Cary Recycling Guide & 2026 Calendar
Single-stream recycling pickup is listed for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday, alternating A week. Item-specific answers appear below.
Cary recycling calendar 2026
Regular collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Check the current holiday delay notice for changes to regular pickup.
A verified 2026 recycling calendar has not been provided. Get the official calendar and confirm your route.
A/B route: A. An active-week reference date has not been verified. Confirm the route calendar before setting materials out.
Accepted & prohibited recycling
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
Can you recycle these items in Cary?
Can you recycle cardboard in Cary?
Not verifiedThis item’s local curbside acceptance and preparation requirements are not verified. Confirm with the official sanitation office.
Can you recycle pizza boxes in Cary?
Not verifiedThis item’s local curbside acceptance and preparation requirements are not verified. Confirm with the official sanitation office.
Can you recycle plastic #1 in Cary?
Not verifiedThis item’s local curbside acceptance and preparation requirements are not verified. Confirm with the official sanitation office.
Can you recycle plastic #2 in Cary?
Not verifiedThis item’s local curbside acceptance and preparation requirements are not verified. Confirm with the official sanitation office.
Can you recycle plastic #3 in Cary?
Not verifiedThis item’s local curbside acceptance and preparation requirements are not verified. Confirm with the official sanitation office.
Can you recycle plastic #4 in Cary?
Not verifiedThis item’s local curbside acceptance and preparation requirements are not verified. Confirm with the official sanitation office.
Can you recycle plastic #5 in Cary?
Not verifiedThis item’s local curbside acceptance and preparation requirements are not verified. Confirm with the official sanitation office.
Can you recycle plastic #6 in Cary?
Not verifiedThis item’s local curbside acceptance and preparation requirements are not verified. Confirm with the official sanitation office.
Can you recycle plastic #7 in Cary?
Not verifiedThis item’s local curbside acceptance and preparation requirements are not verified. Confirm with the official sanitation office.
Can you recycle glass in Cary?
Not verifiedThis item’s local curbside acceptance and preparation requirements are not verified. Confirm with the official sanitation office.
Can you recycle aluminum in Cary?
Not verifiedThis item’s local curbside acceptance and preparation requirements are not verified. Confirm with the official sanitation office.
Can you recycle shredded paper in Cary?
Not verifiedThis item’s local curbside acceptance and preparation requirements are not verified. Confirm with the official sanitation office.
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).