A public resource guide
Free bulk trash collection on regular garbage day (request via 757-382-CITY by 5 PM workday prior), 8 recycling drop-off sites since 2023 curbside discontinuation, SPSA Transfer Station at 901 Hollowell Ln with HHW first Wednesday of each month, and tire disposal at SPSA Tire Processing Facility in Suffolk.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
Chesapeake, Virginia has one of the more accessible bulk waste systems in Hampton Roads: free curbside bulk pickup is collected on the same day as regular garbage when scheduled in advance. Call (757) 382-CITY (2489) by 5 PM the workday before, or submit online by 11:59 PM the day before. The city discontinued curbside recycling in 2023 and now operates 8 drop-off locations across the city, most 24/7. The SPSA Chesapeake Transfer Station at 901 Hollowell Lane handles HHW on the first Wednesday of each month. Tires are not accepted in any city program due to Virginia DEQ regulations. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Chesapeake residents.
Start here
What brings you to this page today?
On this page
Chesapeake residents have several free disposal pathways. The bulk trash request system handles most furniture, appliances, and yard debris. The 8 drop-off recycling sites replaced curbside recycling in 2023. The SPSA Transfer Station handles HHW and items the city doesn’t accept curbside.
Bulk trash collection
Free with serviceChesapeake provides free bulk trash collection on the same day as your regular garbage pickup, when scheduled in advance. As of 2023, you no longer have to differentiate between household and yard/tree debris — just request a Bulk Trash Collection and note the items.
Eligibility: Residents currently being served by the City of Chesapeake Waste Management Division.
How to schedule: Call the Chesapeake Customer Contact Center at (757) 382-CITY (2489) by 5:00 PM the workday prior to your collection day. Alternatively, fill out the online Bulk Trash Pickup Request by 11:59 PM the day before.
Set-out: Items at curb no earlier than 3 days prior to collection. Place at least 3 feet from any obstruction (mailbox, trash containers, cars). Separate household bulk trash piles from yard debris piles at the curb.
Accepted (household): Appliances, boxes/bags of dry goods, furniture, mattresses and box springs, patio furniture, small garage clean-outs.
Accepted (yard/tree): Bushes, shrubbery, tree branches and limbs, large yard trimmings. Branches max 6 ft length and 6 in diameter.
NOT accepted: Hazardous waste, carpet, wood and fencing, construction and demolition debris, manufacturing process debris, loose or dangerous refuse.
Refrigerator/freezer prep: Doors must be removed, and all glass surfaces taped before pickup.
Recycling drop-off (8 locations)
Free, mostly 24/7Chesapeake discontinued curbside recycling in 2023 and transitioned to a drop-off system with 8 locations. Most sites are accessible 24/7; City Park and Deep Creek Park operate sunrise to sunset only. No collection on Saturdays or Sundays at park-located sites.
Container 1: Plastics #1 and #2 (with recycling triangle), metal cans (aluminum, tin, steel), mixed paper (newspaper, office paper, magazines, books, catalogs, mail).
Container 2: Corrugated cardboard ONLY (shipping box material, no cereal boxes or single-layer flatboard).
Rules: Rinse and clean recyclables. Place items LOOSE (not in plastic bags). NO GLASS accepted in either container.
Aluminum cans: Chesapeake Animal Services accepts aluminum cans only.
Subscription pickup: Curbside recycling is available through private providers for residents who prefer home pickup at a fee.
SPSA Chesapeake Transfer Station and HHW
Free for Chesapeake residentsThe Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) Chesapeake Transfer Station accepts items not eligible for curbside bulk plus serves as the regional HHW drop-off on the first Wednesday of each month.
Address: 901 Hollowell Lane, Chesapeake, VA 23320. Phone: 757-961-3943.
