Fairfax County Fines Collection Company $2,500 for Failed Trash Pick-Ups

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and American Disposal Services have reached a settlement after reports of missed trash pick-ups prompted an investigation.

Back in May, John Cook and Kathy Smith, the district supervisors for Braddock and Sully, said that the solid waste and recycling collection company’s failure to make “many trash pick-ups in the county” was causing health, safety and community enjoyment issues.

The county board then started an investigation to prepare to take legal action.

Ultimately, the county decided not to sue, Matthew Kaiser, the spokesperson for the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), told Tysons Reporter.

American Disposal Services signed a consent agreement with the county on June 10 to bring the company into compliance with the county’s law saying that waste and recycling need to get picked up at least once a week, Kaiser said.

American Disposal also paid a $2,500 civil penalty in a settlement regarding code violations, Kaiser said.

Kaiser said that for compliance verification, American Disposal Services must:

• provide daily reports to compliance staff for review
• review and follows up on incoming complaints from residents on a daily basis
• have ongoing weekly meetings to discuss compliance with the consent agreement

Based in Manassas, American Disposal Services is the primary private trash service company for county residents.

Kevin Edwards, the general manager of American Disposal Services, previously told Tysons Reporter was “aggressively hiring and recruiting” to address a truck driver shortage, which Edwards said was the reason behind the delays.

Staff from DPWES, Consumer Affairs and the Health Department had been working with American Disposal Services earlier.

Now, Solid Waste Enforcement and Compliance staff will continue to work with American Disposal Services to “maintain compliance with the code and deliver adequate service to the residents of Fairfax County,” Kaiser said.

“The situation with American Disposal Services has improved with the number of daily complaints significantly decreasing,” Kaiser said.

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