Citizen Association Services Committee

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January 9, 2026

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Action Needed by January 26, 2026

Fairfax County Trash/Recycling Survey and February 3, 2026 RE:

HOA/Civic Forum (Unified Sanitation Districts)

 

As we begin 2026, the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations remains engaged with Fairfax County to help ensure our members, and all residents, receive clear information and have meaningful input on decisions that affect daily life. One of the most immediate is the future of residential waste collection, including the County’s exploration of Unified Sanitation Districts (USDs) and related service models.

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This work follows the Board of Supervisors’ August 26, 2025, direction to pause the prior USD process and to require broader options and stronger stakeholder engagement before any next steps.

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If you live in a single-family home (including attached-home communities that use curbside service), please help ensure your neighborhood is represented:

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1) Complete the survey (deadline: Monday, January 26, 2026)

• DPWES requests one response per single home occupant/owner residing in an HOA or civic association.

• Survey link: https://engage.fairfaxcounty.gov/hoa_usdsurvey

2) Attend the HOA/Civic Leadership Forum (Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Microsoft Teams)

• Join link: https://bit.ly/HOAUSDForum

• Meeting ID: 266 266 918 657 58

• Passcode: tX2yZ6Yf

• Dial-in: +1 571-429-5982,,704878520# (Conference ID: 704 878 520#)
  DPWES will present aggregated survey results and take feedback. The recording will be posted on the County’s USD webpage.

3) Optional: Watch/follow the Solid Waste Industry Forum (Wednesday, January 21, 2026 | 4:00–6:00 p.m.)

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This forum is designed for permitted waste collectors (CTO holders) and will be broadcast on Channel 16. Details are on the County’s USD webpage.

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The Fairfax Federation has stayed focused on practical questions such as transparency, service levels, cost impacts, and effects on local haulers and small businesses, and we continue to press for a careful, data-informed public process. Your community’s participation is what keeps this grounded in real neighborhood experience.

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Thank you for ensuring your neighborhood shows up before the survey window closes on January 26, 2026.

 

Anna Dixon
Chair, Citizen Association Services Committee
Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations
services@fairfaxfederation.org

 

Reference links

• Fairfax County DPWES — Unified Sanitation Districts (USD): https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/recycling-trash/unified-sanitation-districts

• Fairfax Federation — Citizen Association Services Committee: https://www.fairfaxfederation.org/citizen-association-services

• Federation letter (Sept. 24, 2025) 

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January 5, 2026

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See email from Fairfax County below (click here to download the accompanying letter):

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Dear Homeowners Association Representative, 

 

In response to the direction from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors per their August 26, 2025, Board Matter, the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services invites you to a public forum with other HOA leaders.  At the forum, we will discuss the current state of waste collection and the potential creation of Unified Sanitation Districts for residential waste collection services. This forum for HOA representatives will provide an opportunity to share your valuable input with county staff, leadership and the community about the future of solid waste management in Fairfax County.  The video recording of the meeting will be added to the USD webpage. 

 

Forum Details 

• Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 

• Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm 

• Location: Microsoft Teams Virtual Meeting 

• Link: Microsoft Teams 

o    Join the meeting now (https://bit.ly/HOAUSDForum)  

§  Meeting ID: 266 266 918 657 58 

§  Passcode: tX2yZ6Yf 

o    Dial in by phone 

§  +1 571-429-5982,704878520# United States, Washington 

§  Phone conference ID: 704 878 520# 

 

Prior to the meeting, we ask that you please complete a brief survey, one response per HOA, to capture your HOA’s perspective on waste management in your community.  We will present the aggregated survey results at the forum and allow time at the meeting for HOA leadership representatives to respond and provide additional feedback.   

 

The survey can be accessed at https://engage.fairfaxcounty.gov/hoa_usdsurvey. Please complete the survey no later than January 26, 2026. 

 

If you have any questions about the forum or survey, please feel free to contact Catie Torgersen at 703-324-5864 or catherine.torgersen@fairfaxcounty.gov.

