▼

Public Works - Refuse Decals

Show All Answers

1. What is the Residential Refuse Decal Program?

Effective May 1, 2021, residents of Spotsylvania County that wish to dispose of household trash and recycling at any of the County’s convenience Centers, or the Livingston Landfill, must obtain and permanently display a residential refuse decal to enter the facilities.

• There is no cost to the taxpayer for the Residential Refuse Decal. 
• Spotsylvania County residents and real property owners may obtain refuse decals through the Spotsylvania County Treasurer’s office by online application form, mail-in application, or in person.
• The Treasurer’s office will verify each request in order to issue the refuse decal(s) to a resident or real property owner of Spotsylvania County.
• Refuse decals are issued as permanent decals for up to a maximum of five (5) personal vehicles that the resident will use at the County-owned solid waste facilities.
• Refuse decals are not available for commercial business users.
• Refuse decals do not relieve the customer of any disposal fees that may be applicable.
• County staff reserves the right to ask for other identification/proof of residency.
• The refuse decal must be permanently affixed to the right side of the official inspection sticker when viewed through the windshield from inside the vehicle. The side edge adjacent to the refuse decal shall not be more than 1/4 inch from the edge of the official inspection sticker (per the Code of Virginia: 19VAC30-40-30 Placement). 
• Refuse decals may be revoked if used in violation of the Solid Waste System Regulations, including the requirement that the decal is not given to or shared with persons that are not residents or real property owners of Spotsylvania County. 

For more information about obtaining a Residential-Use Refuse Decal, contact the Treasurer’s office at 540-507-7058.

For information about Solid Waste Center hours and services, contact the Solid Waste Division at 540-507-7725.

2. Why is the Residential Refuse Decal Program being initiated?

The Board of Supervisors requested the Residential Refuse Decal Program, at their meeting on April 14, 2020, to reduce the use of the County-owned solid waste facilities by commercial business users and persons that are not residents or real property owners of Spotsylvania County. 

Refuse decals are only issued to residents of Spotsylvania County. The Treasurer’s office will confirm residency through a personal property account, real estate account, water account, or a driver’s license with a Spotsylvania County address.

3. How do residents obtain the Residential Refuse Decal?

Residential Refuse Decals may be obtained through the Spotsylvania County Treasurer’s office by online application form, mail-in application, or in person. The Treasurer’s office will verify each request in order to issue decals to a resident or real property owner of Spotsylvania County. Decals will not be issued to commercial and business vehicles.

To submit the application online, use this online application form.

To use the mail-in application, please print, complete, and mail to:
Treasurer of Spotsylvania County
Attn: Refuse Decal Program
PO Box 100
Spotsylvania, Virginia 22553

If you submit the application by mail or online, your decals will be mailed to you after the Treasurer’s office has verified and processed the information.

To obtain decals in-person, please visit the Treasurer’s office. You will be asked to fill out the application at the counter or you can print, complete, and bring it with you to:
Spotsylvania County Treasurer’s Office
Richard E. Holbert Memorial Building
First Floor
9104 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania, Virginia 22553
Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

For more information about obtaining a Residential Use Refuse Decal, contact the Treasurer’s office at 540-507-7058.

For information about Solid Waste Center hours and services, contact the Solid Waste Division at 540-507-7725.

4. Can I get a Refuse Decal if I do not have a personal property, real estate or water account in Spotsylvania County?

If you do not have a personal property account, real estate account, or water account in your name, the Treasurer’s Office will require your driver’s license with a Spotsylvania County address to obtain a Residential Refuse Decal.

5. What if I just moved to the County and my driver's license and vehicle registration are not yet updated?

If you have just moved to the County and your driver’s license and vehicle registration are not yet updated, the Treasurer’s office will verify your County residency if you submit your closing documents or completed lease agreement showing your name and Spotsylvania County address. The Treasurer’s office will also accept viewing a utility bill (electric, gas, etc.) that is established in the resident’s name. The Treasurer’s office may also ask to see a valid form of identification.

6. What if I am a renter and do not own property in Spotsylvania County?

The County is verifying residency by personal property accounts, real estate accounts, and water accounts. If you own a vehicle and rent residential property in the County, you should have a personal property account that will verify your residency. However, if you do not have a personal property account, real estate account, or water account, the Treasurer’s Office will accept your driver’s license or state-issued identification with a Spotsylvania County address as proof of residency.

Short-term rentals will need to make arrangements for solid waste disposal via a commercial service or cleaning company.

7. What if I own a vacation rental in Spotsylvania County?

Short-term rentals will not be eligible for a Residential Refuse Decal. Short-term rental agencies and owners will need to contract waste disposal or arrange for other disposal methods for their business.

8. Where should the Refuse Decal be placed on the vehicle?

The Refuse Decal must be permanently affixed to the right side of the official state inspection sticker when viewed through the windshield from inside the vehicle. The side edge adjacent to the refuse decal sticker shall not be more than 1/4 inch from the edge of the official state inspection sticker (per the Code of Virginia: 19VAC30-40-30 Placement).

9. Do I have to obtain a refuse decal for each one of my vehicles?

Refuse Decals are not required for every vehicle the resident owns. The resident will only need refuse decals for the vehicles that will be used at the solid waste facilities. A maximum of five (5) decals per household will be issued. Household will be determined by physical address.