Regular hours: Monday 8 AM–5 PM (all residents); Wednesday 8 AM–5 PM (Chesapeake residents only); Saturday 8 AM–4 PM (all residents 8 AM–noon, Chesapeake residents noon–4 PM); Sunday noon–4 PM (Chesapeake residents only). Closed Tuesday, Thursday, Friday for residential dumping.
HHW drop-off: First Wednesday of each month. Accepts paint, batteries, pool chemicals, brake/transmission fluid, motor oil, turpentine, paint thinner, antifreeze, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides.
SPSA HHW hotline: (757) 420-4700.
Donation pickup
Free for usable itemsHampton Roads has a strong nonprofit network for usable furniture and household goods. The right path for items in good working condition.
Habitat for Humanity South Hampton Roads ReStore: Free pickup for furniture, appliances, and building materials in good condition.
Salvation Army Chesapeake: Schedule at satruck.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
Goodwill Industries of Central and Coastal Virginia: Multiple Hampton Roads locations including Chesapeake.
Park Place Child Life Center and ForKids: Local nonprofits accepting household goods for families in need.
Freemoval (partner-community pickups)
FreeFreemoval is a social impact program that subsidizes free junk removal pickups in partner communities, typically affordable housing properties. Hampton Roads partner expansion is in progress for 2026.
Eligibility: Households in active partner communities. Ask your property manager whether your building participates.
Status in Chesapeake: Onboarding partner properties throughout 2026.
Chesapeake’s bulk trash service is request-based but free. Collections are made on the same day as your regular garbage collection, or when schedules permit.
How to schedule:
· Phone: Chesapeake Customer Contact Center at (757) 382-CITY (2489) by 5:00 PM the workday prior to your scheduled collection day.
· Online: Bulk Trash Pickup Request form by 11:59 PM the day prior to your collection day.
· App: Chesapeake Service Request mobile app.
Set-out timing: Items at curb no earlier than 3 days prior to your normal collection day. Place at least 3 feet from any obstruction (mailbox, trash containers, parked cars).
Single request, separated piles: Since 2023, you no longer differentiate between household and yard/tree debris on the request. Just request a Bulk Trash Collection and note the specific items (e.g., appliance, mattress, bushes, tree limbs). However, you must still physically separate household bulk trash from yard/tree debris piles at the curb.
Accepted household items:
· Appliances (refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, HVACs, water heaters)
· Boxes/bags of household dry goods
· Furniture (indoor and outdoor)
· Mattresses and box springs
· Patio furniture
· Small garage clean-out items
Appliance prep required: Refrigerators and freezers must have doors removed (federal child safety rule). All glass surfaces must be taped before set-out. Hazardous chemicals like Freon need to be drained or properly handled (typically via SPSA or licensed pickup).
Accepted yard/tree debris: Bushes, shrubbery, tree branches and limbs, large yard trimmings. Branches must not exceed 6 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter. Bag/stack at least 3 feet from any obstruction.
What is NOT accepted:
· Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, batteries) — goes to SPSA HHW drop-off
· Carpet (adhesives and tacks make it dangerous for crews)
· Wood and fencing (treated wood)
· Construction and demolition debris (homeowner or contractor)
· Manufacturing process debris
· Tires (Virginia DEQ regulations — goes to SPSA Tire Processing Facility)
· Loose or dangerous refuse
Violations: The City must give 48 hours notice upon violation of the Solid Waste Ordinance (City Code Chapter 62). Failure to comply can result in a $100 administrative fee plus cleanup costs.
Chesapeake discontinued curbside recycling in 2023 due to contamination and cost issues. Residents now use 8 drop-off locations across the city.
Hours: Most sites accessible 24/7 (gated entry). City Park and Deep Creek Park operate sunrise to sunset only. No collection at park-located sites on Saturdays and Sundays.
