Trash Bin Regulations

Trash Bin Management at Henson Park Homeowners Association

The Henson Park Homeowners Association (HOA) Refuse Rules and Regulations serve as a way to keep our community an attractive and desirable place in which to live. They also serve as a way to maintain the value of our investment, the Henson Park community. These rules and regulations apply to all black trash, blue recycling, and green organic bins (collectively, the “bins”), no matter the color, whether provided by Arlington County or the owner.  In Arlington County the use of an organic bin is optional, although there remain HOA rules for organic waste, detailed below.

Trash Bin Regulations

Process

As stated in the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (attached to the Articles of Incorporation of Henson Park Homeowners Association, Inc.), the Board of Directors may adopt and update rules and regulations for the property’s management.  The Refuse Rules and Regulations were written and adopted by the Board of Directors to address the many complaints surrounding the placements of bins on sidewalks, the parking lot, or the lawn (collectively, the “common-area”).  These rules supersede any previous regulations published by the Association.  

Amendments

These rules and regulations will be amended by the Board as necessary, and homeowners will be notified immediately of any such amendments.

Exceptions

Owners may apply in writing for appropriate exceptions. Such exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the Board in writing.  All exceptions will expire after two years, and do not convey with a change in the property ownership.  

Penalties

The Board of Directors takes these rules and regulations very seriously and will take the steps are necessary to ensure that they are enforced.  Compliance with these rules and regulations is the homeowner's responsibility, whether they occupy the unit or not.  Enforcement actions and/or fines may be levied by the Board for each occurrence.  The owner must ensure that any occupants (a renter, for example) abide by these rules and regulations.

Any violations resulting in fines, whether committed by the owner or an occupant, are the sole responsibility of the property owner.  Any unpaid fines may result in a lien filed against the property, with the legal and/or administrative costs associated with doing so being sole responsibility of the owner.    

No matter the offense, if a fine is assessed to the HOA by the County, the HOA will bill the property owner for the violation, and if needed, pursue a lien on the property.  The penalties are shown below.  (Scroll through this table, to see all entries.)

Refuse Rules and Regulations

All owners and occupants must adhere to the following rules and regulations, which may be modified from time-to-time.

Bin Labels

You must label all your bins so that any time the bin is on the common-area its owner is known:

1. All black trash, blue recycling, and green organic bins (“bins”), whether provided by Arlington County or the owner, must be marked with a four-digit unit number, derived from your street address.  For example, “2821” for any bins associated with 2821 21st Road South, or “3001” for any bins for 3001 20th Court South.    

2. The numbers may be in the form of stickers, a non-removable tag, or paint (in a contrasting color).  The label must be visible from the outside of the bin and each number must be at least one-half inch high and one-quarter inch wide.  The label must be kept in good condition such that it is easily readable, has not worn away or fallen off, etcetera. 

3. Even if you store the bin(s) in your rear yard the bin(s) must be marked.  

Day-to-Day Storage

There are limits on where you can store your bin(s):

1. You may store any bin in your rear yard.  You cannot store any bin in your front or side yards. 

2. For day-to-day use the trash and recycle bins must be stored in the following locations:

   1. 2821-2825 21st Rd S: Inside your fenced rear yard.

   2. 2021-2029 S Glebe Rd: Inside your fenced rear yard.

   3. 2031-2039 S Glebe Rd: On the common-area sidewalk behind your property, directly in front of your parking space.

   4. 2041-2047, 2061 S Glebe Rd: On the common-area parking lot, at the top of the hill in the parking lot, beneath the concrete retaining wall, to the right of your parking spaces.

   5. 2049-2053, 2057-2059 S Glebe Rd: On the common-area parking lot, on the right, as you enter the driveway from S Glebe Road, in the rounded corner.

   6. 2055, 2063-2071 S Glebe Rd: On the common-area, at the top of the hill in the parking lot, beneath the concrete retaining wall, to the left of your parking spaces.

