Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Cornelius
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Every other week on your regular collection day according to the designated Red/Blue week schedule.
Yard Waste
Weekly on your scheduled garbage collection day.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Standard curbside collection (one trash and one recycling cart) is provided by the Town via Waste Pro and funded through property taxes. Additional rollout carts can be ordered and paid for directly through Waste Pro.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In-Person, Phone
Town-issued Rollout Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged. Cart must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Carts overfilled with more than three excess bags will not be serviced. Place 4 feet from the road and 3 feet from other objects.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Town-issued Rollout Cart (Standard or 96-Gallon) Bin (Recycling)
Collection occurs every other week on a designated RED or BLUE schedule. All items must fit completely inside the container with the lid closed. Materials left outside the cart are not guaranteed to be picked up.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (cut down to fit inside cart)
- ✓Paper and magazines
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords)
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Oversized cardboard (larger than 2' x 3' x 2')
Yard Waste Bin
Clear bags may be tied; opaque bags must be left open. No bags over 50 lbs. Limbs must be stacked in piles no larger than 4'H x 4'L x 4'W, with 2 feet of space between piles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves (up to 20 bags weekly)
- ✓Grass clippings (must be bagged)
- ✓Tree limbs (under 5 inches in diameter and 4 feet long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Not Provided by Town
Placement
Do not place large items at the curb. You must haul them to a Mecklenburg County disposal facility or hire a private junk removal company.
Accepted
Not Accepted
- ✕ Mattresses and furniture
- ✕ Appliances
- ✕ Large toys and exercise equipment
- ✕ Oversized cardboard
- ✕ Water heaters and fixtures
Residents must pay applicable tipping fees at county landfills or pay out-of-pocket for independent hauler services.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major holiday interrupts the normal Waste Pro schedule, collection is typically pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage since they are picked up on the same day.
Always check the Town of Cornelius website or social media channels for exact dates, as the RED/BLUE recycling schedule shifts accordingly.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
November to JanuaryThe town offers a loose leaf vacuum collection service for properties on town-maintained roads. Residents should rake leaves to the curb unbagged and can use the town's online map to track the live location of the leaf trucks.
Spring
March to MayAs spring landscaping begins, keep limb collection limits in mind. Stacks of branches cannot exceed 4 feet in height, length, or width, and each pile must have at least 2 feet of space between it and the next.
Summer
June to AugustLoose piles of grass clippings or organic matter will not be serviced by Waste Pro. Ensure all summer mowing debris is properly bagged according to town guidelines to prevent storm drain clogs.
Local Tips & Community Info
Complete Guide to Cornelius Garbage Pickup
Living in Cornelius, North Carolina, means enjoying a beautiful lakeside community, and proper waste management plays a huge role in keeping the town pristine. The Town of Cornelius partners with Waste Pro to manage curbside garbage collection for all residential addresses. Household refuse is collected once per week. Because the trucks use fully automated lifting arms, all items must fit inside the provided rollout cart. Furthermore, it is strictly required that you bag your trash before tossing it in the bin; loose garbage can easily blow into streets and neighbors' yards during the dumping process. If you have extra bags that prevent the lid from closing, they will not be collected. Overfilled cans are defined as having an excess of three bags holding the lid open.
The Red and Blue Recycling Schedule
Unlike standard trash, recyclable materials are picked up every other week. Cornelius operates on a dual-calendar system known as the RED and BLUE schedule. Every home is assigned to either a red week or a blue week route. You can check the official town map or contact Waste Pro at 704-317-2980 to confirm your assigned color zone. When preparing your recyclables, do not use plastic bags. Simply toss your clean cardboard, aluminum cans, and plastic jugs directly into the 96-gallon recycling cart. Non-compliant materials mixed into the bin will result in a skipped pickup until the contaminated items are removed.
Cart Placement Instructions for Waste Pro
For automated collection to succeed, bins must be positioned correctly. Residents are instructed to roll their containers to the curb either the night before their scheduled day or no later than 6:00 a.m. on the morning of collection. Place the cart within four feet of the roadway. Ensure the front of the bin faces the street, meaning the lid hinges must be on the street side while the handles face your house. Give the carts plenty of room to breathe by leaving a minimum of three feet of space between your garbage and recycling bins, as well as three feet away from mailboxes, parked cars, or trees.
Navigating Yard Debris and Brush Collections
Maintaining your lawn generates organic debris, which Waste Pro will also collect if properly prepared. Yard waste rules in Cornelius are strict to keep the collection process moving quickly. Limbs and branches cannot be longer than four feet in length or thicker than five inches in diameter. When piling brush, ensure the stacks do not exceed four feet in height and four feet in length. Leaves and grass clippings must be managed appropriately without utilizing your standard household garbage rollout cart. Never mix rocks, dirt, or construction materials into your yard waste piles.
Handling Bulky Items Safely
Sometimes you need to dispose of furniture, mattresses, or large appliances that cannot fit inside the standard town-issued bins. For bulky waste, you cannot simply leave items next to your cart and expect them to vanish. Residents must arrange for a special bulk item pickup. Contacting Waste Pro directly ensures that a separate truck is dispatched to handle the heavy lifting. Be sure to call in advance to coordinate your large-item removal and learn about any potential rules associated with specific oversized loads.
Drop-off Facilities
North Mecklenburg Recycling Center
12300 N. Statesville Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
Materials Accepted
North Mecklenburg Landfill
15300 Holbrooks Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time must I place my garbage cart outside in Cornelius?
You should roll your carts to the curb either the night before or no later than 6:00 a.m. on your designated pickup day to avoid missing the truck.
How does the recycling schedule work?
Recycling is collected on an alternating bi-weekly basis. The town is divided into a RED week and BLUE week schedule. You must determine your zone to know which week your bin will be emptied.
What are the size limits for yard waste branches?
Tree limbs and branches must be no larger than five inches in diameter and cut to a maximum length of four feet. Piles must also be kept under four feet high and four feet long.