Raleigh Trash Pickup Schedule & Holiday Delays
Source-reviewed schedule
Trash pickup is scheduled for this date.
- Trash pickup days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySet carts out Place your dark green cart on the curb the night before your collection day or no later than 6 a.m. the day of collection. Remove carts from the curb no later than 7 p.m. after pickup.
- Next trash pickup
- Sep 23Based on the listed schedule
- Recycling days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySingle-stream collection
Regular trash pickup & collection details
| Service | Collection days | Placement or collection rule |
|---|---|---|
| Trash | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday · Weekly | Placement cutoff: Place your dark green cart on the curb the night before your collection day or no later than 6 a.m. the day of collection. Remove carts from the curb no later than 7 p.m. after pickup. |
| Recycling | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Single-stream recycling |
| Bulk waste | Bulky load collection is scheduled in advance by calling Customer Support at 919-996-3245. Bulky loads cost $35 per 4-cubic-yard increment. Items placed at the curb before scheduling are subject to city code citations. | Up to 4 items per pickup |
| Yard waste | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Year-round. Yard waste is collected weekly. Set out yard waste in light green 95-gallon city carts, biodegradable paper bags (up to 15 bags, 25 lbs max each), or tied bundles (up to 5 bundles, under 5 feet long, 18 inches diameter, and 50 lbs max). Do not use plastic bags. |
Trash container requirements
- Use the official city-issued dark green garbage cart
- Bag all household trash before placing it in the bin to keep the cart clean and prevent litter
- Cart lids must be closed flat and open no more than 12 inches
- Position carts on the curb with handle and lid arrows facing toward your home
- Keep carts at least three feet away from vehicles, mailboxes, and obstacles
Raleigh recycling overview
Single-stream recycling · Collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Accepted items
- Plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, and jars with lids attached (rinse clean, empty, no pump dispensers)
- Glass bottles and jars (food and beverage containers, rinsed clean with lids returned)
- Metal food and beverage cans (aluminum, steel, and tin cans, rinsed clean)
- Cardboard boxes (flatten completely before placing loose in cart)
- Paper cartons, cereal boxes, paperboard boxes, magazines, envelopes, and newspapers
- Brown paper grocery bags
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags, plastic wraps, and plastic film (never bag recyclables)
- Aerosol cans, automotive batteries, and lithium batteries
- Aluminum foil, ceramic items, and household glassware
- Clothing, textiles, shoes, and toys
- Styrofoam cups, plates, and packing peanuts
- Tanglers including electrical cords, hoses, chains, and wire
- Shredded paper and medical waste
Raleigh bulk pickup rules
| Collection rule | Bulky load collection is scheduled in advance by calling Customer Support at 919-996-3245. Bulky loads cost $35 per 4-cubic-yard increment. Items placed at the curb before scheduling are subject to city code citations. |
|---|---|
| Limit per pickup | 4 items |
| Permitted materials | Furniture, Appliances |
| Advance notice | Required before collection. |
| Dispatch phone | 919-996-3245 |
Raleigh 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: Thanksgiving Day. Named holidays recur each year; explicit dates apply only to their listed year.
2026 Holiday Collection Calendar: Raleigh, 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 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, Jan 19, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Presidents' Day | Monday, Feb 16, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Juneteenth | Friday, Jun 19, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Independence Day | Saturday, Jul 4, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sep 7, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Columbus Day | Monday, Oct 12, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, Nov 11, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| 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 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
DPW & sanitation contact
City of Raleigh Solid Waste Services Department · municipal dpw
Phone: 919-996-3245
630 Beacon Lake DriveRaleigh, NC 27610
These collection rules cover Zone City of Raleigh Curbside Service Area.
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Raleigh, NC?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Place your dark green cart on the curb the night before your collection day or no later than 6 a.m. the day of collection. Remove carts from the curb no later than 7 p.m. after pickup.. These rules apply to Zone City of Raleigh Curbside Service Area.
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Raleigh?
As of 2026-09-23: 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: Thanksgiving Day. These rules apply to Zone City of Raleigh Curbside Service Area.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Raleigh?
Bulky load collection is scheduled in advance by calling Customer Support at 919-996-3245. Bulky loads cost $35 per 4-cubic-yard increment. Items placed at the curb before scheduling are subject to city code citations. The listed limit is 4 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 919-996-3245 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone City of Raleigh Curbside Service Area.
What items are accepted for recycling in Raleigh?
The listed accepted materials are Plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, and jars with lids attached (rinse clean, empty, no pump dispensers), Glass bottles and jars (food and beverage containers, rinsed clean with lids returned), Metal food and beverage cans (aluminum, steel, and tin cans, rinsed clean), Cardboard boxes (flatten completely before placing loose in cart), Paper cartons, cereal boxes, paperboard boxes, magazines, envelopes, and newspapers, Brown paper grocery bags. Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags, plastic wraps, and plastic film (never bag recyclables), Aerosol cans, automotive batteries, and lithium batteries, Aluminum foil, ceramic items, and household glassware, Clothing, textiles, shoes, and toys, Styrofoam cups, plates, and packing peanuts, Tanglers including electrical cords, hoses, chains, and wire, Shredded paper and medical waste. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone City of Raleigh Curbside Service Area.