Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Asheville
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Monday through Thursday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected bi-weekly (every other week) on your designated collection day.
Yard Waste
Yard waste and brush are collected bi-weekly; items must be placed out by 7:00 AM on Monday of your scheduled collection week.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside solid waste fees are billed bi-monthly as part of the City of Asheville's combined utility statement alongside water and stormwater charges.
Billing Cycle
Bi-Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online (WaterSmart), Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Set-out service assistance is available for qualified residents with disabilities, and bill payment assistance is accessible via NC 211, though no direct discount rates are offered.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Essential Guidelines for Asheville Solid Waste Collection
Living in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains comes with a responsibility to keep our neighborhoods clean and wildlife safe. The City of Asheville's Sanitation Division handles residential garbage pickup once a week. To ensure smooth service, every household must have their standard 95-gallon green roll cart placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection morning. After the automated trucks empty your container, city ordinances require that you pull your cart back to your property by 11:00 p.m. the same day. Leaving bins out overnight is strictly prohibited as it can attract unwanted pests and create hazards on residential streets.
Bear-Resistant Trash Carts and Wildlife Regulations
Due to Asheville's active urban black bear population, securing household waste is a major priority. The city offers specially designed, fully automated bear-resistant carts to residents on a first-come, first-served basis. These specialized 95-gallon containers feature a special locking latch that prevents wildlife from getting inside but opens automatically when the sanitation truck tips it. Residents can request a bear cart through a waitlist, and there is a $10 monthly fee per container added to your combined utility bill. If you move out of your home, these carts remain the property of the city and cannot be taken to a new address without prior authorization.
Correct Cart Placement to Avoid Missed Pickups
Because Asheville uses automated collection vehicles equipped with mechanical lifting arms, how you position your garbage bin matters just as much as what time you put it out. Your roll cart must be placed within two feet of the curb edge. Crucially, residents must leave a minimum of five feet of clearance space around the container. Keep your bins well away from parked cars, low-hanging tree branches, mailboxes, and utility poles. Furthermore, the handle and wheels of the cart must point toward your house, and the lid must be completely shut so that household refuse does not spill out during the lifting process.
Handling Bulky Items, Yard Debris, and Hazardous Materials
Regular weekly pickup is strictly for bagged household garbage. If you have oversized items like broken furniture, old mattresses, or large appliances, you cannot cram them into your roll cart or leave them sitting on the sidewalk. Instead, residents need to contact the Sanitation Division at 828-251-1122 to schedule a dedicated bulky item collection. Yard brush and construction debris are also banned from standard rollout bins. Finally, toxic substances such as wet paint, lead-acid car batteries, motor oil, and pesticides are categorized as hazardous waste and must be transported to a certified local landfill or recycling facility rather than thrown in the trash.
Special Hardship Carryout Service for Eligible Residents
The City of Asheville recognizes that not everyone is physically able to roll a heavy 95-gallon container to the street every week. For elderly, infirm, or disabled residents, the city's Code of Ordinances provides a special hardship accommodation known as the refuse carryout and carry-back service. Individuals who qualify and have their application confirmed by the Solid Waste Manager do not need to drag their bins to the curb. Instead, sanitation crews will manually retrieve the cart from a designated spot near the house, empty it, and return it. You can call the main public works line to inquire about the application process for this valuable program.
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
When do I need to roll out my trash cart in Asheville?
Residents must place their city-issued roll carts at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection day, and they must be brought back in by 11:00 p.m. that same evening.
How much does an Asheville bear-resistant trash cart cost?
The city charges a $10 monthly fee for each bear-resistant cart, which is conveniently added to your combined municipal utility statement.
What are the spacing rules for my garbage bin?
You must leave at least five feet of clearance around your container to ensure the automated trucks can grab it. Keep the bin away from cars, trees, and mailboxes, with the handle facing your house.