bundles. Branches bundled for collection are typically capped at 4 feet long and 6 inches in diameter, with bundles weighing no more than about 50 pounds. County collection customers are also limited to around 10 bags or containers per week.
- Not everything counts as "yard waste." Grass clippings, leaves, small prunings, and brush are in. Soil, mulch, sod, tree stumps, whole trees, large branches or limbs, and storm damage cleanup are explicitly excluded from standard curbside programs.
⚠️ That last point catches a lot of people off guard after a storm. A downed limb or storm debris pile is usually too big and too heavy for curbside limits — that's exactly the kind of job that needs a self-haul trip or a same-day pickup instead.
Self-Haul: The Transfer Station Option
If your pile is too big for curbside, or you're outside the March–December collection window, Fairfax County's I-66 Transfer Station accepts yard waste for self-haul drop-off, including larger branches and material that curbside programs won't take. You'll need your own truck or trailer and the willingness to load it yourself — but there's no seasonal restriction on drop-off, and no weekly bag limit.
Backyard Composting
For smaller, ongoing amounts — grass clippings, leaves, small prunings — backyard composting is a legitimate option Fairfax County actively encourages, including through Virginia Cooperative Extension's master composter program. It won't handle a big one-time cleanup, but it's a real way to cut down on how much you're bagging every week during the season.
When It Makes Sense to Just Call Someone
Curbside and self-haul work fine for routine, small-scale yard maintenance. Where they fall short:
- Storm cleanup. Downed limbs and storm debris are typically excluded from curbside programs entirely.
- Big one-time jobs. Clearing out years of accumulated brush, prepping a yard for sale, or a major landscaping cleanup usually blows past weekly bag limits fast.
- Off-season. Curbside collection stops December 24 and doesn't resume until March — if you need it gone in January, curbside isn't an option.
- You just don't want to deal with bagging it. Paper bags, bundling, twine, hauling containers to the curb — it's a lot of steps for a big pile.
🌳 Same-Day Yard Waste Pickup
We haul brush, branches, storm debris, and full yard cleanups any time of year — not just March through December. No bagging required, no weekly limits. Pricing starts from $149 and is based on volume — text us a photo of the pile and we'll give you a firm price before we come out.
A recent yard waste job — same-day pickup, cleared same afternoon.
Matt, ready for another haul — recent job across our service area.
🍂 Big yard cleanup on your hands?
Same-day pickup in Herndon and Reston — no bagging, no waiting for the seasonal truck.
Call (703) 828-7824What Customers Say
"I hired DMV Go Junk for yard waste removal since we had a ton of heavy stuff in the backyard and I was not about to deal with it myself. Matt was super mindful about the lawn — very careful with the lawn — like he wasn't just dragging stuff around. You can also tell he's done this a lot especially knowing how to handle the soft ground around here. Just a solid no BS kind of guy who gets it done. If you're in Herndon or Reston I'd definitely go with him."
— Mozhan Sh · Herndon, VA · Google ReviewFrequently Asked Questions
It depends on where you live. The Town of Herndon runs its own trash and recycling program with curbside yard waste collection and seasonal vacuum leaf collection. Reston is unincorporated Fairfax County, so most residents there get trash service from a private hauler rather than the county — only about 10% of Fairfax County residents get county-run collection. Check your specific hauler or HOA for exact rules.
No. Fairfax County eliminated plastic bags for yard waste — it must go in paper yard waste bags, rigid reusable containers marked "yard waste," or be bundled with natural twine. This applies whether you're a county collection customer or use a private hauler, since collected yard waste is composted and plastic contaminates the process.
Curbside yard waste programs typically exclude soil, mulch, sod, tree stumps, whole trees, large branches or limbs, and storm damage cleanup. Bundled branches are usually limited to 4 feet long and 6 inches in diameter, with bundle weight capped around 50 pounds. Anything larger usually needs a self-haul trip or a professional pickup.
No — Fairfax County's curbside yard waste program runs seasonally, from March 1 through December 24. Outside that window, options are self-hauling to a transfer station, backyard composting, or calling a junk removal service for pickup any time of year.
Yard waste removal starts from $149, priced by volume — how much space it fills in our trailer. This covers brush, branches, storm debris, and yard waste that's too much for curbside limits or falls outside the March–December season. Text us a photo of the pile and we'll give you a firm price before we come out.
For anything beyond a normal weekly curbside amount — storm cleanup, a landscaping project, prepping a yard for sale — same-day professional pickup is usually fastest. Curbside programs are seasonal and limited to a handful of bags per week, and self-hauling means renting a truck and doing the loading yourself.
Yard Waste Removal Across Northern Virginia
Herndon and Reston aren't the only places we clear brush, branches, and storm debris. Here's what these jobs typically look like nearby:
Vienna, VA
Vienna's established neighborhoods have plenty of mature trees — storm debris and seasonal brush cleanups are some of our most common Vienna calls.
Great Falls, VA
Great Falls' larger wooded lots mean bigger yard cleanups — often more volume than a standard curbside program is built to handle.
Oakton, VA
Oakton's suburban lots generate steady seasonal yard waste — we handle everything curbside limits won't take.
Sterling, VA
Sterling's older neighborhoods often have overgrown landscaping that's built up for years — a good fit for a one-time full cleanup.
Ashburn, VA
Ashburn's newer developments still generate real yard waste volume — especially after landscaping work on a new build.
Chantilly, VA
Chantilly's larger properties near Westfields often need full-yard cleanups beyond what a weekly bag limit allows.
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