Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Kannapolis
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.
Cart with Black Lid Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged and the black lid must close properly. Place the rollout container at the curb the night before or by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, and remove it by 7:00 a.m. the following day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged pet waste
Cart with Yellow Lid Bin (Recycling)
Recycling must be placed loosely inside the cart; never bag your recyclables. DO NOT mix garbage with recycling, or the yellow-lidded cart will be tagged and left uncollected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Clothes and textiles
- ✕Dirty pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Must be bagged for collection (except during Loose Leaf Season). Opaque bags must be left open; translucent bags must be tied shut. Processed wood is not accepted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and twigs
- ✓Shrubbery trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Bi-weekly (Same day as your recycling collection)
Placement
Place items curbside no later than 7:00 a.m. Do not lean bulk items against your rollout carts, fencing, or utility poles, as this blocks the automated trucks.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ White goods (stoves, water heaters, washers; doors removed from refrigerators)
- ✓ E-waste (computers, TVs, printers, microwaves)
- ✓ Up to 5 cubic yards of material (50 lbs max per item)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil, batteries)
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Commercial waste
Bulk collection of up to five cubic yards is included in standard residential service. Hazardous items or construction debris will be rejected and require private disposal.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recycling, bulky items, white goods, and e-waste are collected on ALL holidays EXCEPT Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On those two holidays, collections run on a one-day delay for the remainder of the week, including Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Unlike recycling, there is absolutely NO yard waste, limb, or loose leaf collection on any major holidays observed by the City of Kannapolis.
Always refer to the CARTology app for real-time notifications if severe weather or a specific holiday alters your neighborhood's route.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Leave Recyclables Loose
Never place your clean recyclables inside a plastic garbage bag before tossing them into your yellow-lidded cart. Plastic bags wrap around the sorting gears at the recycling facility, halting the entire operation. Always dump recyclables loose.
Trash the Dirty Pizza Boxes
While clean cardboard is highly recyclable, the grease and cheese stuck to the bottom of a pizza box ruins the paper fibers during the recycling process. Tear off the clean top to recycle, but throw the greasy bottom half in the trash.
Keep Garbage Out of the Yellow Lid
Sanitation workers actively monitor the 96-gallon carts. If any household garbage or food waste is discovered mixed inside your yellow-lidded recycling cart, the city will completely refuse to empty it until you sort out the contamination.
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
November to JanuaryKannapolis operates a Loose Leaf Collection Season (vacuuming of loose leaves only) from early November through mid-January. During this window, leaves do not need to be bagged. Check the CARTology app for your specific vacuum day.
Post-Holiday
December to JanuaryReal Christmas trees must have all decorations and lights removed and can be placed at the curb for collection on your normal yard waste day. Artificial trees, however, must be collected on your bulky item (recycling) day.
Spring/Summer
March to OctoberOutside of the winter loose-leaf window, all leaves and yard waste must be strictly bagged according to the city's opaque/translucent bag rules in order to be serviced by the yard waste crews.
About Kannapolis Waste Management
The Power of the CARTology Platform
The City of Kannapolis has streamlined residential waste management through its proprietary digital tool, CARTology. Available as a smartphone app and an online portal, CARTology allows residents to check their precise garbage, recycling, and bulk collection dates. It even features an interactive waste sorting game for children and a comprehensive 'wizard' that instantly tells you whether an item should be composted, recycled, or thrown in the trash, drastically reducing neighborhood confusion.
Synchronized Bulk, E-Waste, and Recycling Schedules
In a unique logistical approach, Kannapolis schedules its curbside bulk waste, white goods (appliances), and electronic waste (e-waste) pickups on the exact same bi-weekly schedule as residential recycling. This means you don't need to make special appointments or call ahead for standard bulky items. As long as your large household items, such as furniture or old televisions, are placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated recycling day, city crews will handle their removal.
Distinctive Carts and Strict Lid Rules
Kannapolis utilizes a specific color-coding system for its 96-gallon rollout carts: garbage goes into the cart with a black lid, while recycling is placed in the cart with the yellow lid. The Public Works department strictly enforces lid requirements to prevent litter and waterlogging. Garbage must be bagged, and the black lid must close completely. If you consistently generate more waste than one cart can hold, you must request a second cart by calling the city and paying a small monthly fee—overloaded bins will be left at the curb.
Specific Bagging Rules for Yard Waste
Yard waste preparation in Kannapolis comes with highly specific bagging regulations outside of the winter loose-leaf season. If you use opaque bags (like standard dark or white garbage bags), they must be left completely open at the top. Conversely, if you use translucent (clear) bags, they must be tied shut. This allows sanitation crews to visually inspect the contents for contamination before tossing them into the yard waste truck.
Cabarrus County Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Because household hazardous waste poses severe risks to local waterways and sanitation workers, the City of Kannapolis does not collect items like wet paint, motor oil, or propane tanks at the curb. Instead, residents are instructed to utilize the regional Cabarrus County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Disposing of old car batteries or fluorescent light bulbs securely at this facility ensures that these toxic materials are safely diverted from local North Carolina landfills.
Drop-off Facilities
Cabarrus County Household Hazardous Waste Facility
246 General Services Drive, Concord, NC 28025
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get rid of an old TV or refrigerator in Kannapolis?
You do not need to call ahead for a special appointment. The City of Kannapolis collects e-waste (like TVs) and white goods (like refrigerators) bi-weekly, on the exact same day as your recycling collection. Simply place the items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. Ensure doors are removed from refrigerators.
What should I do if my garbage cart is damaged or I need a second one?
If your black-lidded garbage cart or yellow-lidded recycling cart is broken, call the city at (704) 920-4444 to request a replacement. If you simply generate a lot of trash and need an additional cart, you can request one for a monthly fee of $4.00 for garbage or $2.50 for recycling.
Do I have to bag my leaves during the fall?
Between early November and mid-January, the city operates a Loose Leaf Collection Season, meaning you can rake unbagged leaves directly to the curb for vacuuming. During all other months of the year, leaves must be bagged to be collected.
Why did the yard waste truck leave my dark garbage bags at the curb?
Kannapolis has strict bagging rules for yard waste. If you use opaque bags (like dark or white trash bags), you must leave them completely open at the top. If you tie an opaque bag shut, crews cannot see inside to check for prohibited trash, and they will leave it behind. Only translucent bags may be tied shut.