Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Harrisburg
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Monday through Thursday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Every other week on your regular garbage collection day.
Yard Waste
Weekly on your neighborhood's assigned day (Monday through Thursday).
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste fees are bundled into your monthly Town of Harrisburg utility bill, which is due on the 15th of each month by 5:00 PM.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto Bank Draft, Automated Phone System, Mail, Drop Box, In-Person
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Solid Waste Collection Standards in Harrisburg
To maintain a clean and sanitary environment throughout Cabarrus County, the Town of Harrisburg partners with a private contractor, Waste Connections, to manage all residential garbage routes. Homeowners are provided a standard gray refuse cart, which must be wheeled to the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of service. The automated hydraulic lifts on the trucks require the cart to be placed with the lid's opening facing the street. Furthermore, there must be a minimum of three feet of clearance around the bin to prevent accidental damage to personal property. Town ordinances strictly dictate that all household trash must be tied inside sturdy garbage bags before it goes into the container to deter pests and prevent litter.
The Every-Other-Week Recycling Cycle
Harrisburg encourages ecological responsibility by offering a robust single-stream recycling program. Recyclables are collected every other week, depending on whether your street is assigned to the 'A' or 'B' route calendar. Residents can conveniently place corrugated cardboard, aluminum, tin cans, and rigid plastics into their green recycling bins. A critical rule to remember is that these items must be placed in the cart loosely. Do not bundle your recyclables in plastic grocery sacks or garbage bags. Flexible plastic films wrap around the gears at the regional processing plant, causing severe mechanical failures and increasing disposal costs for the entire municipality.
Managing Yard Trimmings and Leaves
Keeping your lawn pristine is supported by the town's weekly yard waste collection. Small branches, grass clippings, and shrubbery trimmings will be picked up provided they meet the size limitations. Limbs should be cut to a maximum length of four feet and a thickness of no more than four inches. These materials must be placed in biodegradable paper yard bags or an open, clearly marked personal container. During the peak autumn season, the Town of Harrisburg deploys specialized leaf vacuum equipment, allowing residents to rake loose leaves to the curb. However, mixing rocks, soil, or construction debris into your leaf piles will result in the pile being rejected by the collection crew.
Arranging Heavy Item Removal
When it is time to discard large, unmanageable items such as mattresses, broken sofas, or old appliances, residents cannot simply leave them on the sidewalk. Harrisburg requires homeowners to contact Waste Connections directly to schedule a specialized bulk pickup. These collections often incur a separate nominal fee based on the size and type of the item being removed. For safety reasons, appliances like freezers or refrigerators must have their doors completely detached before being placed outside. Hazardous chemicals, wet paint, and electronic waste are entirely prohibited from this service and must be driven to a Cabarrus County drop-off facility.
Weather Delays and Holiday Adjustments
The standard collection cadence is occasionally disrupted by severe Carolina weather or major national holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. When a recognized holiday falls during the workweek, all subsequent garbage and recycling pickups are delayed by one business day. For example, a scheduled Thursday collection will take place on Friday. The town administration ensures that residents are kept in the loop by posting updated routing calendars on the official municipal website and broadcasting alerts through the local community notification system.
Drop-off Facilities
Cabarrus County Construction and Demolition Landfill
4441 Irish Potato Rd, Concord, NC 28025
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to roll out my trash cart in Harrisburg?
All garbage and recycling carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day to ensure the trucks do not bypass your home.
Can I throw away wet paint in my regular garbage?
No. Liquid paint and other hazardous household chemicals are banned from curbside collection and must be taken to a specialized Cabarrus County waste facility.
Who do I call if my recycling was not picked up?
If your cart was at the curb on time and was skipped, you should immediately contact the Town of Harrisburg Customer Service desk or reach out directly to Waste Connections to report the oversight.