Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Holly Springs
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.
Green or Dark Gray Bin (Trash)
All household garbage should preferably be bagged to reduce windblown litter and keep the cart sanitary. If your cart is full, securely tied extra bags can be left next to the garbage cart for pickup.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Small broken household items
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely in the cart without bagging. Lightly rinse all containers and discard flat lids, though screw caps on plastic bottles may remain on.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
- ✓Paper (newsprint, junk mail, envelopes)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Styrofoam (Polystyrene/#6)
- ✕Thin, brittle plastic cups
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Compostable plastics (PLA/#7)
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed loosely inside the specialized brown yard waste cart. Do not bundle items with twine. Dirt, root balls, rocks, pallets, and large lumber are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Pine needles
- ✓Small limbs
- ✓Hedge and plant clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Not provided free curbside; drop-off required
Placement
GFL Environmental will collect up to 7 broken-down corrugated cardboard boxes tied into a 3x3-foot bundle next to the recycling bin. For additional boxes, you must contact GFL and pay a fee.
Accepted
- ✓ Large items (at the convenience center)
- ✓ Cardboard bundles (curbside limitation applies)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Hot ashes
- ✕ Automotive parts
- ✕ Tires
Large bulk items must be taken to the Wake County Convenience Center. If you have excessive moving boxes, you can call GFL at (919) 662-7100 to request a paid bulk box pick-up.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after a major observed holiday, trash, recycling, and yard waste services are generally delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Because yard waste is collected on the same day as your recycling route, it follows the identical holiday delay schedule as regular refuse.
Residents can opt into the Holly Springs 311 app or text/email alerts to receive automated reminders about exact holiday service disruptions.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
The 20% Pizza Box Rule
Holly Springs allows you to recycle pizza boxes, but only if they have minimal grease saturation (20% or less). If the bottom of the box is soaked in grease, rip it off and throw it in the trash, and only place the clean lid in the recycling bin.
No Thin, Brittle Plastics
While flexible plastic tubs (like margarine or yogurt containers) are recyclable, thin, brittle plastic cups commonly used at parties cause major sorting issues at the facility and must go in the regular garbage.
Watch Out for 'Compostable' Plastics
If a plastic item is marked with #7 and says 'PLA', 'compostable', or 'biodegradable', do not put it in your curbside recycling bin. These materials must be composted commercially and will contaminate the standard recycling stream.
Seasonal Information
Late Fall/Winter
November to FebruaryLeaf Season Zone Collection goes into effect. Leaves that don't fit in the brown yard waste cart can be placed behind the curb (not in the street) for collection by town vacuum trucks based on a zone schedule.
Post-Holiday
December to JanuaryLive Christmas trees are collected curbside. You must remove all lights, ornaments, wire, tinsel, and stands. Do not place the tree inside a plastic bag.
Spring and Fall
April and OctoberThe Town occasionally hosts Spring and Fall Yard Waste Sweeps, where collection efforts are amplified to clear neighborhoods of excessive seasonal debris.
About Holly Springs Waste Management
Navigating Trash & Recycling Services in Holly Springs
The Town of Holly Springs partners with GFL Environmental to manage weekly residential trash and bi-weekly single-stream recycling collections. Every household is provided with standardized rollout carts, which must be placed at least five feet from mailboxes and obstacles to allow automated trucks to operate safely. A highly unique and convenient feature of the town's contract with GFL is that they will collect extra household garbage placed outside the bin, provided the excess is securely tied in standard garbage bags and left immediately next to the rolling cart.
Bi-Weekly Yard Waste Collection and Brown Carts
Maintaining Wake County's natural beauty requires proper yard debris management. Holly Springs issues specialized brown carts specifically for bi-weekly yard waste pickup, serviced directly by Town Public Works crews. Residents are instructed to place grass clippings, leaves, and small hedge trimmings loosely into this cart without any plastic bags, twine, or rope. Ensure the cart lid is securely closed, with no more than a 6-inch gap, to guarantee proper automated collection.
Fall and Winter Loose Leaf Season
During the peak leaf season from November through February, the town expands its capabilities to handle heavy autumn fallout. For leaves that simply won't fit inside the brown cart, Holly Springs deploys specialized vacuum trucks. Residents can rake their excess leaves to the edge of the street—safely behind the curb and out of storm drains—where town crews will collect them according to a designated, four-zone schedule.
Large Household Items and Appliance Disposal
Unlike some neighboring municipalities that offer free curbside bulk waste sweep weeks, Holly Springs requires residents to transport most oversized household items themselves. If you have large furniture, mattresses, or construction debris that won't fit into your regular garbage cart, you must take these items directly to the Wake County Convenience Center on Old Smithfield Road. The only exception is excessive corrugated cardboard—if you've recently moved, you can arrange a bulk box pick-up for a fee directly through GFL.
Using the Free Yard Waste Convenience Center
For intensive landscaping projects that generate more debris than your bi-weekly brown cart can handle, Holly Springs operates a dedicated Yard Waste Convenience Center. Open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., this facility allows residential utility customers to drop off unlimited amounts of brush, leaves, and pine needles at no additional cost. Just bring a recent utility bill or driver's license to prove residency, and remember to unbag all debris before dropping it into the designated areas.
Drop-off Facilities
Wake County Convenience Center (South Wake Landfill)
6120 Old Smithfield Road, Apex, NC 27539
Materials Accepted
Holly Springs Yard Waste Convenience Center
Located off Holly Springs Road (check town site for exact gate access)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my garbage cart is completely full?
Unlike many municipalities, Holly Springs allows you to place extra bagged household garbage right next to your green trash cart on collection day. GFL Environmental will collect securely tied bags left adjacent to the container. Note that extra recyclables left outside the blue cart will NOT be collected.
How does Holly Springs handle loose leaves in the fall?
From November through February, the town operates leaf vacuum trucks. You can place leaves that don't fit inside your brown yard waste cart just behind the curb on the edge of your lawn. Crews will collect them based on a four-zone monthly schedule.
Does the town offer curbside pickup for large furniture or mattresses?
No. Large bulky items, mattresses, and construction debris cannot be left at the curb. Residents must transport these items to the Wake County Convenience Center located at 6120 Old Smithfield Road in neighboring Apex.
Where can I dispose of extra yard waste without paying a fee?
Holly Springs residents can bring unlimited amounts of acceptable yard debris (such as leaves, grass, and branches) to the Town's Yard Waste Convenience Center for free. The facility is open 7 days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., but you must unbag the waste upon arrival and provide proof of residency.