Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Garner
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected bi-weekly (every other week) on the same day as your scheduled trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected weekly on your regular trash collection day, with loose leaf vacuuming provided seasonally from November through February.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Basic curbside trash, recycling, and yard waste services are funded through annual municipal property taxes rather than a separate monthly trash bill. Water and sewer services are managed and billed separately by the City of Raleigh Public Utilities.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, Phone, In-Person
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
An Introduction to Garner's Waste Management System
The Town of Garner utilizes a hybrid approach to keep its neighborhoods looking immaculate. While municipal employees manage certain specialized collections, the town partners with a private contractor, GFL Environmental, to perform all routine household garbage and recycling pickups. To ensure that your roll-out bins are emptied, they must be wheeled to the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your specific neighborhood routing day. Because the actual arrival time of the trucks can vary wildly depending on driver shifts and landfill traffic, placing your receptacles out the evening prior is a highly recommended practice.
Spatial Rules for the Mechanical Collection Fleet
The contracted sanitation vehicles are equipped with specialized hydraulic lifting arms, which means the positioning of your carts is critical. Homeowners are required to leave a minimum of three feet of unobstructed space between their trash cart, their recycling bin, and any fixed objects such as utility poles, parked vehicles, or cluster mailboxes. Furthermore, the orientation of the cart matters immensely; the metal lifting bar must face the street, and the handle must point back toward your residence. Incorrectly placed bins run a high risk of being bypassed to prevent accidental property damage.
Bi-Weekly Recycling and the Garner Info App
Sustainability is a core focus, and the town provides curbside recycling on an every-other-week schedule. Acceptable single-stream items include flattened corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, and rinsed plastic bottles. To eliminate the confusion of remembering which week is your recycling week, residents are strongly encouraged to download the free Garner Info smartphone application. This convenient digital tool allows you to plug in your address to receive push notifications the night before your collection, keeping you fully informed about your upcoming pickups and any sudden weather-related delays.
In-House Yard Debris Processing
Unlike standard refuse, organic yard waste is collected directly by the Town of Garner Public Works Department. This weekly service has very strict preparation guidelines. The town has entirely banned the use of plastic bags for organic materials. Instead, you must place your grass clippings and leaves in biodegradable paper yard bags or rigid personal containers not exceeding 32 gallons in size. For tree pruning, all branches must be cut to a maximum length of four feet and a diameter of less than four inches, stacked neatly parallel to the roadway.
Coordinating Bulky Item Retrievals
Replacing major household items like a worn-out mattress, a dilapidated couch, or an old washing machine requires proactive communication. Garner residents cannot simply abandon oversized junk at the edge of the street. You must formally request a bulk waste pickup by utilizing the Garner Info app or by submitting an online form through the town's official website. Construction debris, such as drywall and roofing shingles, as well as electronic waste like obsolete televisions, are entirely excluded from this service and must be transported to a Wake County solid waste convenience center.
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
What is the earliest time I must have my garbage cart out in Garner?
Your town-issued rollout carts must be placed at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on the morning of your scheduled pickup.
Can I use black plastic bags for my grass clippings?
No. The Town of Garner strictly prohibits the use of any plastic bags for yard waste. You must use paper yard bags or reusable hard-sided containers.
How do I find out my specific recycling week?
Because recycling is collected every other week, the easiest way to track your schedule is by downloading the Garner Info app, which provides personalized calendars and reminders.