10. What if I purchase a new vehicle?

If you purchase a new vehicle and plan to use the new vehicle to enter the County-owned solid waste facilities, you will need to obtain a Residential Refuse Decal for that vehicle. The decal must be permanently affixed to the right side of the official inspection sticker when viewed through the windshield from inside the vehicle. The side edge adjacent to the official inspection sticker shall not be more than 1/4 inch from the edge of the official inspection sticker (per the Code of Virginia: 19VAC30-40-30 Placement).

11. Is the Refuse Decal transferable if I sell my car?

Residential Refuse Decals are not transferable. Please remove the refuse decal from the vehicle you are selling and send it to the Treasurer’s office so that the decal number can be voided. You will need to apply for a new decal if you plan to purchase and use a new vehicle to dispose of solid waste and recycling at the County-owned solid waste facilities.

12. What if my vehicle is wrecked or ‘totaled’ and I need a new residential refuse decal?

If your vehicle is wrecked or totaled, please send the refuse decal from the wrecked/totaled vehicle to the Treasurer’s office so that the decal number can be voided. Please keep in mind, refuse decals are issued as permanent decals for up to a maximum of five (5) vehicles that the resident will use at the County-owned solid waste facilities. If you will be replacing the wrecked vehicle, you will need to apply for an additional refuse decal for the replacement vehicle.

13. What if I do not have the old refuse decal to return to the Treasurer’s office?

Please contact the Treasurer’s office. The representative will need to know the decal number and date the decal was destroyed. The Treasurer’s office will log the refuse decal number that was destroyed in the electronic tracking system.

14. What if I regularly drive a vehicle with dealer tags?

Residential Refuse Decals must be permanently affixed to the vehicle in order to access the County-owned solid waste facilities.

15. What if I have a personal vehicle with business lettering?

The decal applications include an affidavit that you are obtaining the decal for residential purposes. If you have a personal vehicle with business lettering, you may still obtain a decal and utilize the convenience centers as long as you are using the sites to dispose of your own residential solid waste and recycling. If you are utilizing the vehicle to dispose of business/commercial waste, generated or collected by you, then you must utilize the Livingston Landfill. It is at the discretion of the facility attendant to determine if the waste being delivered to the convenience center is residentially or commercially generated. Vehicles registered as business vehicles are not issued decals.

16. Can I place a residential refuse decal on my business registered vehicle?

No, Residential Refuse Decals are for residential users only. Any business vehicle must go to the Livingston Landfill. If you are using your business vehicle for intermittent disposal of self-generated residential waste, you may use the Livingston Landfill for residential refuse disposal; proof of residency is required. It is at the discretion of the Landfill Manager or designee to determine if the load being delivered is residential or commercial. If the load is deemed commercial, then appropriate disposal fees will apply.

17. Can I use a rental trailer to take solid waste and recycling to the County-owned facilities?

A trailer pulled by a vehicle with a County refuse decal will be allowed disposal as long as the load does not appear to be commercial. If the load is commercial, then the resident will be asked to go to the Livingston Landfill.  The Landfill Manager may require an account to be established for tracking purposes and charges may be incurred.

18. What if my vehicle does not have a windshield?

If your vehicle does not have a windshield, the Residential Refuse Decal must be displayed on the vehicle in an area that is clearly visible from the front of the vehicle. The attendant must be able to clearly see the permanently affixed decal when the vehicle enters any of the County-owned solid waste facilities.

19. What if I use my farm tractor or farm vehicle to haul my trash to the landfill?

Farm tractors and farm vehicles are eligible for Residential Refuse Decals provided that the operator of the farm vehicle is not operating a business/commercial operation and personal property/real estate ownership in Spotsylvania County is confirmed. Business/commercial farm waste shall be taken to the Livingston Landfill.

Location:
Livingston Landfill
6241 Massey Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22551

Hours:
7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Monday - Sunday
Closed Major Holidays

20. Can I use a Refuse Decal on a Rental Box, Dump, Stake Bed, U-haul, Lowes/Home Depot, Penske, Budget, United, etc., trucks?

These types of vehicles are considered commercial/business and must go to the Livingston Landfill to dispose of solid waste and recycling. Commercial disposal fees will be incurred.

Location:
Livingston Landfill
6241 Massey Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22551

Hours:
7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Monday - Sunday
Closed Major Holidays

21. Can I get a refuse decal for my caregiver, who is not a Spotsylvania County resident, because the caregiver uses his/her vehicle to take my refuse and recycling to the solid waste facilities?

The Treasurer’s office can only issue refuse decals to residents and real property owners of Spotsylvania County. Residential Refuse Decals must be permanently affixed to the vehicle in order to access the County-owned solid waste facilities.

22. Why do I have to permanently display the Refuse Decal every time I use the Solid Waste Facilities? They know me.

The Refuse Decal is the only way the attendants working at the Solid Waste Convenience Centers and the Livingston Landfill know you are authorized to use the facilities to dispose of residential trash and recycling. Decals are dwelling specific, which means they should not be given to other people to use. Therefore, the decal should be permanently placed upon up to five (5) personal vehicles that are used at the County-owned solid waste facilities.

23. Can Nonpublic Schools (private, non-state independent, or parochial) obtain Residential Refuse Decals?

Nonpublic schools (private, non-state independent, and parochial) are considered business/commercial entities and are not eligible for the residential refuse decal.