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Great Falls, Virginia · Community Advocacy

Your Voice for a Stronger, Better Great Falls

Citizens for Great Falls is a nonpartisan, all-volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the character, natural beauty, and quality of life in our community.

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1
Year
Celebrating Our
First Anniversary
One year of advocacy,
community, and civic action
100%
Volunteer driven
22066
Proudly rooted in Great Falls

Happy First Anniversary, Citizens for Great Falls!

One year ago, a group of passionate neighbors came together with a shared vision — to make Great Falls an even better place to live. Thank you for your support, your voices, and your commitment to our community.

Our mission: To advocate for responsible land use, environmental stewardship, and transparent local governance — keeping Great Falls the exceptional community it is for generations to come.

What we do
Our Focus Areas

We engage on the issues that matter most to Great Falls residents.

Environmental Protection

Safeguarding the Potomac River corridor, green spaces, and natural resources that define our community.

Land Use & Planning

Monitoring development proposals and advocating for responsible zoning that reflects community values.

Civic Advocacy

Engaging county officials, attending public meetings, and amplifying resident voices on local decisions.

Transportation & Safety

Working toward safer roads, pedestrian paths, and thoughtful traffic solutions for our rural character.

Education & Schools

Supporting excellence in local education and keeping schools at the heart of the community.

Community Events

Bringing neighbors together through forums, cleanups, and events that strengthen local bonds.

News / Articles

Trash Haulers Update on Arlington County USD program

Peter Falcone | Published on 8/21/2025

The Fairfax County Chapter of the National Waste & Recyclers Association has provided the following:
🛑 FAIRFAX COUNTY RESIDENTS: A CAUTIONARY TALE

Fairfax County is considering a Unified Sanitation District (USD) — a plan to centralize trash collection under a single county-managed contract.
It promises cost savings and streamlined service.
But what happens when the lowest bidder wins?

County leaders have repeatedly pointed to Arlington’s USD system as a model — calling it “efficient” and “affordable.”
But the reality tells a very different story.

🚨 What Went Wrong in Arlington?

In August 2025, Arlington hired a new hauler to serve 33,000 homes.
Within days, the system began to collapse:

  • ❌ Hundreds of missed pickups every day
  • 🗑️ Trash piling up for days in neighborhoods
  • 📞 Customer service overwhelmed — hold times reached 86 minutes
  • 🚛 County inspectors and trucks deployed to help finish routes
  • 💸 Financial penalties issued just to get basic service restored

“We’re still staring at full trash bins and piles of rotting garbage bags…”
— Arlington resident, ARLnow

This wasn’t a one-time glitch — it was a system-wide breakdown that left thousands of residents without reliable service for weeks.

⚠️ A Pattern of Fatal Accidents

The same hauler has been involved in multiple deadly incidents:

  • Baltimore (Oct 18, 2024): Dump truck lost control, killed its own driver, hit 4 vehicles & a building
  • Riverdale Park (May 5, 2022): Garbage truck flipped, killing the driver
  • Churchton (Aug 23, 2022): Trash truck overturned, crushing worker Francisco Javier Madero
  • Glen Burnie (Aug 11, 2025): Trash truck struck and killed a bicyclist

Despite this record, the hauler was reawarded a major contract in 2025.

🏘️ What Would This Look Like in Fairfax?

Fairfax County has over 426,000 households — more than 13 times Arlington’s service area.
If similar failure rates occurred here, residents could face:

  • 🚫 1,300 to 4,000 missed pickups every day
  • 🧃 Overflowing waste in every district
  • 🧫 Public health risks and environmental hazards
  • 🆘 Long delays and overwhelmed county resources

✅ The Current System Works

Fairfax’s existing network of local, experienced haulers has delivered reliable, consistent service for decades.
These companies know our neighborhoods, respond quickly to issues, and are directly accountable to the communities they serve.

They’ve built trust through performance — not promises.
And they’re ready to keep delivering the service Fairfax residents expect and deserve.

💬 What Can You Do?

  • 🔗 Visit Choice4FFX.org to learn more and sign the petition
  • 📞 Contact your Supervisor and ask for transparency before any vote on USD
  • 📣 Share this flyer with neighbors and community groups
  • 💪 Support local haulers who know our neighborhoods and care about our safety
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