Cary Trash Pickup Schedule & Holiday Delays
Source-reviewed schedule
Trash pickup is scheduled for this date.
Upcoming Holiday Schedule Notice
Upcoming Holiday Alert: Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov 11, 2026 (48 days away). Collections slide by 1 day starting Wednesday.
- Trash pickup days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & ThursdaySet carts out Set rollout garbage carts at curbside by 7:00 AM on scheduled collection day (no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before). Keep 3 feet clearance from all obstructions.
- Next trash pickup
- Sep 24Based on the listed schedule
- Recycling days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & ThursdaySingle-stream collection
Recycling events omitted: an A/B collection week anchor is required.
Regular trash pickup & collection details
| Service | Collection days | Placement or collection rule |
|---|---|---|
| Trash | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday · Weekly | Placement cutoff: Set rollout garbage carts at curbside by 7:00 AM on scheduled collection day (no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before). Keep 3 feet clearance from all obstructions. |
| Recycling | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday | Single-stream recycling; alternating A week |
| Bulk waste | Curbside bulky item pickup by appointment; call 311 or 919-469-4000 to schedule collection. | Up to 3 items per pickup |
| Yard waste | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday | Year-round. Weekly curbside collection on your regular collection day. Place in reusable containers or paper bags; bundle limbs under 4 feet and 50 lbs. |
Trash container requirements
- Town-issued green rollout garbage cart
- Lid must be completely closed
- All household waste must be bagged inside cart
Cary recycling overview
Single-stream recycling · Collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, alternating A week.
Accepted items
- Flattened Cardboard Boxes and Paperboard
- Office Paper, Newspapers, Magazines, and Junk Mail
- Aluminum and Steel Cans
- Plastic Bottles, Tubs, and Jugs
- Glass Bottles and Food Jars
Prohibited items
- Plastic Bags and Plastic Film Wraps
- Styrofoam Food Containers
- Lightbulbs, Ceramics, and Cookware
- Clothing, Textiles, and Garden Hoses
Cary bulk pickup rules
| Collection rule | Curbside bulky item pickup by appointment; call 311 or 919-469-4000 to schedule collection. |
|---|---|
| Limit per pickup | 3 items |
| Permitted materials | No unconditional accepted-material list is verified. Confirm eligibility before putting items out. |
| Advance notice | Required before collection. |
| Dispatch phone | 919-469-4000 |
Cary holiday trash delays
Listed strategy: one day slide. A listed holiday shifts remaining pickups in its Monday-Saturday service week by one day.
Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Named holidays recur each year; explicit dates apply only to their listed year.
2026 Holiday Collection Calendar: Cary, NC
Official schedule adjustments for recognized 2026 holidays. When a holiday falls on or before your collection day, review whether curbside pickups slide forward:
| Holiday | Observed Date | Schedule Status | Curbside Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, Jan 19, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Presidents' Day | Monday, Feb 16, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Juneteenth | Friday, Jun 19, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Independence Day | Saturday, Jul 4, 2026 | Weekend Holiday | Holiday falls on a weekend. Regular weekday curbside routes are unchanged. |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sep 7, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Columbus Day | Monday, Oct 12, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, Nov 11, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Wednesday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov 26, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec 25, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday pickups push back by 1 day. Thursday routes slide to Friday, and Friday routes slide to Saturday.
Christmas Day pickups push back 1 day through the remainder of the service week. Normal schedule resumes the following Monday.
Natural evergreen trees can be set out curbside in January. Remove all tree stands, lights, nails, ornaments, and tinsel before placing at the curb.
Personalized Route Reminders & Holiday Push Notifications
Never miss trash day or get surprised by holiday delays. Subscribe directly to your device calendar for free lock-screen alerts at 7:00 PM the night before and automatic holiday schedule shift warnings.
Step 1: Choose Your Street Collection Day
Showing personalized schedule for each routeTrash: Weekly collection (Set rollout garbage carts at curbside by 7:00 AM on scheduled collection day (no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before). Keep 3 feet clearance from all obstructions.)
