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Recycling Options in Rockbridge County, Virginia: What You Can Recycle & Where to Go

Updated: February 2026

If you’re wondering where and how to recycle in Rockbridge County, Virginia, you’re not alone. Many local residents want to recycle responsibly–but it’s not always clear what materials are accepted, where to take them, or what options exist beyond curbside pickup.

This guide breaks down recycling options available to Rockbridge County residents, including Lexington and Buena Vista, and highlights ways to reduce waste locally.

Recycling in Rockbridge County: The Basics

Recycling options in Rockbridge County vary depending on:

  • The type of material
  • Whether you live in Lexington, Buena Vista, or Rockbridge County
  • Whether the item requires special handling

While curbside recycling is not available in Lexington, Buena Vista, or Rockbridge County, drop-off recycling and special recycling programs help keep reusable materials out of landfills.

Recycling Options in Rockbridge

Below are some links our users have suggested. Please note that this is a list of resources, not endorsements. Click on any of these links to learn more about them:

  • City of Lexington Residents
    • Tin & aluminum cans (CLEAN) (drop off at 890 Shop Road)
    • Scrap metal (drop off at 890 Shop Road)
    • “Old Corrugated Cardboard” – flattened (drop off at 890 Shop Road) 
    • Yard Waste (weekly street-side pickup)
    • Leaves (specific pickup days in fall)
    • Christmas trees (specific pickup day in January)
    • Hazardous Waste Collection Day (Rockbridge County’s annual Hazardous Waste Event at Maury River Middle School – Fall date: October 1)
  • Rockbridge County Residents (not open to Lexington or Buena Vista residents)
    • Paper & paperboard (cereal boxes)
    • ALL Plastic containers #1 & #2 (this is a recent expansion of what they can take!)
    • Tin & aluminum cans
    • Corrugated cardboard – flattened
    • Plastic films (CLEAN), including grocery bags, bubble wrap, clean food wrappers, furniture wrap, plastic film wrappers from paper products and more (collected at Kroger, Walmart & Food Lion)
    • Glass
    • Lithium and NiCad batteries are accepted for recycling at all of the County Staffed Collection Centers.
  • City of Buena Vista Residents (currently not available; if you know of an option, please let us know by emailing director@rockbridge conservation.org)
  • All Residents
  • Other Types of Recycling
    • You may be able to find in-store recycling intake at Lowe’s, Walmart (printer ink cartridge recycling), or Kroger.
      • Some locations include recycling for fluorescent bulbs, plastic planter pots & cases, rechargeable batteries, cell phones, and plastic bags!
      • Plastic films (CLEAN), including grocery bags, bubble wrap, clean food wrappers, furniture wrap, plastic film wrappers from paper products, and more (collected at Kroger, Walmart & Food Lion)
      • Lowe’s Lexington
        • Fluorescent bulbs, Plastic planter pots & cases, Rechargeable batteries, Cell phones, Plastic bags
        • CFL bulbs
    • Prescription Medicine: Bring your unused, unneeded, or out of date prescription medicines to the County Sheriff’s office on Greenhouse Road near RCHS. They have a drop box there. This protects people, pets and the environment!  Please NEVER flush medicine down the toilet or dump in down a drain. It can contaminate the water!
    • Sneakers/running shoes: Bring your old sneakers to the Lex Running Shop in Lexington: they will recycle them through the Dunk Your Kicks program!
    • Moving boxes & packing materials: if your materials are still usable after your move, offer them up on a local freecycle site like Buy Nothing. Folks who are moving can reuse your boxes and pass them along (or recycle them once they are finished with them).
    • Egg cartons & paper produce boxes: can be returned to most of the farmers at the Lexington Farmers Market AND also to Herman’s Produce
    • Honey jars: Cattleman’s will take these back (wash them first)
    • Extra cloth/reusable bags: Herman’s produce has a box outside the store where you can leave your extra reusable bags
    • Bubble Wrap and other packaging filler can be taken to the UPS store located near Wal-Mart for the store’s reuse.
    • Clean, dry, flexible polyethylene (PE) film (e.g., grocery bags, bread bags, produce bags, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags, case wrap) can be taken to Natural Bridge State Park.
    • Hazardous Waste Event (once a year in Fall) co-hosted with Lexington: Pesticides, Herbicides, Fuels, Used Oil, Cleaners/Bleaches, Lithium and NiCad Batteries (will not be accepted if connectors are not taped), Antifreeze, Mercury (Household Products Only), Solvents, Sealants, Oil-Based Paints Only.
  • Composting

Things you just can’t recycle here:

  • Plastics #3-7
  • Straws (just say no to straws!!)
  • Pizza boxes (the grease makes them impossible to recycle, but you may be able to compost these in your backyard compost, as they’re great for preventing growth in garden plots).
  • Household batteries (AA, AAA, 9V, watch batteries, etc.).
  • Vehicle batteries (you may be able to return these for a “core charge”).
  • Styrofoam, period: regardless of the recycling symbol on it! (this includes take-away containers, packing materials, etc)
  • Plastic utensils, including those made from “compostable” plastic. So be sure to reuse!
  • Compostable plastics (you cannot compost these at home, either for the most part – they don’t break down, plus they’re probably not what you want to eat). Read more about this here.
  • Shredded paper (could be used for small animal bedding).

Reducing Waste Beyond Recycling

Recycling is only one part of the solution. Waste reduction and reuse can have an even bigger impact:

  • Choose reusable containers instead of single-use plastics
  • Compost food scraps when possible
  • Donate usable household items instead of discarding them
  • Buy products with minimal packaging

Reducing waste at the source helps lower disposal costs and protects local land and waterways.

Local Efforts to Improve Recycling Access

Community groups in Rockbridge County are working to:

  • Improve public education around recycling
  • Expand access to recycling options
  • Reduce contamination in recycling streams
  • Advocate for smarter waste management solutions

These efforts rely on community participation, education, and local partnerships to be effective.

Small Actions Add Up

Every bottle recycled, box reused, and unnecessary purchase avoided helps reduce landfill waste and protect Rockbridge County’s natural resources.

If you’re unsure whether an item can be recycled, ask before throwing it away–and keep learning as local options evolve.

Other Recycling Tips:

  • Buy less stuff!
  • Think about other uses for the things you already own instead of buying new.
  • Consider having a yard sale or donating any reusable items that you no longer want. Organizations like Habitat for Humanity are happy to take your items and resell them to support local folks in need.
  • You can also check your local schools or nonprofits to see if they need the items you have: many nonprofits have a wish list on their website.
  • Buy used items instead of new.
  • Participate in the shared economy.
  • Freecycle (there are local apps and Facebook groups (e.g., Buy Nothing Lexington VA or Rockbridge County Free for Needy Families) that will help you find a home for all sorts of things you no longer want)
  • Say “no, thank you” to straws, plastic bags, and other single use plastics
  • Buy items that are packaged in paper instead of plastic when you have a choice
  • BYO cup/mug to your favorite coffee shop
  • Buy paper serving products instead of plastic (if you cannot wash dishes)
  • BYO take out containers to your favorite restaurant and skip the styrofoam or additional plastic
  • Ask your favorite restaurants to purchase/use recyclable take out containers (not styrofoam or compostable paper)

Helpful Links & Resources

Click on any of these links to learn more about them:

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