Charlottesville & Albemarle County Disposal & Recycling Guide 2026

Getting rid of unwanted items in Charlottesville and Albemarle County requires knowing what goes where. Not everything can go in your weekly trash or recycling bin, and not everything can go to the same facility. This guide covers every major category.

The Ivy Materials Utilization Center (Ivy MUC) — Your Primary Option

Address: 4180 Ivy Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903 (Route 250 West, past the Ivy Road intersection)

Phone: 434-296-5861

Hours: Monday through Saturday. Hours vary by season — always check albemarle.org for current hours before going. They do close on major holidays.

Accepts: Household junk and bulk items, furniture, appliances (with specific intake procedures for refrigerants), construction and demolition debris, yard waste, electronics, scrap metal, corrugated cardboard, and more.

Fees: Weight-based for most materials. Bring a vehicle light enough to weigh separately from your load if possible for the most accurate pricing. Check the current fee schedule at albemarle.org.

What you need: A vehicle large enough to transport your items. A refrigerator in a sedan doesn’t work. You’ll need a truck, SUV with folding seats, or rented trailer for most large items.

Electronics and E-Waste

Electronics cannot go in regular trash — Virginia law prohibits landfilling most electronics. Options:

• Ivy MUC — has a designated electronics drop-off area. TVs, computers, monitors, printers, phones, and most consumer electronics accepted. Some items may have a small fee.
• Best Buy (Charlottesville locations) — accepts most electronics for recycling in-store, including TVs up to a certain size. Call ahead to confirm current acceptance list and any fees.
• Staples — accepts some electronics and ink cartridges for recycling.
• Albemarle Moving and Junk Removal (434-230-4551) — we pick up electronics from inside your home, stair access included, and route them to certified e-waste processors. Disposal fees included in our standard pricing.

Appliances (Refrigerators, Washers, Dryers, AC Units)

Appliances containing refrigerants (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers) have special handling requirements under EPA Section 608:

• Ivy MUC — accepts refrigerant-containing appliances in the appliance section (not general drop-off). May have a separate handling fee for refrigerant recovery.
• Retailer haul-away — Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Best Buy offer haul-away of old appliances when delivering new ones. Sometimes free, sometimes $20–$50. Only when buying a replacement.
• Albemarle Moving and Junk Removal (434-230-4551) — pickup from inside your home, any floor. Refrigerant disposal included in pricing. Starting at $149 per appliance.

Hazardous Household Waste

Chemicals, pesticides, paint, motor oil, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and other hazardous materials require special disposal:

• Hazardous Waste Collection Events — Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville periodically host collection events for household hazardous waste. Check albemarle.org and charlottesville.gov for scheduled dates.
• Ivy MUC HHW Area — The Ivy MUC has a household hazardous waste drop-off area, but it may operate on limited hours. Call 434-296-5861 before going.
• Auto parts stores — AutoZone and O’Reilly Auto Parts accept used motor oil and car batteries for recycling at no charge.
• Home Depot and Lowe’s — accept rechargeable batteries and certain fluorescent bulbs for recycling.

Note: Albemarle Moving and Junk Removal does NOT haul hazardous chemicals, liquid paint, gasoline, or propane tanks. These must go through the proper hazardous waste channels above.

Mattresses

Mattresses are not accepted in standard curbside collection in most of Albemarle County and require specific handling:

• Ivy MUC — accepts mattresses, usually with a per-item fee
• Mattress recycling — some springs and foam can be recycled; check Earth911.com for local mattress recycling options
• Albemarle Moving and Junk Removal (434-230-4551) — we pick up mattresses from any floor, starting at $149. Single mattress or a set with box spring, any size.

Tires

Virginia prohibits landfilling whole tires. Options:

• Auto dealers and tire shops — most will take old tires for a small fee (typically $2–$5 per tire) when you buy new ones
• Ivy MUC — accepts tires with a per-tire fee
• Albemarle Moving and Junk Removal (434-230-4551) — we haul tires at $15–$25 per passenger car tire to licensed processors

Paint

• Latex/water-based paint that’s dried solid — can go in regular trash once completely dry. Speed drying with cat litter or commercial paint hardener.
• Liquid latex paint — hazardous waste collection events, or PaintCare drop-off locations (some hardware stores participate — check paintcare.org)
• Oil-based paint — always hazardous waste collection

Yard Waste

• City of Charlottesville curbside — yard waste pickup on scheduled days. Brush and limbs must be cut to specific lengths. Check charlottesville.gov for schedule.
• Ivy MUC — accepts yard waste including brush, branches, and bagged leaves
• Composting — many plant materials can be composted. The Ivy MUC also accepts materials for composting.
• Albemarle Moving and Junk Removal (434-230-4551) — we haul yard debris, brush piles, and storm cleanup. Quarter truck $249, full truck $499.

Construction and Renovation Debris

• Ivy MUC — accepts construction and demolition debris on a weight-based fee
• Dumpster rental — for extended renovation projects generating debris over days or weeks
• Albemarle Moving and Junk Removal (434-230-4551) — drywall, flooring, trim, fixtures, and renovation debris hauled away. Quarter truck $249, full truck $499.

City of Charlottesville vs. Albemarle County — What’s Different

The City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County have separate waste management systems:

• City residents use the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority facilities and city curbside collection. See rivanna.org and charlottesville.gov.
• County residents use the Ivy MUC and Albemarle County facilities. See albemarle.org.

The Ivy MUC is technically a county facility but is close enough to the city that many city residents use it (with applicable fees).

When to Just Call Us Instead

All of the above self-haul options require a vehicle large enough to transport your items, a trip during facility hours, and the physical effort of loading yourself. If any of that is a problem, call Albemarle Moving and Junk Removal at 434-230-4551. We pick up from inside your home, handle stairs, do all the loading, and route everything to the right facility. Starting at $149 for a single item. Same-day often available.