   7. 3001-3009 20th Court S: On the common-area, at the top of the hill on the sidewalk parallel to the retaining wall, to the right of your parking spaces.

   8. 3011-3013 20th Court S: On the common-area, adjacent to the side of unit 3011, at the base of the stairs to the common-area green-space.

   9. 3015-3019 20th Court S: On the common-area, adjacent to the side of unit 3019, at the top of the hill along Glebe Road.

3. All organic bins must be stored in your rear yard.  Organic bins cannot be stored on the common-area.  

4. Any Board member will assist an owner if these descriptions are unclear.

By the Board's count, these rules ensure that, from day-to-day, on the common-area:

• At the top of the hill near the concrete wall, there will be a maximum of 22 bins.  

• In the parking area to the right of the Glebe Rd entrance a maximum of 10 bins.  

• At the top of 20th Ct a maximum of 10 bins.

• Next to 3011 a maximum of 4 bins.

• Along Glebe Rd at maximum of 6 bins.  

The Board finds that there is a need to limit the number of bins in any location, to ensure ease of parking, for the neat appearance of the property, and to provide room for snow should the parking lot be plowed.

Number of Bins

There are limits to the number of bins:

1. If your day-to-day assigned location is on the common-area, you may store one (and only one) trash bin, and one (and only one) recycle bin in your designated spot, and nowhere else on the common-area.  

2. On the common-area, you cannot, for example, store two trash bins at the expense of a recycle bin, or vice versa.  You are allowed one black bin and/or one blue bin, or no bins on the common-area.  

3. If you require more than one trash and/or recycle bin, any additional bins must be stored in your rear yard, exclusively.  

Use of Bins

You must use either the County-provided bin, or a Board-approved alternative.  

You cannot leave trash or recyclable material (black- or blue-bin contents) in any plastic or paper bag outside a bin.  This rule is to aid in the control of raccoons, rats, or other vermin.  

All trash and recycled materials, except for cardboard boxes, must be entirely inside a bin with the bin closed completely.

Cardboard boxes must be cut and folded so that the entire box is flat.  For the convenience of the refuse staff the flat cardboard boxes may be slipped vertically (upright) between two blue bins.  You cannot leave cardboard boxes out-of-sight behind bins; so the workers can collect them, they must be easily seen among the front row of bins.    

If you create organic waste and you keep a green bin, you must store the bin in your rear yard until collection day.  

If you do not keep a green bin you must place organic waste into a County-approved paper bag (available in limited amounts, for free, from the County, or for purchase at local hardware stores).  You must store the paper organic waste bag in your rear yard until collection day.  You cannot put organic refuse in a plastic bag, as the County will not collect it.

Bin Sizes

There are limits on the size of bins:

1. Each trash and or recycle bin stored on the common-area cannot exceed the following sizes, as supplied by Arlington County:  Trash: 32- or 64-gallon.  Recycle: 35- or 65-gallon.  

2. You cannot store the older 96-gallon trash bins anywhere on the common-area.  The Board recommends replacing the old large carts (no longer available from the County) with a currently-available cart.  

3. If you choose to use a trash or recycle bin not provided by the County you cannot exceed the sizes detailed above, unless the bin is stored in your rear yard.

Collection Day

You may need to move your bin(s) to prepare for the County to empty them, and once empty, return them to their day-to-day storage location.  To prepare for collection day:

1. For units 2821-2825, 2021-2029, and 3015-3019:  You must move your bins alongside Glebe Road to be collected by the County.  You cannot block the sidewalk along Glebe Road.  

2. For units 3011-3013:  You must move your bins up the stairs onto the common-area sidewalk near your parking spaces.

3. For all other units, you should ensure the bin can be easily reached by the County staff.  For example, if there has been snow, move your bin(s) to a spot near your car, making it easier for the staff to empty and replace your bin.  

