Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Charlotte
Trash Day
Garbage is collected weekly, Monday through Friday, based on your neighborhood collection zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected every other week on your designated garbage pickup day, following an assigned Green or Orange week schedule.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected weekly on the same day as your trash collection.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside collection services are funded through your annual Mecklenburg County property tax bill and solid waste fee rather than a separate monthly trash invoice.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, Phone, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Mecklenburg County offers property tax relief for qualifying low-income seniors and disabled residents through the Elderly/Disabled Exclusion program.
Gray Cart Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be bagged before placing it in the gray rollout cart. Place the cart within 6 feet of the curb with the handle facing the property by 6:00 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable paper products
- ✓Dried paint cans (lids off)
- ✓Styrofoam (if not taken to a drop-off center)
- ✓Double-bagged pet waste and diapers
Green Cart Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loose in the recycling cart. Do not bag recyclables. Collection is every other week on your assigned Green or Orange week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Food and beverage cartons
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Wire hangers
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Place in paper yard bags or reusable containers (max 75 lbs). Do not use plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Limbs and branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By appointment only
Placement
Place items within 2 to 6 feet of the curb and at least 3 feet away from your rollout carts, mailboxes, and parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furnishings (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Lawn equipment (gas and oil removed)
- ✓ Appliances (requires specific appliance scheduling)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous materials (paint, pool chemicals, solvents)
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and gravel
- ✕ Dead animals
- ✕ Tires with rims still attached
Standard bulky waste scheduling is generally free for eligible residential addresses, but placing items curbside more than 24 hours before the scheduled pickup can result in fines starting at $150.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection is generally delayed by one day following a holiday. However, for MLK Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, Monday routes are suspended, and crews complete all pick-ups from Tuesday through Friday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection is completely suspended during the weeks of MLK Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day to allow crews to focus on garbage and recycling.
Always leave your carts at the curb until they are collected during a holiday week. Use the CLT+ app or text your collection day to 73224 for automatic updates.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December to mid-JanuaryThe city provides curbside Christmas tree collection. Trees must be completely bare (no ornaments, lights, or stands) and placed at the curb on your regular yard waste collection day.
Autumn
October to DecemberDuring peak leaf-falling season, remember that Charlotte requires all leaves to be placed in brown paper yard bags or reusable bins. Piles of loose leaves left directly on the street or in plastic bags will be tagged and ignored.
Spring
March to MaySpring cleaning often leads to an influx of bulky waste. Remember that you cannot place large furniture or appliances at the curb without an appointment. Use the CLT+ app to schedule these pickups in advance to avoid a $150 fine.
Local Tips & Community Info
Charlotte Trash Pickup Schedule Overview
Residents of Charlotte enjoy weekly curbside garbage collection provided by Solid Waste Services. To ensure a smooth pickup, you must place your gray garbage cart at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on your assigned collection day. You can set the bin out as early as the day before your scheduled pickup, but remember to remove it from the curb by midnight on your collection day to avoid any fines. Make sure the cart's handle is facing your home and the silver bar faces the street. Always leave at least 3 feet of space between your cart, recycling bin, mailboxes, and vehicles.
Green Cart: Charlotte Recycling Rules
Charlotte operates on a bi-weekly recycling schedule, meaning your green cart is emptied every other week. Properties are assigned to either a Green week or an Orange week schedule. The city accepts exactly six types of items: flattened cardboard, aluminum and steel cans, cartons, paper, glass bottles, and plastic jugs with necks. Do not bag your recyclables; keep them loose in the green cart. Plastic bags, styrofoam, and clamshell containers are strictly prohibited and can cause route delays due to contamination.
Yard Waste Collection Guidelines
Yard waste is collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash. However, there are strict rules regarding how debris must be prepared. Grass clippings and leaves must be placed in paper yard bags or labeled containers no larger than 32 gallons. Plastic bags are never accepted. If you have tree limbs, they must be cut to no longer than 5 feet in length and 4 inches in diameter. Stack the limbs in neat piles rather than tying them, ensuring they are placed safely away from parked cars and utility poles.
Scheduling Bulky Waste and Appliance Pickup
Got an old couch, mattress, or broken refrigerator? The City of Charlotte offers free curbside pickup for bulky items, but you must schedule it in advance. Simply call 311 (or 704-336-7600), use the CLT+ mobile app, or submit a request online. Items left at the curb without a scheduled appointment will not be collected and may result in a neighborhood code violation. Be sure to submit your cancellation or changes by noon the business day before your confirmed appointment.
Holiday Collection Delays in Charlotte
Like many municipalities, Charlotte adjusts its sanitation schedule for major holidays, including New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling routes will generally be pushed back by one day for the remainder of that week. For example, a Monday holiday means Monday routes are collected on Tuesday, and Friday routes are collected on Saturday. Normal schedules resume the following week.
Drop-off Facilities
Compost Central and Recycling Center
140 Valleydale Road, Charlotte, NC 28214
Materials Accepted
Foxhole Recycling Center and Yard Waste
17131 Lancaster Highway, Charlotte, NC 28277
Materials Accepted
Hickory Grove Recycling Center
8007 Pence Road, Charlotte, NC 28215
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my trash cart out in Charlotte?
Your gray garbage cart and green recycling bin must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. You can place them out the day before, but they must be returned to your property by midnight after pickup.
How do I know if my house is on the Green or Orange recycling week?
The city determines your recycling week based on your address. You can easily find out whether you are on the Green or Orange schedule by visiting the official City of Charlotte website or using the CLT+ app.
Can I put my grass clippings in black plastic garbage bags?
No. Charlotte Solid Waste Services will not collect yard waste in plastic bags. You must use compostable paper yard bags or a reusable 32-gallon container.