Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Gastonia
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Monday through Friday, depending on your assigned neighborhood route.
Recycling
The City does not offer curbside recycling; residents can use drop-off recycling centers such as 3175 Duke Street or the Gastonia Farmers Market (410 E. Long Ave).
Yard Waste
Yard waste carts and small loose piles are collected weekly on your regular garbage collection day.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste service charges are bundled directly onto your monthly City of Gastonia municipal utility bill alongside electric, water, and stormwater services.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (Bank Draft), Phone, Mail, Drop Box, Kiosks
Green Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged and fit completely inside the green cart with the lid closed. Place at the curb by 7:00 a.m. with the handle facing the house. Bags left outside the cart will incur an extra collection fee.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small, non-hazardous household items
N/A (Drop-off only) Bin (Recycling)
Gastonia does NOT offer curbside recycling. Residents must take recyclables to Gaston County convenience centers. Items must be unbagged, clean, dry, and sorted into specific containers at the site.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Light bulbs and mirrors
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Garden hoses and tanglers
Yard Waste Bin
Place in the optional 95-gallon brown yard waste cart or in small loose piles at the curb. Do NOT use plastic or paper bags. Keep piles at least 4 feet away from carts, mailboxes, and vehicles. Trunks over 4 inches in diameter are not accepted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Shrubbery trimmings
- ✓Small branches and twigs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (on your regular garbage day)
Placement
Place items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Ensure a 4-foot clearance from your green cart, mailboxes, utility poles, and parked cars so the automated trucks can operate safely.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household junk
- ✓ Appliances (white goods)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Automobile parts and batteries
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Construction or demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, bricks, or block
- ✕ Contractor-generated waste
Standard bulky household items are collected for free. However, if a bulk or yard waste pile exceeds 4.5 cubic yards (the size of a pick-up truck bed), a minimum $25 heavy equipment fee is applied.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Trash collection schedules may shift by one day following major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, on many minor holidays, regular trash routes operate normally.
Yard Waste Exception
During any holiday week, the City of Gastonia explicitly will not collect yard waste on the holiday itself, nor on the very next business day following the holiday.
Because schedules fluctuate depending on the specific holiday, residents are strongly encouraged to check the WasteWise app for real-time notifications regarding their address.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
November to JanuaryDuring peak leaf season, regular yard waste and brush are only collected during the first full week of the month. For the remainder of these months, city crews dedicate all resources to operating automated loose leaf vacuum trucks.
Post-Holiday
JanuaryNatural Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands are collected during the first full week of January. They must be completely stripped of all lights, wires, ornaments, and stands to be accepted.
Spring
MarchThe City of Gastonia typically hosts a 'Free Excess Trash Week' in mid-March. During this designated week, residents can place extra bulky items and overflow trash bags at the curb without being charged the standard excess volume fees.
Local Tips & Community Info
Gastonia Solid Waste Collection Basics
Keeping Gastonia clean relies on the cooperation of all residents following the City's Solid Waste Management schedules. Routine garbage collection happens weekly, and all household refuse must be securely bagged and placed exclusively inside your city-issued green cart. To ensure your waste is picked up, your green container needs to be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated service day. If you prefer to prepare early, the city allows you to roll your cart out after 6:00 p.m. the evening prior. Remember that any bags left sitting on the ground outside the cart will incur an extra collection fee, so make sure everything fits inside with the lid tightly shut.
Proper Cart Positioning for Automated Trucks
Because the sanitation department utilizes automated vehicles, the physical placement of your garbage bin is critical for a successful pickup. When you position your container at the curb, the metal lifting bar and serial number must face the street, while the handle should be pointed directly toward your residence. Place the cart just a few inches from the edge of the roadway, but never directly in the street where it could obstruct traffic. Sanitation drivers need clearance to grab the bins, so always avoid placing them near mailboxes, parked cars, or utility poles.
Bin Retrieval and City Storage Ordinances
Leaving trash containers on the curb for extended periods is a common violation of local regulations. In Gastonia, residents are required by city ordinance to retrieve their empty roll carts from the curb by midnight on the day of their scheduled collection. Furthermore, property maintenance codes mandate that all garbage and recycling bins must be stored discreetly behind the house when not out for pickup. Adhering to these storage rules helps maintain the aesthetic appeal of local neighborhoods and prevents citations from code enforcement officers.
Managing Bulk Waste and Yard Clippings
Not all household waste belongs in your green rollout cart. Large discarded items, such as broken furniture, old mattresses, or heavy appliances, require special handling. Gastonia provides bulk pickup services for these oversized items, but they must be properly staged according to the city's fee schedule. Similarly, yard waste—including tree limbs, grass clippings, and leaves—is collected separately and must not be mixed with standard household garbage. Utilizing the correct disposal methods for landscaping debris and bulky materials ensures compliance and keeps our local landfills operating efficiently.
Stay Updated with the City of Gastonia WasteWise App
Modern technology makes tracking your sanitation schedule easier than ever. Gastonia residents are encouraged to download the free WasteWise mobile application, provided by the city. This convenient tool sends automated reminders to your smartphone about your upcoming trash and recycling days. Additionally, the WasteWise app provides real-time alerts regarding any holiday schedule shifts, severe weather delays, or sudden changes in local solid waste services, ensuring you are never caught off guard.
How to Handle a Missed Garbage Collection
Even with perfect cart placement, there are rare occasions when a collection route might miss a residence. If you discover that your garbage, recycling, or yard waste was not picked up as scheduled, time is of the essence. The City of Gastonia requires residents to report any missed collections within 24 hours of their designated pickup day. To request a recovery pickup, you must call the Customer Care Center directly at 704-866-6714 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or send a detailed email to the general services department.
Drop-off Facilities
Farmers Market Recycling Center
410 E. Long Avenue, Gastonia, NC 28054
Materials Accepted
Duke Street Recycling Center
130 Duke Street, Gastonia, NC 28052
Materials Accepted
Gaston County Landfill
3155 Philadelphia Church Road, Dallas, NC 28034
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I place my trash cart at the curb in Gastonia?
Your green garbage cart must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, though you are permitted to set it out as early as 6:00 p.m. the night before.
Where am I required to store my garbage bin after it is emptied?
By city ordinance, Gastonia residents must remove their carts from the curb by midnight on collection day and store them out of sight behind the house.
Who do I contact if my trash was not picked up?
Missed collections must be reported within 24 hours. You can notify the city by calling the Customer Care Center at 704-866-6714 during normal business hours.