Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Holly Springs
Trash Day
Curbside trash is collected weekly, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected every other week on the same day as your trash collection (alternating A and B week schedules).
Yard Waste
Yard waste carts are collected every other week on the same day as recycling. Seasonal curbside leaf vacuuming is also conducted November through February by zone.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day (or the night before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Garbage, recycling, and yard waste service fees are bundled directly into your monthly Town utility bill, due by the 25th of each month.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (Bank Draft), Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
No specific discounts listed. Emergency payment assistance is available through partner agencies like NeighborUp and Wake County Human Services.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Holly Springs Residential Waste Services Overview
In the rapidly expanding community of Holly Springs, keeping neighborhoods beautiful is a shared priority. The Town contracts with GFL Environmental to handle residential garbage and recycling needs. To ensure your household refuse is collected without delay, your town-issued carts must be placed at the edge of the street by 7:00 a.m. on your specific service day. Because collection routes can fluctuate based on driver shifts and daily volume, setting your bins out the evening before is highly recommended to avoid a missed pickup.
Guidelines for Staging Your Roll-Out Carts
Since GFL Environmental utilizes automated side-loading trucks, homeowners must follow strict clearance guidelines. It is mandatory to leave a minimum of three feet of open space between your trash cart, your recycling cart, and any nearby obstacles like parked cars, fire hydrants, and mailboxes. When rolling the cart to the curb, confirm that the wheels and handle are facing your property, while the lid opening faces the roadway. Carts placed backward or too close together may be bypassed by the automated arms.
Bi-Weekly Recycling and Accepted Materials
Recycling in Holly Springs is picked up every other week on the same day as your standard garbage collection. The town supports a single-stream system, meaning residents can mix clean cardboard, plastic jugs, and aluminum cans in the same bin. However, plastic grocery bags, food-soiled pizza boxes, and styrofoam are heavily restricted. If your blue recycling cart is found to contain these prohibited items, it will be tagged with a non-compliance notice and left unemptied.
Town-Managed Yard Waste Protocols
Unlike standard garbage, which is contracted out, yard waste is collected directly by Town of Holly Springs public works crews. Organic landscaping debris is picked up weekly, but it must be properly prepared. Homeowners must put grass clippings and small twigs into reusable containers, paper yard bags, or clear plastic bags. Tree limbs must be trimmed down to four feet in length and bundled securely. Keep in mind that heavy soil, large root balls, and construction lumber are not considered yard waste and will not be removed.
Scheduling Appliance and Bulky Item Removal
For items that exceed the capacity of your roll-out cart, such as a worn-out mattress, broken sofa, or old refrigerator, you cannot simply leave them on the curb. Holly Springs residents must submit a special bulk pickup request through the town's customer care division. Depending on the size and type of the item, a nominal disposal fee will be added directly to your monthly utility bill. Alternatively, residents can haul large loads to the Wake County Convenience Centers.
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 time do I need to put my trash bins out in Holly Springs?
All garbage and recycling carts must be positioned at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day.
Who handles the yard waste collection in the town?
While regular trash is contracted through GFL Environmental, yard waste is collected weekly by the Town of Holly Springs public works crews.
How can I dispose of a broken refrigerator or couch?
Bulky items require a scheduled pickup. You must contact the town's customer care center to arrange a collection, which may incur a special fee on your utility bill.