Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Knightdale
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.
Standard GFL Trash Cart Bin (Trash)
All household garbage MUST be securely bagged before being placed in the rolling GFL trash cart to prevent litter. Keep the cart at least three feet away from utilities and storm drains.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Everyday household waste
Standard GFL Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loose within the rolling GFL recycle cart. Do not place any plastic bags in your recycling container, as they ruin the sorting machinery.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paper
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clean food boxes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Glass (check current Wake County drop-off rules)
Yard Waste Bin
Small yard waste must be placed in clear plastic bags, compostable paper bags (max 30 lbs), or a reusable plastic container with a fully removable lid (max 50 lbs). Place at the curb by 7:30 AM on Monday for collection by Friday. Large limbs are collected separately by the town's Knuckle Boom truck.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Sticks and brush
- ✓Limbs up to 8 feet long and 8 inches in diameter
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Currently Suspended
Placement
Do not place bulk items at the curb. You will face code enforcement fines. You must self-haul these items to a Wake County Convenience Center.
Accepted
- ✓ Currently none for curbside pickup (Service Suspended)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Furniture
- ✕ White goods (appliances)
- ✕ Mattresses
- ✕ Large items that do not fit in the cart
Because curbside bulk collection is suspended, any fees associated with hiring a private junk hauler or transporting items to the Wake County Convenience Center are the sole responsibility of the resident.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
For Memorial Day and Labor Day, all collections are delayed by one day (Wednesday moves to Thursday, Thursday to Friday, Friday to Saturday). For New Year's, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, only routes on or after the holiday are delayed.
Yard Waste Exception
Because yard waste is collected throughout the week (Monday through Friday), holiday weeks or severe weather may delay the town's trucks from reaching your street by Friday afternoon.
If a holiday falls on a Thursday (like Thanksgiving), Wednesday residents will still be serviced on schedule, but Thursday and Friday residents will be bumped back one day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October to DecemberLoose leaves must be raked to within 6 feet of the pavement edge, not in the street or gutter. Do not pile leaves within 5 feet of parked cars, as the vacuum trucks cannot safely maneuver around them.
Year-Round
January to DecemberBecause yard waste is collected on a rolling basis, you must have your clear bags or bins at the curb by 7:30 AM on Monday. Trucks will service every street by Friday, depending on weather and seasonal volume.
Spring/Summer
March to AugustDuring severe spring thunderstorms or summer hurricanes, ensure your GFL carts are secured and kept far away from storm drains to prevent localized flooding and runaway carts.
Local Tips & Community Info
Municipal Solid Waste Operations
For residents of Knightdale, routine household garbage collection is managed through a town-negotiated contract, currently serviced by GFL Environmental. Your designated 95-gallon rollout cart must be rolled to the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your specific neighborhood's collection day. To guarantee that the automated trucks can successfully lift and empty the container, the metal lifting bar must face the street. It is also imperative to maintain a minimum clearance of three feet between the refuse cart and any surrounding obstacles, such as mailboxes, utility poles, or parked vehicles. Bagging all trash prior to disposal is highly advised to maintain sanitation and prevent loose debris from blowing into storm drains.
The Bi-Weekly Recycling Program
Knightdale operates on a bi-weekly recycling schedule, which means your blue recycling bin is emptied every other week alongside your standard trash pickup. Single-stream recycling makes it convenient for households, allowing paper, cardboard, metal food cans, and certain plastics to be co-mingled in one container. However, strict contamination rules apply. Residents must never put plastic grocery bags, garden hoses, or styrofoam into the recycling cart, as these tanglers and unapproved materials can severely damage the processing machinery at the sorting facility. Always leave your recyclables loose inside the bin.
Guidelines for Yard Waste Collection
The Knightdale Public Works Department provides complimentary yard debris removal to help keep local properties well-maintained. Generally, town crews sweep through residential zones early in the week to collect organic yard materials. When preparing tree trimmings, ensure branches do not exceed four feet in length and four inches in diameter, and stack them neatly parallel to the roadway. Grass clippings and fallen leaves should be bagged in heavy-duty paper lawn bags or placed in a personal, clearly labeled container. Dirt, rocks, and root balls are strictly prohibited from this municipal service.
Large Household Item Disposal
Getting rid of oversized items like broken couches, old mattresses, or obsolete household appliances requires special attention in Knightdale. Unlike standard trash, bulky items are not picked up automatically. Homeowners must submit a bulk waste pickup request through the town's online citizen portal or by calling the Public Works office. Once your request is verified and scheduled, you may place the approved items at the edge of your lawn. Certain hazardous materials, including wet paint, motor oil, and construction debris, will be rejected and must be transported privately to a Wake County convenience center.
Weather and Holiday Disruptions
Sanitation schedules in Knightdale are subject to adjustments during severe weather events or state-recognized holidays. When a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas occurs, services are universally pushed back by one business day. For example, a standard Thursday route will be serviced on Friday. The town communicates these shifts actively via their official social media pages and community newsletters. If you follow the calendar but your cart is skipped, residents should contact the town's customer service desk within twenty-four hours to request a swift recovery pickup.
Drop-off Facilities
Wake County Convenience Center (Site 2)
5216 Knightdale-Eagle Rock Rd, Knightdale, NC 27545
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time must my trash bin be out in Knightdale?
All garbage and recycling carts must be positioned at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled day to avoid missing the early morning collection routes.
How do I throw away a large piece of furniture?
You cannot leave furniture at the curb without notice. You must submit a bulky item pickup request through the Knightdale Public Works portal to secure a collection date.
Can I put my grass clippings in plastic bags?
No. Yard waste must be placed in paper lawn bags, a personal yard waste bin, or piled neatly. Plastic bags are not accepted for yard debris collection.