Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Greenville
Trash Day
Trash is collected weekly on an assigned service day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday) depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected once per week on the same day as your regular trash collection.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected once per week on your scheduled collection day.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Refuse and stormwater fees for the City of Greenville are bundled and billed through your monthly Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC) statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Green Bin (Trash)
Must be placed in a City-approved green rollout cart with the metal bar facing the road. Keep at least 3 feet of clearance from the recycling cart, mailboxes, and parked cars. Place curbside by 6:00 AM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging and plastics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be co-mingled and placed loosely in the blue cart. Never bag recyclables. Must be placed 3 feet away from the garbage cart by 6:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard boxes (broken down)
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Mixed paper and newspaper
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Household hazardous waste
Yard Waste Bin
Leaves and limbs must be placed in separate, distinct piles at the curbside. Do not place yard waste in the road, gutter, or near obstacles like mailboxes and fire hydrants.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Tree limbs and branches (max 6 feet long and 6 inches in diameter)
- ✓Brush and hedge trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Appointment Only
Placement
Place approved items at the curb only after securing an appointment. Keep items well away from utility poles, overhanging wires, parked cars, and your regular rollout carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Large household furniture (sofas, mattresses, dressers)
- ✓ Oversized household junk that will not fit in the green cart
- ✓ Household appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Building materials (drywall, lumber, concrete)
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Commercial or contractor-generated waste
Basic bulky pickup is generally included for single-family residential properties paying the monthly refuse fee, but extremely large cleanouts or specific heavy items may incur specialized fees or be refused if they violate construction debris bans.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection schedules typically shift by one day following a major holiday. Friday routes may be completed on Saturday during these weeks.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulky item collections often experience greater delays or temporary suspensions during holiday weeks while crews prioritize household garbage.
Schedule changes are broadcasted on the local Government Access Channel, printed in The Daily Reflector, and automatically updated in the Greenville Collects digital search tool.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
November to JanuaryDuring peak leaf-fall season, residents should continue to keep leaf piles completely free of branches, rocks, and trash. Ensure piles are not blocking storm drains, which can cause severe localized flooding during heavy autumn rains.
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberDuring severe tropical weather threats, the City of Greenville may temporarily suspend all curbside collections. Secure your green and blue rollout carts indoors or strap them down to prevent them from floating away or becoming dangerous projectiles in high winds.
Post-Holiday
December and JanuaryNatural Christmas trees can be collected curbside alongside regular yard waste. However, they must be completely stripped of all lights, tinsel, ornaments, and the tree stand before being placed out for collection.
Local Tips & Community Info
Greenville NC Trash & Recycling Schedule Guidelines
Maintaining a clean neighborhood in Greenville, North Carolina starts with understanding the local trash and recycling schedule. The City of Greenville requires residents to use the approved green rollout carts for their household garbage. To guarantee that your waste is collected on your designated service day, you need to have your carts placed at the curbside no later than 6:00 AM. It is important to remember that recycling typically happens alongside regular waste pickup, and following the correct schedule helps keep our city beautiful. For any localized zone maps, checking the official city sanitation portal will provide your specific weekday collection route.
How to Properly Place Your Bins for Collection
Putting your bins out might seem straightforward, but adhering to the city's placement rules prevents missed pickups. Always ensure that the wheels and handle of your rollout cart are facing toward your home. Sanitation trucks require at least three feet of clearance around each cart, meaning you should keep them away from parked vehicles, mailboxes, and utility poles. Do not overstuff the cart; the lid needs to be completely closed to avoid spillage and potential overage fees. Lastly, all carts must be removed from the curb promptly after the garbage truck has completed its route.
Bulk Waste and Yard Debris Disposal Services
Disposing of large household items or landscaping waste requires a slightly different approach. The City of Greenville provides specific services for bulk waste disposal, encompassing items like old furniture, household appliances, and scrap materials that cannot safely fit inside a standard green bin. For yard waste, such as grass clippings, leaves, and brush, residents should ensure it is properly prepared according to municipal guidelines. Leaving unapproved construction debris or hazardous materials like batteries and wet paint in your regular trash is strictly prohibited and can result in fines.
Navigating Holiday Schedule Delays
During major national holidays, the standard waste collection routine often shifts. Generally, if a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, the trash and recycling schedule is delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. For example, a Monday holiday means Monday routes are collected on Tuesday, and Friday routes are pushed to Saturday. Staying updated via the city's official sanitation announcements or downloading local schedules will help you stay on track during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other significant holidays.
What to Do If You Experience a Missed Pickup
Sometimes, despite following all the rules, a pickup might be skipped due to driver error, mechanical issues, or a blocked cart. If your trash or recycling is not collected by the end of your scheduled day, do not panic. Simply leave the cart at the curb and contact the City of Greenville Public Works Department directly at 252-329-4522. Customer service representatives can quickly dispatch a driver or guide you on the next steps to ensure your waste is properly managed.
Drop-off Facilities
Pitt County Transfer Station
3025 Landfill Road, Greenville, NC 27834
Materials Accepted
Bells Fork / County Home Collection Site
4554 County Home Road, Greenville, NC 27858
Materials Accepted
Port Terminal Collection Site
911 Port Terminal Road, Greenville, NC 27858
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my trash cart out in Greenville, NC?
To ensure successful pickup, the City of Greenville requires all residents to place their green rollout carts at the curbside by 6:00 AM on their designated collection day.
How do I report a missed garbage pickup in Greenville?
If your trash or recycling is missed, you should leave your cart at the curb and immediately call the Greenville Public Works Department at 252-329-4522 for assistance.
Are hazardous materials allowed in my household trash bin?
No, hazardous household waste items like wet paint, batteries, motor oil, and electronics are strictly prohibited in your curbside bins and must be taken to specialized drop-off locations.