Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Burlington
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.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste and recycling fees are combined into your monthly City of Burlington water and sewer utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay / Bank Draft, In-Person (Walk-in & Drive-thru), Mail, Drop Box, Phone
Black Bin (Trash)
Use the city-issued 95-gallon black cart. Place at the curb by 7:00 AM on your collection day with a 5-foot clearance on all sides and 15 feet of overhead clearance. All trash must be fully inside the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Green Bin (Recycling)
Collected every other week on a Red/Blue schedule. All recyclables must be placed loose inside the green cart, never bagged. Place at the curb by 7:00 AM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and chipboard
- ✓Newspapers, inserts, and magazines
- ✓Mixed paper and junk mail
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastics labeled #1-#7 (milk jugs, soda/water bottles)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Hazardous materials
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Tires and auto parts
- ✕Building materials
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in a personal rigid metal or plastic container (max 32 gallons / 50 lbs) or stacked neatly at the curb. Paper and plastic bags are strictly prohibited. Loose leaves are collected via vacuum truck only from October through January.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Shrub clippings
- ✓Garden debris
- ✓Loose leaves
- ✓Branches and limbs (max 6 feet long, 6 inches diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday convenience schedule)
Placement
Place items at the curb on your regular collection day. Neatly stack limbs away from overhead obstructions, fire hydrants, and mailboxes. You must separate metal/appliances from general junk and yard debris.
Accepted
- ✓ Appliances (white goods like refrigerators and water heaters)
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household junk
- ✓ Tree limbs (max 6 ft long and 6 inches in diameter)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor and landscaping waste
- ✕ Building and remodeling materials (wood, concrete, masonry)
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Electronics and fluorescent bulbs
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals and paint
Acceptable bulk items are collected weekly free of charge. Items banned from the landfill will not be collected, and commercial or contractor cleanouts are not permitted.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection schedules often shift by one day following a major holiday. If a holiday falls on a regularly closed business day, service usually continues as normal.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard and bulk waste collections may experience delays during holiday weeks. Crews will catch up as quickly as possible on the shifted schedule.
View the official Holiday Pickup Calendar on the city's website, or subscribe to 'What's up, Burlington?' for direct notifications regarding schedule adjustments.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
October to JanuaryThe city conducts its loose leaf vacuum collection program. Check your zone's schedule and pile leaves behind the curb by 7:00 AM Monday. Never block storm drains, water meters, or place piles in the street.
Spring/Summer
February to SeptemberLoose leaf vacuum trucks do not operate during these months. All yard waste, including leaves and grass clippings, must be placed in a rigid 32-gallon container for your regular weekly yard waste pickup.
Twice Annually
February and OctoberThe City of Burlington Public Works Department hosts free E-Waste Recycling Days on the first Saturday of February and October (9:00 AM to 2:00 PM) to help residents safely dispose of electronics.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating Burlington Household Solid Waste Regulations
Residents of Burlington, North Carolina, enjoy reliable weekly curbside collection for all standard household refuse. The city's Solid Waste Division provides each property with a distinct 95-gallon black roll-out cart. For your refuse to be picked up successfully, the black container must be wheeled to the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your assigned weekday route. More importantly, local ordinances mandate that all carts must be retrieved and stored away from the curb by 7:00 p.m. on the exact same day of collection. Failure to remove your bins by the evening deadline can lead to warnings from municipal code enforcement.
Strict Clearance Mandates for Mechanical Tippers
Burlington's sanitation fleet features automated mechanical arms that require a significant amount of operating space. Homeowners must leave a minimum horizontal clearance of five feet around the entire perimeter of the black cart. This means keeping the bin well away from mailboxes, parked vehicles, fire hydrants, and neighboring recycling receptacles. Furthermore, the city strictly requires 15 feet of vertical overhead clearance, so do not park your cart beneath low-hanging tree canopies or power lines. Always ensure the wheels and handle are facing your home to guarantee a smooth lift and prevent spilled trash.
Bi-Weekly Recycling Administered by GFL Waste Industries
Unlike the municipal garbage routes, curbside recycling in Burlington is outsourced to a private contractor. GFL Waste Industries, Inc. manages the collection of recyclable materials every other week. You can place standard items like flattened corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, milk jugs, and plastics numbered 1 through 7 into your recycling bin. However, GFL firmly prohibits placing styrofoam, plastic grocery bags, or window glass in the recycling container. If you have any specific inquiries about accepted materials, the city directs residents to contact GFL customer support directly at 336-229-0525.
Bulk Junk Rules and New Volume Fees
For items that are too large to fit safely inside your standard black container, the city offers a convenience-based bulk collection schedule operating on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. You can place furniture, white goods, and large yard brush at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your primary trash day. Notably, beginning recently, the city implemented strict volume restrictions. Any bulk waste pile that exceeds the equivalent volume of a standard pickup truck bed is deemed excessive and automatically incurs a minimum $75 hauling fee, with an additional $75 charged for every subsequent truck trip required to clear the massive pile.
Electronic Waste Disposal Events
Standard collection crews will absolutely not handle old televisions, broken computers, or dead monitors, as these are banned from standard North Carolina landfills. To help citizens responsibly dispose of technology, the City of Burlington hosts completely free E-Waste Recycling Days twice per year. These popular events take place on the first Saturday of February and the first Saturday of October. Homeowners can simply drive to the Public Works Department parking lot, located at 234 East Summit Avenue, between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to drop off their obsolete electronic devices safely.
Drop-off Facilities
Alamance County Landfill
2701 Austin Quarter Road, Graham, NC 27253
Materials Accepted
Burlington Public Works Department (E-Waste Events Only)
234 East Summit Avenue, Burlington, NC 27215
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When does my garbage cart need to be removed from the curb in Burlington?
By city ordinance, all residents must remove their 95-gallon black garbage carts from the street by 7:00 p.m. on their scheduled collection day.
How much does the city charge for an exceptionally large bulk waste pickup?
If your bulk waste pile exceeds the size of a standard pickup truck bed, you will be assessed a minimum fee of $75, plus $75 for each additional trip needed to clear the debris.
Who do I contact regarding a missed recycling pickup?
Because the city contracts out its recycling services, you must contact GFL Waste Industries directly at 336-229-0525 for any issues related to your bi-weekly recycling collection.