Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Cary
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.
Brown/Gray Town-issued roll-out cart Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be sealed in plastic bags before being placed inside the cart. Set out by 7 a.m. on collection day with the lid opening facing the street.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Extinguished ashes
- ✓Medical waste/syringes (must be securely contained in a puncture-proof plastic bottle)
Blue 95-gallon Town-issued roll-out cart Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loose in the recycling cart. Do not bag recyclables. Collection occurs every other week on your regular trash day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Metal food and drink cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs (keep caps on)
- ✓Mixed paper
- ✓Food and beverage cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam (foam)
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
Yard Waste Bin
Place in reusable containers with handles (up to 32 gallons/25 lbs), paper bags (max 25 lbs), or securely tied bundles. Limbs must be under 4 feet long and 4 inches thick.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Brush
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small limbs and branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By appointment only
Placement
Place requested items at the curb by 7 a.m. on your specifically scheduled special collection day, keeping them clear of your standard rollout carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Gas grills (tanks removed)
- ✓ Refrigerators and large appliances (additional fees apply)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Contractor or commercial construction debris
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Dirt and rocks
The bulky trash pickup fee is $15 for the first item and $8 for each additional item on the same trip. Appliances are also collected for a separate fee, which is added to your utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a recognized town holiday occurs, solid waste and recycling collection schedules are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is generally subjected to the same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage and recycling, but always confirm via the Cary Collects app.
The Town of Cary does not exercise authority over standard calendar holidays that fall on weekends unless specifically designated. Use the Waste Wizard to confirm your exact holiday pickup day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Your Recyclables
In Cary, placing your recyclables in plastic bags is a major contamination issue. Bags jam the gears at the sorting facility. Always keep items completely loose inside your blue 95-gallon cart.
Ensure Ashes are Fully Extinguished
If you are disposing of fire pit, grill, or fireplace ashes in your regular household garbage cart, they must be 100% cold and fully extinguished. Hot ashes can melt the plastic rollout carts or cause truck fires.
Keep Plastic Out of Yard Waste
Yard waste contained in plastic garbage bags, or loads mixed with rocks, soil, and household trash, will be tagged and left at the curb. Only use brown paper yard bags or compliant reusable bins.
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
November to MarchThe Town of Cary conducts a specialized annual loose-leaf collection program during these months. Residents can rake leaves just behind the existing curbline (off the street pavement) for vacuum collection, bypassing the usual bagging requirements.
Post-Holiday
JanuaryChristmas trees are collected at the curbside. Residents should check the Cary Waste Wizard for specific January pickup dates and must remove all tinsel, lights, ornaments, and tree stands before setting the tree out.
Summer/Fall
Hurricane SeasonFollowing severe storms or hurricanes, standard yard waste collection rules and schedules may be temporarily altered. The town may deploy specialized chipper services for downed limbs exceeding the standard 4-foot length limit.
About Cary Waste Management
Mastering Cary's Curbside Collection Protocol
The Town of Cary operates an efficient municipal solid waste program utilizing automated arm trucks. To ensure successful collection, residents must space their rollout carts properly at the curb, keeping them away from light poles, mailboxes, and fire hydrants. Carts should be placed out no earlier than dusk the night before your scheduled collection and no later than 7 a.m. the morning of. Once emptied, town ordinances require carts to be removed from the curb before 6 a.m. the following day.
Bi-Weekly Recycling and the Cary Collects App
Unlike garbage and yard waste, which are collected weekly, single-stream recycling is picked up every other week in Cary. The town issues large 95-gallon rollout carts specifically for recyclables. To track which week is your recycling week and determine exactly what materials are accepted, the Town heavily encourages residents to download the Cary Collects app for iOS or Android, which features custom notifications and a comprehensive Waste Wizard lookup tool.
Strict Volume and Sizing Caps for Yard Waste
Cary enforces strict regulations on yard waste to protect sanitation workers and maintain route efficiency. Curbside yard waste cannot exceed 240 cubic feet per household per collection day. Furthermore, debris must be properly contained in reusable bins (max 32 gallons and 25 pounds), brown paper yard bags, or securely tied bundles. Any individual tree limbs must measure less than four feet long and four inches in diameter to qualify for standard curbside pickup.
Important: Upcoming Closure of the Citizen's Convenience Center
A critical upcoming change for Cary residents is the permanent closure of the Citizen's Convenience Center located at 313 N. Dixon Ave. Due to planned federally funded rail improvements along the North Carolina Railroad Right-of-Way, the facility will cease operations and eliminate public access on December 30, 2026. Residents will soon need to rely entirely on Wake County Convenience Centers, such as Site 3 in Morrisville, for excess drop-offs.
Fee-Based Bulky Item Appointments
For items that cannot fit in your standard rollout cart, Cary provides bulky waste and appliance collection strictly by appointment. This is not a free service; residents must call 311 or use the town's online portal to schedule a pickup. The current fee structure charges $15 for the first bulky item (such as a sofa or gas grill) and $8 for each additional item collected during the exact same trip.
Drop-off Facilities
Citizen's Convenience Center (Permanently Closing Dec 30, 2026)
313 N. Dixon Ave, Cary, NC 27513
Materials Accepted
Wake County Convenience Center Site 3
266 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560
Materials Accepted
South Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility
6130 Old Smithfield Road, Apex, NC
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my garbage cart out a few days before my pickup day in Cary?
No. Town ordinances stipulate that carts can be placed at the curb no earlier than dusk the night before your collection day, and no later than 7 a.m. on the collection day. The empty cart must be removed from the curb before 6 a.m. the next day.
Does the Town of Cary offer help for residents physically unable to move their carts?
Yes. Cary offers a Curbside Assistance Program for residents with a permanent or temporary physical disability. You must submit a completed application that includes a signature and verification from your doctor to qualify for this free service.
How do I dispose of tree branches that are longer than the 4-foot yard waste limit?
If your tree limbs are longer than 4 feet (but less than 14 inches in diameter), you cannot put them out for standard weekly yard waste. Instead, you must request the Town's specialized chipper service by calling 311. Please note that fees apply for this service.
What should I do if I have more garbage than fits in my brown rollout cart?
You have a few options. Through December 30, 2026, you can take excess household garbage to the Citizen's Convenience Center on N. Dixon Ave at no charge. Alternatively, you can request a special collection via 311 (fees apply), or order an additional garbage cart for $4 per month, which will be added to your utility bill.