Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Harrisburg
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.
Standard Roll-Out Cart Bin (Trash)
All garbage should be bagged before being placed in the rollout cart to prevent littering. The cart must be at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste and wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small, non-hazardous household items
Standard Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the cart without plastic bags. Ensure that all cardboard is broken down flat so it fits securely inside the recycling bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and steel food cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (check for local drop-offs)
- ✕Styrofoam and food waste
- ✕Tanglers like hoses, cords, or wires
- ✕Electronics and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Do not bag leaves or grass. Place loose yard waste behind the curb (4 to 6 feet away from the road). Limbs must not exceed 6 feet in length and should be stacked loosely with cut ends parallel to the street. Keep piles at least 8 feet away from mailboxes, signs, or water meters.
Accepted Items
- ✓Loose leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Shrub and tree limbs
- ✓Flowers and plants
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (on your regular trash day), by work order only
Placement
Items must be at the curb by 6:00 AM on your regular collection day. Large items like playground equipment must be fully disassembled before pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, lawn chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and beds
- ✓ White goods (drained of freon, doors removed/taped)
- ✓ Drained lawnmowers (rubber tires removed)
- ✓ Small amounts of carpet and padding
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction or renovation materials (dirt, rock, brick, concrete)
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computer monitors)
- ✕ Tires, batteries, oil, and liquid paint
- ✕ Large cardboard boxes (must be recycled)
- ✕ Dead animals
Volumes totaling less than a standard truckload are free. A full truckload (16 feet long by 6 feet wide by 4 feet high) incurs a $100 fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, garbage, recycling, and yard waste collections will generally be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday collections move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Because the Town of Harrisburg operates the yard waste trucks independently of Waste Pro, yard waste routes may experience additional delays beyond the one-day shift during heavy holiday volume.
Residents are highly encouraged to download the CARTology app or check the annual town calendar to verify exact holiday shift dates.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Tape the Glass and Drain the Freon
If you are setting out an appliance with glass doors (like an oven), tape the glass in an 'X' pattern to prevent shattering. Refrigerators and freezers must be completely empty, have the doors removed or taped shut, and be professionally drained of all Freon before Waste Pro will touch them.
Keep Piles Pure
When creating a leaf or grass pile for the Town's yard waste crews, ensure it is free of foreign debris. Mixing in sticks, dirt, paper, rocks, or trash will contaminate the organic material, and the crew will leave the entire pile on your lawn.
Remove the Rubber Tires
Harrisburg accepts drained lawnmowers as part of their bulk collection program, but there is a catch: you must remove the rubber lawnmower tires first. Rubber tires of any kind are not permitted in standard landfills and must be recycled separately.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October to DecemberDuring peak leaf season in Cabarrus County, the Town's yard waste pick-up schedules may vary significantly from normal due to the massive volume of fallen leaves. Be patient, as crews can only collect on each street once per week.
Winter
December to JanuaryHoliday schedule shifts are common during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's weeks. All household garbage, recycling, and yard waste services are typically pushed back by one day following the holiday.
Spring
March to MayAs residents tackle spring cleaning, remember that you can schedule up to 5 large items per week for bulk collection. Large remodeling projects will generate construction debris (like drywall or brick), which is strictly prohibited from curbside pickup and must be hauled to the Cabarrus County landfill.
About Harrisburg Waste Management
Dual Service Approach in Harrisburg
Waste collection in Harrisburg operates through a distinct public-private partnership. While Waste Pro is contracted to handle the weekly household garbage, bi-weekly recycling, and scheduled bulk pickups, the Town of Harrisburg's own public works department operates the weekly yard waste routes. This separation means you may see different trucks servicing your curb throughout the week, and issues with yard debris should be directed to the Town rather than Waste Pro.
The TrackEZ System for Bulk Waste
Starting in July 2024, Harrisburg transitioned to a more organized system for large item disposal. Residents can no longer simply leave bulky items at the curb and expect them to be picked up. Instead, you must submit a work order through the TrackEZ online system prior to your scheduled garbage day. Waste Pro allows up to five bulky items per address per week, making it easy to dispose of old furniture and appliances gradually.
Strict 'No Bag' Yard Waste Policy
Unlike many municipalities that require yard debris to be bundled in paper bags, Harrisburg requires leaves and grass clippings to be placed loosely behind the curb. Town crews utilize specialized vacuums and equipment to manage these loose piles. Bagging your leaves or mixing rocks, dirt, or construction debris into the piles will result in the entire load being rejected by the collection crews.
Smart Scheduling with CARTology
To combat the confusion of bi-weekly recycling routes and holiday schedule shifts, Harrisburg heavily promotes the use of the CARTology mobile app. Powered by ReCollect, the app provides real-time calendar reminders, a Waste Wizard directory to look up how to dispose of specific items (like old paint or batteries), and instant notifications if a truck breaks down or a route is delayed due to severe North Carolina weather.
Drop-off Facilities
Cabarrus County Construction and Demolition Landfill
4441 Irish Potato Rd, Concord, NC 28025
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulk item pickup in Harrisburg, NC?
Effective July 1, 2024, residents must enter a work order into the TrackEZ system (via the town website) to request a bulk pickup from Waste Pro. You can schedule up to 5 items per week, and they will be collected on your regular trash day.
Do I need to bag my leaves for yard waste collection in Harrisburg?
No. The Town of Harrisburg strictly requires leaves and grass to be left loose (unbagged) 4 to 6 feet behind the curb. Do not place them in the road or mix them with rocks, dirt, or sticks, or the load will not be collected.
How often is recycling picked up in Harrisburg?
While standard household garbage is collected weekly, single-stream recycling is collected every other week by Waste Pro. The CARTology app can help you track your specific recycling week.
Can I put an old lawnmower out for bulk trash pickup?
Yes, but it requires preparation. The lawnmower must be completely drained of all gas and oil, and you must physically remove the rubber tires before Waste Pro will collect it, as tires are banned from standard disposal.