Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Asheville
North Carolina residential routes run Monday through Friday. Please refer to your city or county zoning map for your specific curbside collection day.
State Mandate
NC DEQ strictly bans aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and electronics from landfill disposal.
Green Bin (Trash)
Place at least 5 feet from obstacles (trees, cars, mailboxes) and 2 feet from the curb edge. The container handle must face away from the street toward your home.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loose in the blue cart. Never bag your recyclables in plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, and jars (rinsed)
- ✓Steel and tin metal cans (rinsed)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (rinsed)
- ✓Paper, cartons, and flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Styrofoam and peanuts
- ✕Plastic wrap, pillows, or bags
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Scrap metal and wood
- ✕Clothing or textiles
- ✕Food, liquids, or medical waste
- ✕Receipts, shredded paper, and napkins
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Ceramics and household glass/mirrors
Yard Waste Bin
Place in biodegradable 2-ply paper yard bags or reusable containers clearly marked as 'leaves' or 'yard waste'. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited. Do not mix with trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Pine needles and cones
- ✓Small yard waste
- ✓Brush (cut to 4-foot lengths and 6-inch diameter)
- ✓Natural Christmas trees (undecorated)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand (must be scheduled)
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb only after scheduling your pickup. Keep items well away from utility poles, low-hanging wires, and parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Carpet (rolled and tied with twine, not wire, in 4-foot sections)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor or land clearing brush
- ✕ Hazardous household waste
- ✕ Electronics and TVs
- ✕ Tires
The City of Asheville offers a 'one time only' courtesy collection for massive move-in/out piles. General bulky scheduling may have size limits; verify with customer service.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection schedules often shift by one day following major observed holidays. The city's AVL Collects app automatically adjusts calendars for residents during holiday weeks.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste rotations may be delayed or altered. Always verify your alternating brush and leaf pickup week on the AVL Collects schedule during any holiday week.
Rely on your personalized calendar from the AVL Collects Waste Wizard for the most precise real-time updates.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Keep items completely loose in your blue cart. Plastic shopping bags wrap around the sorting gears at Curbside Management's facility, causing massive delays and equipment damage.
Keep Tanglers Out
Garden hoses, extension cords, and holiday lights are strictly forbidden in your recycling bin. These items are considered 'tanglers' and must be disposed of elsewhere.
Rinse Your Containers
Food and liquid residue left in jars, cans, and plastic tubs can contaminate the entire truck's load, sending perfectly good paper and cardboard recyclables straight to the landfill.
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
October to JanuaryAsheville implements an alternating leaf and brush collection schedule. Pay close attention to your scheduled week via AVL Collects, and remember to use paper yard bags, never plastic.
Winter
December to FebruaryInclement winter weather in the Blue Ridge Mountains can disrupt collection routes. Use the AVL Collects app for automated schedule adjustment notifications following heavy snowfall or ice.
Post-Holiday
December to JanuaryNatural Christmas trees are collected curbside. Remove all lights, ornaments, and stands before placing the tree out for the city's brush collection. Artificial trees are not accepted in the brush pile.
About Asheville Waste Management
Asheville Solid Waste Management and AVL Collects
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has a unique set of challenges and tools for managing residential waste. The City of Asheville Sanitation Division relies heavily on the 'AVL Collects' waste wizard and app to keep locals informed about precise curbside collection days. This digital platform is highly responsive, pushing out real-time alerts if severe weather or local events disrupt normal schedules. Residents simply plug their address into the portal to download a personalized calendar for their green trash carts and blue recycling bins.
Recycling Rules for Buncombe County Residents
Curbside Management, affectionately known locally as 'Curbie,' handles the recycling stream for Asheville. With a strong push toward mountain sustainability, the city requires residents to place recyclables loose in the blue bin—never bagged. Accepted materials are limited to standard plastics (bottles, tubs, jugs), glass, metal cans, and flattened cardboard. When in doubt, Asheville locals should consult the 'Know Your No's' list, which strictly prohibits tanglers, Styrofoam, and electronics from the blue cart.
Seasonal Leaf and Brush Collection in Asheville
The lush tree canopy in Western North Carolina means yard waste management is a massive seasonal undertaking. Asheville sanitation crews operate a bi-weekly brush collection year-round, but implement alternating leaf and brush pickup schedules during peak autumn and winter months. Residents must use biodegradable two-ply paper bags or designated reusable containers for leaves and small trimmings. No plastic bags are permitted under any circumstances, and all brush must be trimmed to four-foot lengths and six-inch diameters.
Bulk Waste and Appliance Pickups
Moving in or out of an Asheville home? The city offers a convenient one-time bulk trash collection for large amounts of debris. For standard bulky items or 'white goods' like old appliances, residents can request a pickup through The Asheville App or by calling the Customer Service Division. Be sure to properly prep your items—for instance, old carpeting must be rolled and securely tied with twine in four-foot sections before it is left at the curb.
Bear-Resistant Carts and Wildlife Safety
Coexisting with black bears is an everyday reality in Asheville. To combat scattered trash and protect local wildlife, the City of Asheville offers a pilot bear-resistant trash cart program. If you live in a high-activity neighborhood, securing your food scraps and household garbage is essential. Always ensure your cart is placed at least five feet away from vehicles and utility poles, but keep it secured until the morning of your designated collection day to minimize nighttime visits from hungry bears.
Drop-off Facilities
Buncombe County Transfer Station
191 Hominy Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28804
Materials Accepted
Buncombe County Landfill
85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander, NC 28701
Materials Accepted
Curbie Recycling Drop-off Center
116 North Woodfin Avenue, Asheville, NC 28804
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report a missed garbage or recycling pickup in Asheville?
For a missed green trash cart, call the City of Asheville Customer Service Division at (828) 251-1122. If your blue recycling cart was missed, you must contact Curbside Management directly at (828) 252-2532.
Does Asheville provide bear-resistant trash cans?
Yes, because black bear encounters are common, the City of Asheville offers a pilot program for bear-resistant trash carts. Residents in high-activity zones can sign up online to join the waiting list for one of these specialized, secure containers.
Can I put my fall leaves in plastic garbage bags?
No. Asheville requires leaves and small yard waste to be placed in biodegradable two-ply paper yard bags or reusable containers clearly marked as 'leaves' or 'yard waste'. Plastic bags will not be collected by sanitation crews.
Where can I dispose of old electronics and TVs in Buncombe County?
Electronics are strictly banned from your curbside bins. You must take items like TVs, cell phones, and stereos to the Buncombe County Landfill during their occasional e-waste recycling events, or contact Buncombe County Solid Waste at (828) 250-5460 for current drop-off protocols.