Container 1 (Plastics, metals, paper):
· Plastics #1 and #2 (must have recycling triangle with 1 or 2)
· Metal cans: aluminum, tin, steel
· Mixed paper: newspaper, office paper, magazines, books, catalogs, mail
Container 2 (Cardboard only):
· Corrugated cardboard ONLY (shipping box material)
· NOT cereal boxes, single-layer flatboard, food-soiled cardboard
Rules:
· Rinse and clean recyclables thoroughly
· Place items LOOSE (not in plastic bags)
· NO GLASS accepted at any drop-off site
· Improper materials may result in fines
Aluminum cans only: Chesapeake Animal Services accepts aluminum cans separately for a small revenue program.
Subscription home pickup: If drop-off doesn’t fit your situation, private providers offer subscription-based curbside recycling pickup at a monthly fee.
Chesapeake provides weekly trash collection. Yard waste is bagged separately on the regular trash day, not as bulk.
Set-out window: Containers placed as close as possible to curb or roadside by 7:00 AM on collection day. Containers can be placed no earlier than 24 hours prior. After collection, containers must be removed within 24 hours after 7 AM.
Container placement: Maintain at least 3 feet clearance from mailboxes, parked cars, other bins, and obstacles. Store containers in carport, enclosed building, or behind the nearest portion of residence between collections.
Townhomes without city containers: Maximum 4 standard 35-gallon containers (not exceeding 60 lbs each) or 4 35-gallon plastic bags per dwelling unit.
Bagged yard waste: Use CLEAR 35-gallon plastic bags only. Place at curb on regular garbage day. Leaves and grass clippings can go in clear plastic bags without requiring a bulk request.
Loose yard debris (branches, bushes): Bushes, shrubbery, and tree limbs require a Bulk Trash Pickup request. Branches max 6 ft length and 6 in diameter.
Sharps disposal: Place home-generated sharps (needles, syringes) in a rigid plastic container (Clorox or detergent bottle), label "do not recycle," and dispose with regular garbage.
Burnt firewood and ashes: Submerge in water for several days before bagging and disposing in regular trash to prevent truck fires.
Holiday schedule: Chesapeake observes major holidays with collection moved to next day. Specifically Juneteenth, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
The Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) Chesapeake Transfer Station handles items the city doesn’t collect curbside, plus serves as the regional HHW drop-off.
Address: 901 Hollowell Lane, Chesapeake, VA 23320
Phone: (757) 961-3943
HHW hotline: (757) 420-4700
Regular hours:
· Monday 8 AM–5 PM (all residents)
· Wednesday 8 AM–5 PM (Chesapeake residents only)
· Saturday 8 AM–4 PM (all residents 8 AM–noon; Chesapeake residents noon–4 PM)
· Sunday noon–4 PM (Chesapeake residents only)
· Closed Tuesday, Thursday, Friday for residential dumping
HHW drop-off: First Wednesday of each month. Accepts: all types of batteries, pool chemicals, brake and transmission fluid, used motor oil, paint, turpentine, paint thinner, spot remover, antifreeze, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides.
Tires: Tires are NOT accepted at SPSA Transfer Stations due to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulations. Take residential tires to the SPSA Tire Processing Facility at the Regional Landfill, 1 Bob Foeller Drive in Suffolk, Monday through Friday 8 AM–4 PM.
Light bulbs: Some big-box retailers in the area collect fluorescent and CFL bulbs at their service desks. Call your local Home Depot or Lowe’s to verify participation.
Donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.
Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don’t work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call the program before scheduling.
For items not accepted by the city (carpet, wood, fencing, construction debris) or households needing same-week service or removal of items between scheduled bulk pickups, paid options are available.
Self-haul to SPSA Transfer Station
Tipping fees varyFor items the city won’t collect (carpet, wood, fencing, large quantities of debris), the SPSA Transfer Station at 901 Hollowell Lane accepts most non-hazardous waste at standard tipping fees.
Useful for: Construction debris, large cleanouts, items excluded from curbside bulk.
Note: Hours restricted by residency — Chesapeake residents have additional access on Wednesday and Sunday.
