Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Apex
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Monday through Friday, based on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your trash collection.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected on the business day following your garbage and recycling collection day (e.g., Wednesday for Tuesday trash routes).
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (or placed out the night before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash, recycling, water, sewer, and electric services are conveniently combined onto one consolidated monthly municipal utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income utility payment assistance is available through the Utility Customer Assistance Program (UCAP) and Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
Town-Issued Cart (GFL) Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged and fit entirely inside the cart with the lid completely closed. Roll cart to the curb the night before collection and place 3 to 4 feet away from the recycling bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and packaging
Town-Issued Cart (GFL) Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loose in the cart (do not bag). Flatten all cardboard. Collection is bi-weekly on your scheduled garbage day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and chipboard
- ✓Mixed paper, newspaper, and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam and foam plastics
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Textiles and clothing
Yard Waste Bin
Do not mix yard waste in trash carts. Collected curbside on the business day following your garbage collection. (Note: Shifts to a biweekly schedule beginning October 19, 2026).
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Vines and brush
- ✓Tree limbs and branches
- ✓Christmas trees (decorations removed)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Appointment Only
Placement
All items must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day. Fragile or breakable items like mirrors must be boxed or wrapped in plastic.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and large household items
- ✓ Carpet (12x12 foot section equals one item)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (Fridays only)
- ✓ Moving boxes (if not flattened for the free pickup service)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction, demolition, and remodeling materials
- ✕ Toilets, vanities, and cabinets
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil)
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, laptops)
- ✕ Yard waste
Fees are added to your Town of Apex utility bill. $30 trip fee covers 1 or 2 items; 3+ items are $15 each. Mattresses/box springs incur an additional $15 each.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your garbage collection day falls directly on one of these holidays, garbage and recycling collection will be postponed to the following day and the rest of that same week will also be postponed by one day. Weekend holidays do not affect the schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is normally collected the business day following your garbage pickup, so its collection will shift accordingly alongside the delayed trash schedule.
For example, Thanksgiving Day always falls on Thursday, so Thursday's collection moves to Friday, and Friday's moves to Saturday.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryChristmas trees are collected and chipped curbside as part of your regular yard waste collection route. Ensure you remove all decorations, lights, and nails from the stand before placing the tree at the curb.
Summer/Fall
June - NovemberDuring hurricane season and severe weather events, collection delays are common. If service is suspended, leave your carts at the curb. Crews will resume routes as soon as road conditions allow, which may take several days.
Fall 2026 Transition
OctoberTake special note that beginning October 19, 2026, residential yard waste collection in Apex will officially transition from a weekly service to a biweekly schedule.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating Waste Collection in the Peak of Good Living
Living in Apex means participating in a community that values cleanliness and efficiency. The Town of Apex coordinates regular residential garbage and recycling services, and residents play a vital role in keeping routes running smoothly. To guarantee your waste is serviced, all carts must be rolled out to the curb the night before your scheduled pickup day. Because there is no set hour for the trucks to arrive in your neighborhood, early preparation is the only way to avoid missing your designated collection window.
Spacing and Positioning Your Carts Correctly
Automated collection trucks require adequate space to operate safely and effectively. In Apex, residents are instructed to place their garbage and recycling bins at least three to four feet apart from one another. Additionally, containers must be kept entirely clear of obstacles such as mailboxes, fire hydrants, parked vehicles, and low-hanging tree limbs. When you pull your bins to the street, make sure the arrows on the lid are pointing toward the roadway, which allows the mechanical arm to lift and empty the cart without spilling refuse onto your driveway.
Strict Rules for Overflow and Lids
Sanitation crews in Apex adhere to strict capacity regulations to prevent street litter and equipment jams. Only standard household trash may be placed in your rolling garbage bin, and every item must fit entirely inside with the lid firmly closed. Piling up extra bags on top of the container or leaving loose refuse on the ground is prohibited and will result in those items being left behind. If you consistently generate more waste than your cart can hold, you will need to request and pay for an additional bin from the town.
Scheduling Extra Trash and Large Bulky Pickups
When you are doing a deep clean or replacing furniture, your standard rollout cart will not be sufficient. The town requires residents to proactively call and schedule any large item or extra trash pickups. These additional collections must be pre-paid and arranged ahead of your normal service day. Furthermore, any extra household garbage placed outside the bin must be properly bagged, and individual bags cannot exceed a strict 25-pound weight limit to ensure the safety of manual collection workers.
Adjustments for Recognized Town Holidays
The Town of Apex adjusts its sanitation routes around major federal holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Memorial Day. Generally, if a holiday falls on a weekday, all subsequent collections for that week are pushed back by a single day. For instance, a Thursday holiday will bump Thursday routes to Friday, and Friday routes to Saturday. Keeping an eye on the official town calendar or social media pages will ensure you do not miss your holiday week pickup.
What Happens If Your Cart Is Missed?
Occasionally, a bin might not be serviced due to routing issues, blocked streets, or incorrect placement. If you placed your carts out the night before and they were still not emptied by the end of your collection day, do not pull them back to your house just yet. Leave the containers at the curb and immediately contact the local solid waste customer service department to report the oversight. Staff will quickly determine if a rule was violated or if a driver simply needs to circle back to your street.
Drop-off Facilities
South Wake Multi-Material Recycling & Convenience Center Site 2
6120 / 6130 Old Smithfield Road, Apex, NC 27539
Materials Accepted
South Wake Landfill
6300 Old Smithfield Road, Apex, NC 27539
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need to put my trash bins out in Apex?
Residents must place their garbage and recycling carts at the curb the night before their scheduled collection day, as there are no set times for the trucks to arrive.
How far apart do my garbage and recycling carts need to be?
To allow the automated trucks to operate properly, your bins must be placed at least three to four feet apart from each other and away from obstacles like mailboxes.
Will the town pick up extra bags left next to my garbage cart?
No, all trash must fit inside the cart with the lid closed. For extra bags or bulky items, you must call in advance, schedule, and pre-pay for a special pickup.