Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Chapel Hill
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week on Monday (Green routes) or Tuesday (Orange routes), depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Curbside recycling is collected weekly by Orange County Solid Waste Management on assigned route days (Monday through Friday).
Yard Waste
Yard trimmings are collected weekly on Thursday (for Monday trash routes) or Friday (for Tuesday trash routes).
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Standard curbside trash and yard trimmings collection is funded through Town property taxes and the county Solid Waste Programs Fee, meaning residents do not receive a separate monthly trash bill.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, Drop Box, In Person, Phone
Pro Tip / Discount
Income-based solid waste fee assistance and senior Homestead Exclusion relief are available for qualifying low-income and senior residents.
Green (65-gallon town-issued cart) Bin (Trash)
All trash MUST be placed inside tied garbage bags before being put in the cart. Place behind the curb by 6:00 AM on your collection day. Cart must be removed from the curb by 7:00 PM to avoid a fine. Extra bags on the ground will not be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Pet waste (bagged)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is managed by Orange County. Have your cart at the street edge before 7:00 AM on your scheduled day. Keep items 3 to 5 feet away from other objects. Place all recyclables loose in the cart; never use plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, and jars (caps on)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (empty and rinsed)
- ✓Aluminum and steel food/beverage cans
- ✓Clean aluminum foil (crumpled)
- ✓Mixed paper, junk mail, magazines
- ✓Corrugated cardboard (flattened)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam and clamshell containers
- ✕Tanglers (garden hoses, wires, hangers)
- ✕Ceramics, mirrors, and drinking glasses
- ✕Shredded paper, tissues, and paper towels
- ✕Electronics and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in a Town-issued yard trimming cart. From November to January only, residents may also use up to 5 paper yard bags per week for leaves. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited. Place behind the curb by 6:00 AM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Pine needles
- ✓Brush and limbs (under 4 feet long and 10 inches in diameter)
- ✓Natural yard and garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand (Requires pre-payment and scheduling)
Placement
Place items just behind the curb where crews can easily reach them. Do not block sidewalks, bike lanes, or lean items against dumpsters or mailboxes.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Electronics (TVs, computers)
- ✓ Fake Christmas trees (too large for carts)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Large logs, stumps, and crossties
- ✕ Lot clearing debris
- ✕ Construction and demolition materials
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid paint
- ✕ Dead animals (handled separately)
There is a $15 base fee covering 1 to 3 items, plus $5 for each additional item. Massive loose brush piles requiring the knuckleboom truck incur a flat $125 fee per load.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Trash and recycling schedules often shift by one weekday following an observed holiday. Friday routes are occasionally pushed to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard trimmings collections are frequently canceled entirely for the duration of a holiday week, with no make-up day provided.
Because policies fluctuate based on the specific holiday, residents should always consult the Town of Chapel Hill's official Solid Waste Holiday Schedule online for exact dates.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
November to JanuaryDuring peak leaf season, the town relaxes its cart-only rule slightly, allowing residents to place up to five paper bags of leaves at the curb per week alongside their town-issued yard cart.
Winter
JanuaryNatural, undecorated Christmas trees are collected curbside as yard waste. If your tree is artificial and cannot fit inside a trash bag in your cart, it must be scheduled and paid for as a bulky item pickup.
Winter
December to FebruarySevere winter weather can disrupt both Town trash and County recycling services. Collections may be delayed until roads are safely passable for heavy trucks, with priority given to clearing primary roadways.
Local Tips & Community Info
Collaborative Waste Services in a University Town
Navigating municipal sanitation in the vibrant community of Chapel Hill requires understanding a unique, dual-agency system. While the Town of Chapel Hill Public Works Department directly manages all household garbage and yard debris collection, curbside recycling is exclusively administered by Orange County Solid Waste Management. To guarantee your refuse is collected without issue, your town-issued green trash cart must be positioned at the edge of your property no later than 6:00 a.m. on your specific neighborhood routing day. Leaving carts out for days on end is discouraged, as city guidelines request that all receptacles be removed from the street by the end of your collection day to keep neighborhoods clear and accessible.
Clearance and Cart Alignment Standards
The town relies heavily on automated side-loading garbage trucks, which dictate exactly how your bins need to be staged. Whenever you roll your green receptacle down the driveway, double-check that the metal lift bar and lid opening face directly into the street. The mechanical arms demand at least three feet of unobstructed space on all sides of the container. Homeowners should take special care to avoid placing their bins beneath low utility wires, immediately next to parked vehicles, or directly beside their blue recycling carts, as tight clustering can prevent the driver from safely grabbing the container.
Orange County Curbside Recycling Mandates
Since Orange County handles the recycling efforts for Chapel Hill residents, all recyclable materials must go into the county-issued blue rollout carts. The county operates on a single-stream basis, meaning your glass, aluminum, plastics, and paper can be combined without sorting. However, strict contamination rules apply. Plastic shopping bags, styrofoam, and tangled hoses are strictly prohibited and will cause your blue cart to be tagged and left full. All cardboard boxes must be fully flattened to maximize space and ensure the automated tipper can empty the bin smoothly.
Preparation of Yard Trimmings and Seasonal Leaves
Maintaining your property generates landscaping debris, which the Town of Chapel Hill collects weekly. Residents are strictly forbidden from placing organic yard waste into their standard green trash bins. Instead, grass clippings, small twigs, and leaves must be housed in rigid yard waste receptacles or heavy-duty biodegradable paper bags. The use of plastic bags for yard waste is completely banned and will result in a bypassed pickup. During the autumn months, the town also deploys specialized vacuum trucks for seasonal loose leaf collection, though residents must rake these piles to the curb without blocking storm drains.
Bulky Item Recovery and Heavy Appliance Rules
When it is time to discard a broken refrigerator, an old mattress, or a dilapidated couch, residents cannot simply leave these oversized items overflowing from their standard carts. Chapel Hill provides designated bulky waste collection, but specific regulations dictate how these items are staged. White goods and heavy appliances often require a scheduled pickup to ensure specialized equipment is sent to your address. Additionally, all doors must be completely removed from refrigerators or freezers before they are placed near the sidewalk to prevent tragic accidents involving neighborhood children.
Drop-off Facilities
Eubanks Road Waste and Recycling Center
1518 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Materials Accepted
Ferguson Road Neighborhood Satellite Center
1616 Ferguson Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides the recycling pickup services for Chapel Hill residents?
While the Town of Chapel Hill handles regular household garbage, curbside recycling services are managed and collected entirely by Orange County Solid Waste Management.
What is the morning deadline to put my trash cart out?
All town-issued green garbage carts must be placed at the edge of the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated neighborhood service day.
Am I allowed to put my lawn clippings in plastic trash bags?
No. Chapel Hill strictly bans plastic bags for yard waste. All landscaping debris must be placed in rigid containers or biodegradable paper yard bags.