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Fairfax County leaders are seeking a coordinated response to illegal dumping after environmental advisers warned that trash often returns soon after cleanup crews leave.
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday, Feb. 4, to direct County Executive Bryan Hill to develop proposals for improving the county government’s approach to the problem.
Hill and county staff must report back by June 30, the end of the fiscal year. The report will outline current programs, assess their effectiveness and identify potential new strategies.
“It is a problem we need to address,” Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity said before the vote.
The board acted in response to a Jan. 15 memorandum from the county’s Environmental Quality Advisory Council. EQAC Chair Larry Zaragoza submitted the recommendations following two commission hearings held in 2024.
Zaragoza wrote that no single state or local agency currently has primary responsibility for illegal dumping in Fairfax County. County staff told EQAC that the problem would continue without a coordinated policy approved and directed by the Board of Supervisors.
Public testimony identified several possible contributors. Tree removal by the Virginia Department of Transportation has sometimes opened areas to dumping, while concerns were raised that county police are not enforcing illegal-dumping laws.
Residents also pointed to the cost and distance of proper waste-disposal services. Some contractors reportedly view disposal fees as burdensome, while some contractors and residents may not know how to discard waste correctly. Testimony also suggested that cultural differences can shape how communities view littering and dumping.
Existing no-dumping signs and cleanup campaigns have also drawn criticism for failing to prevent repeat offenses.
“Soon after a cleanup occurs, the dumping continues,” the EQAC memorandum states.
The council recommended more extensive community-level outreach, particularly to small-business owners, residents with limited English proficiency and neighborhoods near frequent dumping locations.