Recycling: Collected on Monday (single stream)
Trash: Weekly collection (Set rollout garbage carts at curbside by 7:00 AM on scheduled collection day (no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before). Keep 3 feet clearance from all obstructions.)
Recycling: Collected on Tuesday (single stream)
Trash: Weekly collection (Set rollout garbage carts at curbside by 7:00 AM on scheduled collection day (no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before). Keep 3 feet clearance from all obstructions.)
Recycling: Collected on Wednesday (single stream)
Trash: Weekly collection (Set rollout garbage carts at curbside by 7:00 AM on scheduled collection day (no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before). Keep 3 feet clearance from all obstructions.)
Recycling: Collected on Thursday (single stream)
Cary, NC Sanitation Schedule
Hauler: Town of Cary Public Works Department | Support: 919-469-4000
Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Frequency: weekly
Cart Time: Set rollout garbage carts at curbside by 7:00 AM on scheduled collection day (no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before). Keep 3 feet clearance from all obstructions.
- Town-issued green rollout garbage cart
- Lid must be completely closed
Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Stream: single stream
Bulk Allowed: Yes (max 3 items)
Bulk Rule: Curbside bulky item pickup by appointment; call 311 or 919-469-4000 to schedule collection.
Notice required: call 919-469-4000
Yard Waste: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Weekly curbside collection on your regular collection day. Place in reusable containers or paper bags; bundle limbs under 4 feet and 50 lbs.
2026 Observed Holidays & Service Shift Calendar
Strategy: one day slide| Holiday | 2026 Date | Weekday | Service Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 2026-01-01 | Thursday | 1-Day Slide: Pickups push back 1 day |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 2026-01-19 | Monday | 1-Day Slide: Pickups push back 1 day |
| Memorial Day | 2026-05-25 | Monday | 1-Day Slide: Pickups push back 1 day |
| Juneteenth | 2026-06-19 | Friday | 1-Day Slide: Pickups push back 1 day |
| Independence Day | 2026-07-04 | Saturday | Weekend Holiday |
| Labor Day | 2026-09-07 | Monday | 1-Day Slide: Pickups push back 1 day |
| Veterans Day | 2026-11-11 | Wednesday | 1-Day Slide: Pickups push back 1 day |
| Thanksgiving Day | 2026-11-26 | Thursday | 1-Day Slide: Pickups push back 1 day |
| Christmas Day | 2026-12-25 | Friday | 1-Day Slide: Pickups push back 1 day |
Help keep your street clean and in sync. Share this schedule with your neighborhood WhatsApp group, Nextdoor board, or HOA listserv:
DPW & sanitation contact
Town of Cary Public Works Department · municipal dpw
Phone: 919-469-4000
316 N. Academy StreetCary, NC 27513
These collection rules cover Zone Curbside Route Zones (Monday-Thursday by Street Address).
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Cary, NC?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday. Set containers out Set rollout garbage carts at curbside by 7:00 AM on scheduled collection day (no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before). Keep 3 feet clearance from all obstructions.. These rules apply to Zone Curbside Route Zones (Monday-Thursday by Street Address).
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Cary?
As of 2026-09-24: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone Curbside Route Zones (Monday-Thursday by Street Address).
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Cary?
Curbside bulky item pickup by appointment; call 311 or 919-469-4000 to schedule collection. The listed limit is 3 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 919-469-4000 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone Curbside Route Zones (Monday-Thursday by Street Address).
What items are accepted for recycling in Cary?
The listed accepted materials are Flattened Cardboard Boxes and Paperboard, Office Paper, Newspapers, Magazines, and Junk Mail, Aluminum and Steel Cans, Plastic Bottles, Tubs, and Jugs, Glass Bottles and Food Jars. Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic Bags and Plastic Film Wraps, Styrofoam Food Containers, Lightbulbs, Ceramics, and Cookware, Clothing, Textiles, and Garden Hoses. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone Curbside Route Zones (Monday-Thursday by Street Address).