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Fairfax County delays trash talk on Unified Sanitation District plans
By Jared Wenzelburger / Fairfax County Times

Fairfax County’s move toward establishing Unified Sanitation Districts (USDs) continues to draw strong opposition from small, local trash-hauling companies. With the public hearing now delayed to Oct. 14, private haulers are intensifying their critique, claiming the new system will severely harm their businesses and the consumer experience.

“There are still significant outstanding questions in the community regarding the potential conversion to countywide, government-run trash service,” Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity said in a newsletter to constituents. “Residents and private haulers raised many concerns that the County needs to follow up on before any public hearing, including the legality of breaking many longstanding HOA covenants to accommodate a county-run trash service.”

Herrity was the lone dissenting vote on holding the preliminary public hearing at all.
County officials say the USD model—which would consolidate waste contracts for single-family homes under a county-managed system—promises cost savings, fewer trucks on residential streets, and more consistent service. Currently, approximately 90% of homes are contracted privately, while roughly 10% are served by the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.

Small haulers, however, argue the shift toward a “lowest-bidder” model would automatically favor large national firms over local operators. Larry Foster of Evergreen Disposal, which serves around 20,000 homes in Fairfax County, warned that the plan would put many local haulers out of business. He added that homeowners would lose the freedom to choose and that costs could rise under a monopolized system.

“Fairfax County has repeatedly proven it can’t outperform the private sector in waste services,” said Jeff Edwards, president and owner of Evergreen Disposal, Inc. “Now it wants to centralize control, displace numerous long-serving local businesses, and sell residents a rigid, costly system under the illusion of progress.”

From the county’s perspective, officials emphasize that USDs could make waste and recycling services more affordable, consistent, and convenient by negotiating through large-scale contracts. They argue that the current system leads to inefficient truck traffic and price disparities among neighbors who receive the same level of service.

Virginia law requires a five-year notice before any change takes effect, meaning USDs could be implemented no earlier than 2030 even if the October hearing results in a vote to begin the process.

Opponents have also launched community campaigns to rally public support. Petitions warn that the changes could lead to higher prices, job losses, and diminished service flexibility. Many residents, particularly those in HOAs, are concerned about losing long-standing agreements with preferred haulers and the ability to tailor pickup schedules to their needs.

According to Citizens for Great Falls, a community-based organization that engages residents, stakeholders, and elected officials to advocate for outcomes that benefit the community, Fairfax County has yet to share a formal implementation plan for the proposed county-wide trash collection model—despite months of internal planning by county staff, consultants, and members of the Board of Supervisors. The group notes that key details remain unclear, including how the change would affect residents and the private companies that currently provide trash collection services to more than 300,000 households in detached homes and townhouses.

“The assumption that substituting county management for the private sector will inevitably yield better environmental outcomes and efficiencies is not a foregone conclusion. Without a robust framework for measurement and public reporting, projected emissions reductions and efficiency gains may remain speculative,” said John Halacy, a Fairfax County resident and president of Citizens For Great Falls. “Sustainable progress should be built on verifiable results, not on aspirational promises.”

In response to criticism, county officials say small haulers will still have the opportunity to compete for contracts. They emphasize that no final decision has been made and that the upcoming hearing is just one step in a broader public process.

As the Oct. 14 public hearing approaches, the county is ramping up public outreach through community forums, digital engagement, and informational materials. Officials say these efforts are designed to ensure that residents have the facts they need to weigh in on the future of trash collection in Fairfax County.

While the county sees USDs as a way to modernize and streamline waste services, small businesses and many residents fear losing the competition, care, and control they currently value.