Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Hickory
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Thursday, depending on your assigned neighborhood route.
Recycling
Collected every other week on the same day as your regular trash pickup (alternating Schedule A and B).
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash pickup (seasonal curbside vacuum leaf collection runs in late fall and winter).
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste and recycling fees are bundled directly into your monthly City of Hickory water and sewer utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (Bank Draft), Phone, Mail, Drive-Up Window / Drop Box, In-Person
Green Rollout Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged before being placed inside the green rollout. Place the bin on a level surface within 2 feet from the curb and at least 5 feet away from obstructions, with the arrows pointing to the street, before 7 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small broken household items
Blue Rollout Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely inside the blue rollout container. Never overfill the bin, and ensure it is out by 7 a.m. on your designated A or B week collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 (rinsed)
- ✓Metal cans (rinsed)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (green, brown, clear)
- ✓Paper (newspaper, junk mail, magazines)
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Fiberboard boxes (cereal and snack boxes)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Food waste and candy wrappers
- ✕Tanglers (cords, wires, hangers)
- ✕Glassware and light bulbs
- ✕Clothing or fabric
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in clear plastic bags or a 32-gallon container marked 'Yard Waste.' Never put yard waste inside your green or blue rollouts. Loose leaves are only permitted during the fall vacuum collection season.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrubbery trimmings
- ✓Small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on the same day as residential garbage pickup.
Placement
Place bulky items at the curb before 7 a.m. Ensure they are at least 5 feet away from your rollout containers, low-hanging wires, and vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Couches and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Box springs
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and building materials
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires and auto parts
- ✕ Dirt and sand
- ✕ Yard waste
Appliances are collected separately on Thursdays and require calling 828-323-7500 in advance to schedule the special pickup.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after a major observed holiday, pickup services are typically delayed by one weekday for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk items are collected on your regular garbage day, meaning they will also follow the one-day holiday delay.
Residents are encouraged to check the 'City Snippets' newsletter mailed with water bills or the town website for exact schedule shifts around major holidays.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall
October to DecemberThe City of Hickory operates leaf vacuum trucks that make two rounds through the city. During this specific time, you do not need to bag your leaves; simply rake them to the curb.
Spring/Summer
March to AugustFrequent lawn maintenance means more yard waste. Remember that outside of the fall loose-leaf season, all grass clippings and trimmings must be contained in clear plastic bags or an approved 32-gallon can.
Winter Holidays
December to JanuaryWhen cleaning up after the holidays, remember that electronics, string lights, and batteries cannot go in your blue recycling bin. Take these items to a specialized e-waste drop-off or throw string lights in the green trash rollout.
Local Tips & Community Info
Solid Waste Management in the Catawba Valley
Nestled in the heart of the Catawba Valley, the City of Hickory provides top-tier sanitation services to ensure a clean and healthy environment for all residents. The municipal Solid Waste Division executes weekly curbside garbage collection for single-family homes. To guarantee your household refuse is serviced without interruption, your city-assigned rollout cart must be stationed at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your specific collection morning. Town administrators advise residents to pull their emptied bins back to their house by the evening to maintain unobstructed sidewalks and visually appealing streetscapes.
Proper Rollout Container Positioning
Mechanized sanitation vehicles perform the heavy lifting in Hickory, which means homeowners must follow strict spatial guidelines when staging their bins. You must provide a clear three-foot radius around your garbage and recycling carts. This buffer zone must be entirely free from mailboxes, fire hydrants, parked vehicles, and utility poles. Additionally, always position the receptacle so the metal lifting bar faces the asphalt and the wheels point back toward your property, ensuring the mechanical tipper can operate smoothly without spilling debris.
Bi-Weekly Recycling Expectations
Sustainability efforts are heavily supported through a bi-weekly curbside recycling program. Hickory residents receive a dedicated recycling cart for commingled materials, including corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, and plastic jugs. Strict contamination enforcement is in place; plastic grocery bags, food-soiled containers, and shattered glass are explicitly banned. If sanitation workers spot prohibited items inside your recycling bin, they will leave an educational tag on the handle and bypass the cart until the unapproved waste is removed.
Yard Debris and Seasonal Leaf Vacuuming
Landscaping cleanup is greatly assisted by the city's dedicated yard waste program. Throughout most of the year, citizens must place grass clippings and small trimmings into clear plastic bags to facilitate easy collection. Branches and limbs should be cut to manageable lengths and stacked neatly beside the curb. During the peak autumn season, Hickory deploys specialized vacuum trucks for its famous leaf collection initiative. Homeowners can simply rake loose leaves to the edge of their lawn without bagging them, provided the piles do not spill into storm drains.
Disposing of Heavy Appliances and Furniture
When it is time to throw away an old mattress, a broken sofa, or a rusted washing machine, your standard rollout cart will not suffice. The Hickory Solid Waste Division manages bulk pickups for these oversized items. While general furniture can often be placed at the curb for normal bulk retrieval, specific white goods and heavy appliances may require you to contact the sanitation office in advance to ensure the proper equipment is dispatched to your neighborhood.
Drop-off Facilities
Recycling Convenience Center
9th Ave NE (beside Fire Station #2), Hickory, NC
Materials Accepted
Solid Waste Transfer Station
1050 1st Ave SW, Hickory, NC 28601
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my trash cart out in Hickory?
All garbage and recycling carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day.
How do I participate in the fall leaf collection?
During the autumn season, residents can rake loose leaves to the edge of their yard for the city's vacuum trucks to collect, eliminating the need for bags.
Are plastic bags allowed in my recycling bin?
No. Plastic grocery bags cause severe jams in the sorting facility and are strictly prohibited in Hickory's curbside recycling program.