Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Garner
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 trash must be bagged and tied before being placed in the cart. Ensure the cart lid is fully closed and placed at least 3 feet away from mailboxes, cars, and other carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the blue cart. Rinse all containers to remove food and liquid residue before recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
- ✓Paper (newsprint, magazines, junk mail)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard (like greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Styrofoam packaging
- ✕Clothing and textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in reusable containers or bundled. During designated loose leaf season, leaves can be raked to the curb unbagged. Do not mix with dirt, rocks, or household trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small brush and twigs
- ✓Tree limbs (cut to specified lengths)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly with scheduled route
Placement
Items should be placed at the curb the night before your scheduled bulk pickup day. Keep items away from low-hanging wires, mailboxes, and parked vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Sofas and large furniture
- ✓ Large toys
- ✓ Lawn mowers (drained of gas and oil)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals)
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or bricks
Basic bulk collection is typically covered by municipal fees, but unusually large piles or excessive cleanouts may require a special assessment or fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collections are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection routes may also experience delays or be suspended entirely during major holiday weeks to prioritize household garbage.
Always check the town's official social media or website for specific holiday week schedule adjustments, as the Friday collection may roll into Saturday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Plastic Bags
The number one contaminant in Garner's recycling stream is the plastic garbage bag. Never place bagged recyclables in your blue cart, as the processing center will reject them as trash.
Keep Tanglers Out
Garden hoses, holiday lights, and electrical cords are known as 'tanglers'. They wrap around the sorting gears at the recycling plant, causing major delays and safety hazards. Put these in the regular garbage.
Clean Your Cardboard
While cardboard is highly recyclable, grease ruins the paper fibers. Tear off the greasy half of your pizza box for the trash, and only recycle the clean, unsoiled cardboard sections.
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
November to JanuaryGarner's Loose Leaf Collection program operates during these months. Residents can rake leaves to the edge of their property (behind the curb, out of the street and drainage ditches) for vacuum truck pickup.
Post-Holiday
JanuaryThe town provides a special collection for real Christmas trees. Trees must be completely stripped of lights, tinsel, ornaments, and stands before being placed curbside for recycling.
Hurricane Season
August to OctoberDuring severe weather watches or warnings, residents are urged to secure their rollout carts. High winds can turn empty or partially full carts into dangerous projectiles or scatter trash across neighborhoods.
About Garner Waste Management
Efficient Residential Waste Collection in Garner
The Town of Garner, in partnership with GFL Environmental, provides comprehensive weekly refuse collection to keep neighborhoods pristine. Residents are issued rollout carts for regular household garbage. To ensure smooth and efficient service, it is highly recommended to bag all trash before placing it in your cart, which helps prevent wind-blown litter and keeps the carts sanitary. Carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on your designated collection day.
Curbside Recycling Guidelines for Wake County
Garner participates in Wake County's single-stream recycling program, operating on a convenient bi-weekly schedule. Residents are provided with a dedicated recycling cart where items such as cardboard, aluminum cans, and plastic jugs can be co-mingled. Unlike household trash, recyclables must remain loose and unbagged. Plastic bags are notorious for jamming the machinery at the regional material recovery facilities and should be taken to local grocery store drop-offs instead.
Managing Yard Debris and Loose Leaves
Maintaining Garner's lush, tree-lined streets requires robust yard waste services. The Public Works department handles yard waste collection directly. Throughout most of the year, grass clippings and small branches must be containerized or bundled. However, Garner distinguishes itself with its highly popular seasonal loose leaf collection program. During the peak fall and winter months, vacuum trucks navigate the town to suck up large piles of unbagged leaves raked directly to the curb.
Navigating Bulky Item and Appliance Pickup
When it is time to upgrade your furniture or clear out the garage, Garner offers a bulk waste pickup service. Residents can dispose of large items like couches, mattresses, and tables directly at the curb. However, white goods (appliances like refrigerators and washing machines) and electronics require a scheduled pickup. It is essential to contact Public Works in advance to ensure these specialized items are collected properly and diverted from standard landfills.
Drop-off Facilities
Wake County Convenience Center - Site 1
10505 Old Stage Road, Garner, NC 27529
Materials Accepted
South Wake Landfill
6300 Old Smithfield Road, Apex, NC 27539
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Garner pick up unbagged leaves?
Yes, but only during the designated Loose Leaf Collection season, which typically runs from November through January. During the rest of the year, leaves must be bagged in paper yard waste bags or placed in reusable containers.
How do I dispose of old electronics or appliances in Garner?
Electronics (e-waste) and white goods like refrigerators require a scheduled pickup. You must contact the Town of Garner Public Works department to arrange a specific collection day for these items, or drop them off at a Wake County Convenience Center.
Why didn't my recycling get collected?
The most common reasons for missed recycling include placing plastic bags in the cart, having a heavily contaminated bin (like food waste), or failing to have the cart out by 7:00 AM. Ensure your recyclables are loose and clean.
Where can I take paint and household chemicals?
Household hazardous waste (HHW) such as wet paint, pesticides, and pool chemicals cannot be put in your regular trash. Garner residents must take these items to specialized Wake County Multi-Material recycling facilities.