LoadUp paid pickup
$80+For Chesapeake households needing same-week or in-home pickup, items the city won’t accept (carpet, construction debris), or service before the next scheduled bulk request, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Hampton Roads area for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
Other paid services: 1-800-Got-Junk, College Hunks Hauling Junk, and Full Strut Disposal serve the Hampton Roads area.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. 100% of round-ups fund subsidized pickups at standard market rates.
Book a Chesapeake pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Report illegal dumping to Chesapeake Public Works at (757) 382-CITY (2489) or via the Chesapeake Service Request app or website. After hours, the non-emergency police line is (757) 382-6161.
For Virginia state environmental violations, contact the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Active dumping in progress: call Chesapeake Police non-emergency.
Illegal dumping in Chesapeake’s wetland and Great Dismal Swamp watersheds creates particular environmental risks. Photos with timestamps and license plate numbers significantly improve enforcement outcomes.
See our complete illegal dumping guide for Virginia state penalty information and reporting best practices.
How does Chesapeake’s bulk trash pickup work?
Bulk trash is free and collected on the same day as your regular garbage, when scheduled in advance. Call (757) 382-CITY (2489) by 5 PM the workday before, or submit online by 11:59 PM the day before. Since 2023, you no longer differentiate between household and yard/tree debris on the request, but you must physically separate the piles at the curb. Items at curb no earlier than 3 days before collection. Refrigerator/freezer doors must be removed and glass surfaces taped.
Why doesn’t Chesapeake have curbside recycling anymore?
Chesapeake discontinued curbside recycling in 2023 due to contamination and cost issues. Residents now use 8 drop-off locations across the city, most accessible 24/7 (City Park and Deep Creek Park operate sunrise to sunset only). Two containers per site: one for plastics #1/#2 with metal cans and mixed paper, one for corrugated cardboard only. NO GLASS accepted. Subscription-based curbside pickup is available through private providers for residents who prefer home pickup at a fee.
Where do I take tires in Chesapeake?
Tires are not accepted in city bulk trash or at SPSA Transfer Stations due to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulations. Take residential tires to the SPSA Tire Processing Facility at the Regional Landfill, 1 Bob Foeller Drive in Suffolk, Monday through Friday 8 AM to 4 PM. Tire shops also accept old tires when buying new (small fee).
Where do I dispose of paint and household chemicals?
The SPSA Chesapeake Transfer Station at 901 Hollowell Lane hosts HHW drop-off on the first Wednesday of each month. Free for Chesapeake residents. Accepted: all types of batteries, pool chemicals, brake/transmission fluid, motor oil, paint, paint thinner, antifreeze, pesticides. Call SPSA at (757) 420-4700 for details. Auto parts stores also accept motor oil and lead-acid batteries year-round."),
Why isn’t carpet accepted in bulk trash?
Carpet is excluded from Chesapeake bulk trash because it commonly contains adhesives, sharp staples, and tacks that pose safety risks to crews and damage equipment. Take carpet to the SPSA Transfer Station (tipping fees apply) or use a paid removal service like LoadUp. Construction debris, wood, and fencing are similarly excluded for related reasons.
What happens if I put unaccepted items at the curb?
The City must give 48 hours notice upon violation of the Solid Waste Ordinance (City Code Chapter 62). If items aren't removed within 48 hours, the city will remove them and charge a $100 administrative fee plus cleanup costs. Always confirm items are accepted before scheduling a pickup, and follow setback and prep rules.
How do I report illegal dumping in Chesapeake?
Call Chesapeake Public Works at (757) 382-CITY (2489) during business hours, or use the Chesapeake Service Request app. After hours, call the non-emergency police line at (757) 382-6161. For Virginia state environmental violations, contact the Virginia DEQ. Photos with license plate numbers significantly improve enforcement.
Is this page maintained?
Yes. Last updated May 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.