After the County have emptied the bins:

1. For units 2821-2825, 2021-2029, and 3015-3019:  You must return the bins to their approved day-to-day location.  The County limits the time your bins may reside along Glebe Road.  Currently, that is 6 PM Thursday evening, for Friday morning pick-up; and away by 6 PM Saturday after pick-up.

2. For units 3011-3013:  Move your bin(s) back down the stairs, to alongside unit 3011.

3. For all other units, if you moved the bin(s) for the convenience of the staff, return the bin(s) to their day-to-day location.

Changes in Collection Dates

The County may change the date of refuse collection.  This most commonly happens during snow or extreme heat events, and on certain holidays.  Arlington County typically announces any upcoming changes through local news (ArlingtonNow.com) or through an email to the account holder.   

1. The owner/occupant must adjust their behavior to match any changes in the County refuse collections date(s).

2. The owner must pass to any unit occupants notice of collection date changes.  The owner is responsible for passing onto any occupants these notices.

3. Owners may want to register with Arlington County so that they receive email notices about service changes.  https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Recycling-and-Trash

Exclusive Use of Bins

When your bin is located on the common-area, you should not expect exclusive access to your bin(s).  Whether or not Arlington County provided your bin(s), or if you supply your own bin(s), if you choose to store your trash and/or recycle bin on the common-area you should expect that anyone may put refuse in any bins on the common-area.  The Board does not and cannot monitor who uses bin(s) on the common-area.  You must store your bin(s) in your rear yard if you want to limit access to your bin(s).

However all owners and occupants should be aware that based on laws and ordinances, putting trash in a bin that is not yours may be considered illegal. This practice falls under the category of illegal dumping.  Virginia State Law says it is unlawful to dump or dispose of trash, garbage, or other unsightly matter on public or private property without permission.   Violations can be a misdemeanor punishable by fines, potential jail time, and/or community service.  Trash collection is a paid service, By using someone else's bin without their consent, it may be considered theft of services.  And Arlington County itself has ordinances that prohibit illegal dumping and regulate the proper disposal of waste. 

If you see illegal dumping please contact the Board and report what you see.  And if exclusive-use is very important to you, you must store your bin(s) in your rear yard to limit access to your bin(s).  

Bin Storage Area Clean-up

As a benefit for you and other owner/occupants, the Board contracts with a service provider to clean up litter on the common-area, from near or around the designated bin storage areas.  You must not interfere with the work of this contractor.  They have instructions to deposit collected trash in a Board member's bin(s).

Care for Bins

1. You are responsible for the care of your bin(s) on the common-area.  You must contact Arlington County if a bin they provided is broken or has worn out. 

2. Whether you store the bin on the common-area or in your rear yard, if you have a County-supplied bin which you do not use you must contact Arlington County to have the bin removed.

3. If you supply your own bin(s) you must, at your expense, repair, replace, or remove the bin, as needed.

Right of Removal

The Board will have certain rights if you store your bin(s) on the common-area:

1. If you fail to maintain your bin(s) in good working order, the Board ask the County to remove the bin from the property.

2. If a bin is found on the common-area without a proper label, at any time, the Board may, without advance notice, remove the bin from the property, entirely at the owner’s expense.

Word Choice

In this document “common-area” is any property associated with the Henson Park HOA which is not deeded to an owner.  Typically an owner owns their front and rear yard, the sidewalk leading directly to their front door, and for very few units, a side yard.  No unit owns their parking space; this is a common-area amenity, to which the Board grants you access.

The words “must” and “cannot” are used to alert you that rule is not up for negotiation or interpretation.  Words “may” and “can” are used to alert you that you have a choice in the topic described.  The use of bold, italics, or other highlighting is used to draw your attention to the words, but does not affect how the Board will interpret these rules and regulations.

Revised, Adopted, and In Effect

These Architectural Control Guidelines were revised and adopted by the Henson Park HOA Board of Directors on September 20, 2025, superseding all previous guidelines.  The Board will begin to enforce these regulations after January 1, 2026.