Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Fuquay-Varina
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.
Green or Dark Gray Bin (Trash)
All household trash must be placed in bags before being tossed into the 96-gallon cart to prevent litter. Carts must be placed at the curb with the lid opening facing the street, at least four feet away from obstacles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Small broken household items
Blue or Green with a distinct lid Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables; place them loosely in the cart. Rinse all containers of food residue and leave screw caps on plastic bottles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and jars
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Cardboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Aerosol cans
- ✕Food-soiled paper or pizza boxes
- ✕Clothing or fabric
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in biodegradable paper bags, tied in bundles weighing less than 50 lbs, or in a town-approved yard waste container. Plastic bags, soil, and rocks are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small brush and twigs
- ✓Limbs less than 4 feet long and 4 inches in diameter
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Mondays only, by request)
Placement
Place approved items curbside after 7:00 PM on the Sunday before your scheduled Monday collection.
Accepted
- ✓ Large furniture
- ✓ Couches and chairs
- ✓ Tables
- ✓ Oversized household items that do not fit in the trash cart
Not Accepted
- ✕ Cardboard
- ✕ Excess household garbage
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Appliances
- ✕ Mattresses
- ✕ Electronics
Standard bulky items are collected at no extra cost. However, appliances, mattresses, and electronics require a separate form and a small fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after an observed holiday, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is typically collected on your regular garbage day, so it will also follow the one-day holiday delay.
Holidays falling on a weekend usually do not impact the weekday residential collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
November to FebruaryDuring peak leaf season, the town increases the weekly yard waste collection limit from 10 items to a maximum of 15 bags or bundles per household.
Post-Holiday
December to JanuaryLive Christmas trees are collected as part of regular yard waste. You must remove all lights, ornaments, and stands, and trees over 5 feet tall must be cut in half before being placed at the curb.
Late Summer/Fall
August to OctoberDuring Atlantic hurricane season, high winds are common in the Triangle area. Do not place your 96-gallon carts out the night before if severe storms are forecasted, as they can become dangerous projectiles.
Local Tips & Community Info
Fuquay-Varina's Curbside Collection Basics
As the population of Fuquay-Varina continues to swell, managing residential waste effectively remains a top municipal priority. The town partners with a private contractor to deliver weekly garbage retrieval, while curbside recycling is serviced on a bi-weekly rotation. To ensure your household refuse makes it onto the truck, you must wheel your town-provided carts out to the street no later than 7:00 a.m. on your specific neighborhood collection day. Local ordinances also dictate that residents must remove their emptied containers from the public right-of-way by 6:00 a.m. the morning after collection to keep local roadways clear and aesthetically pleasing.
Cart Spacing and Container Etiquette
Sanitation vehicles operating in Fuquay-Varina utilize mechanical lifting arms that require ample maneuvering room. When setting out your bins, it is vital to maintain a strict clearance zone of at least four feet between the garbage cart, the recycling cart, and stationary objects like mailboxes, fire hydrants, or parked cars. Furthermore, carts must be oriented properly to function with the automated tippers. Place the bin so that the metal lift bar and lid opening are facing the street, with the wheels resting firmly against the curb line.
Managing Limbs, Leaves, and Yard Clippings
While standard household garbage is contracted out, the Fuquay-Varina Public Works Department directly handles the collection of organic yard debris. Residents can expect weekly yard waste pickups, but the materials must be prepped according to town rules. Tree limbs cannot exceed four feet in length or six inches in thickness, and they must be neatly stacked behind the curb. For grass clippings, twigs, and leaves, homeowners should use biodegradable paper yard waste bags or personal reusable containers. Each bag or container has a strict weight limit of 50 pounds to protect the safety of the manual loading crews.
How to Dispose of Large Furniture and Appliances
Replacing a mattress, upgrading a sofa, or throwing out a broken washing machine requires a bit of advanced planning. You cannot abandon oversized items on the curb during your regular trash day. Instead, Fuquay-Varina residents are required to request a specialized bulk pickup. This can be easily done by submitting an online form through the town's official website or by calling the Public Works office. Be mindful that certain materials, such as construction lumber, hazardous chemicals, and electronic waste like old televisions, are entirely prohibited from bulk collection and must be hauled to a Wake County convenience center.
Holiday Shifts and Using the Waste Wizard
Schedules frequently change during major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. When a recognized holiday lands on a weekday, all subsequent collections for the remainder of that week are pushed back by one full day. To avoid the frustration of a missed pickup, the town highly recommends utilizing the digital Waste Wizard tool. By entering your home address on the municipal website, you can download a personalized collection calendar and sign up for real-time text alerts regarding holiday delays and severe weather disruptions.
Drop-off Facilities
Wake County Convenience Center - Site 2
6120 Old Smithfield Road, Apex, NC 27539
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the morning deadline to put my trash carts out in Fuquay-Varina?
All rolling garbage and recycling containers must be placed at the edge of the street by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day.
Are plastic bags allowed for yard waste collection?
No. Fuquay-Varina requires residents to use biodegradable paper yard bags or personal, reusable hard-sided containers for grass clippings and leaves.
How do I throw away an old couch or refrigerator?
You must formally request a bulk waste pickup through the town's website or by contacting the Public Works Department to have large furniture or appliances removed.