Raleigh Trash Pickup Schedule (2026 Calendar & Holiday Delays)
Source-reviewed schedule
No regular 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
- Oct 12Based 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
Recycling safety alerts: Never place lithium batteries (fire risk), electronics or TVs, or loose shredded paper into residential recycling carts.
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 yard & garden waste rules
| Collection schedule | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday |
|---|---|
| Service type | Year-round collection |
| Curbside rules | 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. |
Accepted: grass clippings, leaves, garden weeds, and soft yard trimmings. Place directly inside your green organics cart or heavy 30-gallon brown paper lawn bags. Never use plastic trash bags; plastic tears in compost equipment and ruins finished mulch.
Cut tree branches to 3 to 4 feet in length and tie into bundles under 40 to 50 lbs. Use natural sisal or jute twine only. No wire or plastic rope; wire damages commercial chippers. Keep limb diameter under 4 inches.
Raleigh Curbside Timing & HOA Fine Protection
Avoid costly municipal code citations ($50 to $100) and neighborhood HOA fines by following the verified set-out and retrieval windows for Raleigh.
6:00 PM the Evening Before
Roll carts to the street after 6:00 PM prior to your scheduled pickup days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday). Ensure carts are set out no later than 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. collection morning.
7:00 PM on Collection Day
Empty carts must be removed from the curb line and returned to an approved storage location (garage, behind side gate, or screened enclosure) within 24 hours.
Homeowner Associations frequently target trash carts left at the street with $25 to $100 penalty letters. Keep in mind:
- State-Level Protections: Several states protect residents with statutory 24-hour collection grace periods that override restrictive HOA covenants.
- Contesting Selective Enforcement: If you receive a fine while neighboring bins are left out unpenalized, document the dates with photos and request a formal hearing in writing within 14 days.
- Approved Concealment: Store containers out of sight from the street to remain fully compliant with deed restrictions.
Why was my trash skipped in Raleigh?
If your street had pickup today but your cart is still full, work through this quick diagnostic checklist before reporting a missed collection.
1. Check the set-out deadline (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.)▼
Raleigh routes begin collection as early as 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.. If your cart was rolled out after the truck passed, drivers cannot turn around for late set-outs without a dispatcher work order.
2. The 3-foot clearance rule▼
Automated mechanical arms need space to grip your container. Carts placed closer than 3 feet to mailboxes, parked cars, other bins, or low tree limbs cannot be safely grabbed by the truck.
3. Lid closure and overweight bins▼
Carts with lids resting open over 45 degrees or overflowing with extra bags are routinely skipped to prevent trash from spilling across the road. Ensure your cart lid shuts completely flat.
4. Wait until 7:00 PM before reporting▼
Trucks frequently experience equipment issues, heavy loads, or relief driver swaps. Collection often continues until 7:00 PM. Wait until evening before logging a formal missed pickup ticket.
If your cart was curbside on time with proper clearance, call dispatch or submit a ticket using this verified wording:
Raleigh Snow, Ice & Severe Weather Pickup Policy
Heavy snowfall, black ice, and tropical storms can make streets dangerous for 30-ton sanitation compactor trucks. Here is how service suspensions and makeup collections are handled in Raleigh.
If morning road conditions ground trucks, collection typically slides by one business day for the rest of the week, with Friday routes completed on Saturday. If sub-zero conditions or unplowed roads persist past 48 hours, missed routes are rescheduled for the following regular cycle.
When an official severe weather emergency forces the cancellation of a full collection week, haulers generally permit residents to place up to two extra tied garbage bags next to their cart on the next service day without purchasing special overflow tags.
During active winter storm warnings or hurricane advisories, monitor the Raleigh emergency alert portal for real-time truck deployment status, or review our national storm delay recovery guide.
Raleigh Seasonal Disposal & Cleanup Calendar
Special city cleanup programs run during key seasonal transitions throughout the year in Raleigh.
Natural Christmas trees are collected curbside during the first two weeks of January. Strip all lights, stands, and tinsel. Cut trees over 6 feet in half and do not bag in plastic.
Rake leaves to the curb edge for vacuum trucks or pack into 30-gallon brown paper lawn bags. Never use plastic bags or rake leaves into bike lanes or storm drains.
Many county landfills and city yards host free residential dump days in April and May where gate tipping fees are waived for bulky household items and scrap metal.
