Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Graham
Trash Day
Automated residential trash routes run Tuesday through Friday, depending on your assigned neighborhood refuse zone.
Recycling
Every other Wednesday (serviced by Republic Services)
Yard Waste
Collected once per week on the same day as your scheduled trash pickup
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (by 6:00 AM for recycling)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste, recycling, and stormwater service fees are conveniently billed together on your monthly city water and sewer utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Bank Draft (Auto-Pay), Phone, Mail, In-Person, Drop Box
City-issued 90+ gallon cart Bin (Trash)
Place at the curb by 7:00 AM on your collection day. Position the container with handles facing away from the street and at least 5 feet away from vehicles, mailboxes, or other objects.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Furnished recycling cart Bin (Recycling)
Collected every other Wednesday. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM and kept at least 5 feet away from your garbage container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean plastics
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Metal cans
- ✓Paper
- ✓Cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Building materials
- ✕Dirt and rocks
- ✕Tires
- ✕Liquids and paint
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Hazardous waste
- ✕Concrete
- ✕Electronics
- ✕TVs
- ✕Yard debris
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in a citizen-provided container no larger than 32 gallons, weighing less than 50 lbs, and equipped with handles. Collected on the same day as solid waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Hedge trimmings
- ✓Limbs 1 inch or smaller in diameter
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By appointment only
Placement
Pile brush and bulk items neatly at the edge of the road or back of the curb. Be mindful of overhead obstructions like wires or tree branches that prevent automated collection.
Accepted
- ✓ Stoves and ovens
- ✓ Washing machines and dryers
- ✓ Refrigerators
- ✓ Water heaters
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Discarded furniture
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ TVs and computers
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Liquids and paint
- ✕ Automotive parts
- ✕ Hazardous materials
- ✕ Stumps or brush cut by contractors
The first 2 items (or 2 clamshells) are free. Extra bulk items cost $22.00 each. Bulk waste in excess of 2 clamshells is charged at $24.00 per cubic yard. Excess bulk brush is charged at $18.00 per cubic yard.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
For many holidays, regular garbage collection continues as normal, but bulk pick-up appointments are suspended on those days. On major holidays like Independence Day or Christmas, collections are typically pushed back by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection generally follows the adjusted solid waste holiday schedule, but may experience slight delays during high-volume weeks.
Always check the official City of Graham website or their Facebook page for the most current PDF holiday schedule, as route shifting varies depending on the specific holiday.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall
October to DecemberThe city's Property Maintenance division coordinates loose leaf collection during the fall and early winter months. Keep leaf piles free of sticks and rocks to prevent damage to the vacuum equipment.
Winter
January to FebruarySevere winter weather and ice can delay routes. If nonessential city offices close due to a storm, Thursday or Friday collection routes will typically shift to the next safe operational day.
Spring/Summer
March to AugustSpring cleaning generates high volumes of bulk waste. Remember to call ahead to schedule your bulk pickups, as they are not collected automatically. Ensure brush piles are free of overhead obstructions.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating Graham's Curbside Refuse Collection
The Sanitation Division of the City of Graham operates a highly efficient automated garbage collection network designed to keep neighborhoods clean and safe. Residents must have their municipal rollout carts stationed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the day of their scheduled route. Because the city utilizes automated side-loading trucks, cart placement is critical. Make sure the arrows on the lid are pointing directly toward the street, and leave a minimum buffer of three feet around the container so the mechanical arm can operate without snagging on mailboxes or parked cars. To prevent stray litter and minimize pest attraction, municipal codes dictate that all household waste must be secured inside plastic garbage bags before being tossed into the bin.
The Ins and Outs of Alamance County Recycling
Graham supports a bi-weekly recycling initiative to extend the lifespan of local landfills and promote environmental stewardship. Your blue recycling cart is serviced every other week according to a set A/B calendar, which can be downloaded directly from the city's public works web page. Acceptable materials include rinsed glass jars, aluminum cans, flattened corrugated cardboard, and rigid plastic jugs. A vital rule for residents is to toss all recyclables into the cart loosely. Never pack your items into plastic grocery bags, as flexible films and wrappers cause catastrophic tangles inside the heavy sorting machinery at the recycling facility, driving up costs and causing service delays.
Yard Debris and Seasonal Leaf Management
Keeping your property pristine is a breeze with the city's dedicated vegetative waste collection. Limbs, brush, and shrub clippings are picked up routinely, provided they meet specific safety criteria. Branches must be pruned to lengths no greater than five feet and should not exceed six inches in diameter. These trimmings should be stacked neatly parallel to the street. During the fall season, Graham deploys specialized vacuum trucks to manage the heavy volume of fallen leaves. Homeowners are instructed to rake leaves into long, narrow windrows along the edge of the yard, ensuring they do not spill into the asphalt or block drainage grates, which can cause severe street flooding.
Tackling Bulky Waste and Large Appliances
Getting rid of an old couch, a broken dishwasher, or a worn-out mattress requires a bit of planning. The City of Graham provides a specialized bulk collection service for these oversized items, but they must be placed properly at the curb. For large appliances, commonly referred to as white goods, strict safety regulations mandate that all doors must be completely removed from refrigerators and freezers to eliminate the risk of child entrapment. Please be aware that certain materials, such as automotive tires, liquid paint, batteries, and contractor-generated construction debris, are strictly prohibited from curbside pickup and must be hauled independently to the Alamance County landfill.
What Happens During City Holidays?
When a major federal or state holiday rolls around, the standard trash pickup cadence shifts to accommodate the sanitation crews. Holidays such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas will typically cause your collection day to be delayed by one business day for the remainder of that week. For example, if your normal trash day is Thursday and a holiday falls on Monday, your bins will be emptied on Friday. The City of Graham is proactive about communication, posting updated holiday routing schedules on the municipal website and broadcasting reminders via the city's official social media channels to ensure no one misses a pickup.
Drop-off Facilities
Alamance County Landfill
2701 Austin Quarter Road, Graham NC
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the earliest time I can put my trash out in Graham?
You may place your rollout carts at the curb the evening before your scheduled pickup, but they must be out no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection.
Does Graham recycle glass bottles?
Yes, clean and rinsed glass bottles and jars are accepted in your blue recycling cart. Make sure they are loose and not placed inside any plastic bags.
How do I get rid of an old television?
Electronic waste, including televisions and computers, cannot be thrown in the standard garbage. You must transport e-waste directly to a designated Alamance County convenience center for proper disposal.