 

Thank you,

 

Catie Torgersen

Sustainability Program Manager

Solid Waste Management Program

Department of Public Works & Environmental Services

12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 458

Fairfax, VA 22035

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September 24, 2025

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On September 24, 2025, the Fairfax Federation sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors expressing thanks and appreciation for the decision to postpone the initiation of the Unified Sanitation District (USD) process and encouraging them to use the Federation as a partner in the ongoing effort.

 

Click here to read the letter.

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FAIRFAX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS POSTPONES CONSIDERATION OF A UNIFIED SANITATION DISTRICT



August 26, 2025

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To our members and friends,



At today’s meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to postpone indefinitely a hearing and vote on starting the five-year waiting period for establishing a Unified Sanitation District (USD). The Board had originally scheduled this vote for June, then deferred it to October 14.

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The Federation has been actively engaged with this issue. In our July 28 letter to the Board, we outlined concerns raised by our members, focusing on:

• The need for transparency in how the County develops its proposal.

• The potential benefits and burdens a USD would create for residents and HOAs.

• The importance of protecting local trash haulers and small businesses already serving our community.

 

Beyond County officials, we have also spoken with regional organizations and public agencies about broader waste-management challenges—particularly the collection and composting of organic waste in Northern Virginia. This work will continue so we can track the infrastructure, costs, and incentives that would shape any future County proposal.



The USD proposal—or some version of it—will return. When it does, the Federation will continue to insist on a transparent process, measurable benchmarks, and clear conditions that must be met before a USD can responsibly move forward.



We will provide a full update and discussion of the USD’s status at our next membership meeting: Thursday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m. at the Franconia Governmental Center.



That evening, Del. Rip Sullivan will also preview the 2026 General Assembly session, highlighting the impacts of data centers and the energy infrastructure needed to support them. We are also working to confirm a speaker on expanding solar energy use in Fairfax County to round out the program.

As always, our meetings are open to the public. We encourage you and your association members to attend.



Finally, please continue sharing your questions and concerns about trash collection, recycling, and organics management in Fairfax County. Your input informs our advocacy.



Sincerely,



Morgan Jameson, President
Anna Dixon, Chair, Citizen Association Services Committee
Dave Fitzgerald, First Vice President & Chair, Environment Committee



Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations
 

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Correction - June 24, 2025 – Board of Supervisors Action​

On June 24, 2025, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors deferred the 4:30 p.m. public hearing under Virginia Code § 15.2‑934, which was to address the advisability of county‑provided garbage collection and potential displacement of private waste companies in favor of a Unified Sanitary District. The Board subsequently set the deferred hearing for October 14, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. https://annandaletoday.com/baord-defers-usd-hearing-to-october/

 

No motion to initiate the displacement process was passed on June 24, and the scheduled hearing has been postponed to October 14, 2025. Further updates will follow as developments occur.

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October 14, 2025 – Upcoming Vote

• The Board is scheduled to hold a public hearing on October 14, 2025, with the following choice (fairfaxcounty.gov):

  • Yes to USD → Triggers full authority for the County to:

    • Regulate hauler routes and pricing.

    • Set service standards.

    • Pursue environmental and sustainability goals.

  • No to USD → Maintains current decentralized system for at least five more years.

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What Was NOT Approved

• No immediate change to trash service.

• No county-wide contract awarded.

• No change to pricing structure.

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Key Details & Resources

• County’s USD page: comprehensive FAQ, cost comparisons, service options — USD Info & FAQ (fairfaxcounty.gov)

• Board summary package: legal justification and motion text regarding the five‑year displacement period (fairfaxcounty.gov)

• Benefits & Concerns table (from official site): pricing, oversight, environmental impacts (fairfaxcounty.gov)

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What Citizen Associations Should Do

1. Be accurate about what June 24 did—and did not—approve.

2. Help your members understand:

   • The USD may happen but has not yet been adopted.

   • A final decision will take place on October 14, 2025.

3. Encourage public participation in planning and hearing processes.

4. Direct residents to submit feedback via:

   • The County’s USD webpage (look for surveys or comments sections)

   • Emailing USDfeedback@publicinput.com (tracking public sentiment)

   • The Fairfax Federation via Anna Dixon at services@fairfaxfederation.org