Moving to Raleigh? New Resident Waste Setup Guide
Setting up utilities at a new home can be overwhelming. Here is what you need to know about trash collection, billing, and moving boxes in Raleigh.
Municipal Public Works (City DPW)
Trash and recycling services are automatically provided and funded through your municipal property taxes.
Carts Remain With the Property
Wheeled trash and recycling carts are assigned to the street address by serial number. If your home has missing or broken bins upon move-in, contact public works for a replacement.
Do not leave towering piles of unflattened moving boxes at the curb. Empty all Styrofoam and bubble wrap completely, slit all tape seams flat with a utility knife, and cut boxes to 3x3 foot sections so they fit inside your blue cart.
Raleigh Broken Cart Repair & Extra Bin Requests
Mechanical lift arms on collection trucks can crack plastic bin bodies or snap wheels off over time. Follow these steps for free cart repairs or ordering a second container.
Damaged Wheels, Lids & Bodies
If your cart is damaged by normal collection wear or dropped by the truck arm, public works will repair or replace it at no charge. Locate the 6 to 8 digit serial number hot-stamped on the front of the cart body before calling.
Order a Second Cart
Large households generating extra waste can lease an additional 64 or 96 gallon container. Extra bins typically add an affordable fee ($5 to $12 monthly) to your city utility bill.
Raleigh Wildlife, Pest & Odor Prevention
Warm summer weather turns outdoor carts into fly breeding zones, while overnight food smells attract raccoons and neighborhood wildlife. Use these verified sanitation practices to keep your property clean.
Pour a kettle of boiling water directly into your empty cart to eliminate fly larvae instantly with zero harsh chemicals. Sprinkle a cup of baking soda across the bottom to absorb liquids, and double-bag seafood or meat scraps in summer.
Do not rely on elastic bungee cords, which raccoons easily unhook with their paws. Use heavy-duty ratchet straps or certified mechanical lid latches. Where wildlife is active, roll carts out on collection morning rather than leaving them overnight.
Raleigh Street Sweeping & Parking Ticket Shield
Mechanical street sweepers frequently run on or immediately following residential trash pickup days. Avoid $45 to $85 parking tickets with these curbside rules.
Place Carts Behind the Curb Line
Never place garbage or recycling carts in the street asphalt gutter on street sweeping days. Keep wheels on the sidewalk or parkway grass strip so street sweeping broom brushes can clean curb gutters without tipping carts over.
Check Posted Parking Restriction Hours
Verify street signs for posted sweeping hours. Parking enforcement officers routinely ticket vehicles parked on the scheduled curb side during sweeper operating hours ($45 to $85 citation).
Raleigh Area Landfills & Citizen Drop-Off Stations
When you have large renovation loads, dirt, concrete, or bulky waste exceeding curbside limits, self-haul directly to a verified transfer station or county landfill serving Wake County.
Residents of Raleigh have access to regional solid waste transfer stations in Wake County. Contact the public works department or visit your county sanitation portal to view the nearest facility.
Visit Raleigh solid waste portal →All open truck beds and trailers must be secured with a tarp. Unsecured loads face an immediate $20 to $50 state fee at the scale.
Most facilities have a minimum entry fee ($25 to $45) covering up to 1,000 lbs, with prorated per-ton rates for heavier commercial debris.
To receive discounted residential gate rates, bring a valid state driver license and a current local municipal water or utility bill.
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. |
Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday pickups push back by 1 day. Thursday routes slide to Friday, and Friday routes slide to Saturday.
Christmas Day is not an observed holiday; normal collection applies.
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 (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: Collected on Monday (single stream)
Normal schedule across holidays
Trash: Weekly collection (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: Collected on Tuesday (single stream)
Normal schedule across holidays
Trash: Weekly collection (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: Collected on Wednesday (single stream)
Normal schedule across holidays
Trash: Weekly collection (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: Collected on Thursday (single stream)
Trash: Weekly collection (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: Collected on Friday (single stream)
Raleigh, NC Sanitation Schedule
Hauler: City of Raleigh Solid Waste Services Department | Support: 919-996-3245
Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Frequency: weekly
Cart Time: 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.
- 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
Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Stream: single stream
Bulk Allowed: Yes (max 4 items)
Bulk 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.
Notice required: call 919-996-3245
Yard Waste: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
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.
2026 Observed Holidays & Service Shift Calendar
Strategy: one day slide| Holiday | 2026 Date | Weekday | Service Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving Day | 2026-11-26 | Thursday | 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
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 2026-10-10: 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.