Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Matthews
Trash Day
Weekly pickup runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood street route
Recycling
Every other week on your regular trash collection day, following alternating Red (Week B) and Gray (Week A) schedules
Yard Waste
Weekly on your regular trash collection day
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (or the night before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Basic curbside solid waste, recycling, and yard waste services are funded through town property taxes under contract with Waste Pro. Bulk waste pickups require separate scheduling and prepayment.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, Phone, In Person
Green with Blue Lid Bin (Trash)
All garbage MUST be bagged before being placed in the cart. Place the cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m.. Trash outside the cart is not collected, except during designated post-holiday weeks.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Standard household refuse
96-Gallon Cart Bin (Recycling)
Collection is bi-weekly. All recyclables must be empty, clean, dry, and placed LOOSE inside the cart. Do NOT bag your recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper and magazines
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Hoses and tanglers
Yard Waste Bin
Collected weekly. Bags must weigh 40 lbs or less. Limbs must be under 4 feet long and 5 inches in diameter, arranged in stacks no larger than 3 feet high (maximum 3 stacks). Tree trunks and root balls are not accepted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small tree limbs
- ✓Shrubbery trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-Call / By Appointment Only
Placement
Once scheduled, place bulk items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, ensuring they are clear of overhead wires and tree branches.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, washers, water heaters)
- ✓ Non-spoilable household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition (C&D) waste
- ✕ Electronic waste (e-waste)
- ✕ Batteries
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Tree trunks and stumps
A small fee is required for bulk collection, which must be paid in advance over the phone when scheduling with Waste Pro.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of the week are typically delayed by one day. For all other holidays, there are no service interruptions.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk collections follow the same holiday delay schedule as regular trash.
Always refer to the official Waste Pro Matthews calendar to confirm exact date shifts for the Red and Gray recycling weeks.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter Holidays
November to JanuaryWaste Pro allows for extra bagged trash to be placed outside of your green cart exclusively during the weeks immediately following Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day [5.1.1].
Spring/Summer
March to AugustDuring peak lawn care season, remember that heavy yard waste bags will be left behind. Keep bags of wet grass clippings under the 40-pound limit to ensure collection.
Fall
September to NovemberWhen clearing autumn leaves and brush, ensure all branches are cut to 4 feet in length and stacked properly. Large piles exceeding town limits require a private removal service.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating Waste Removal with Republic Services
For residents living within the town limits of Matthews, weekly household garbage collection is managed through an exclusive municipal contract with Republic Services. Each single-family dwelling is outfitted with a standard rollout cart specifically for bagged household refuse. To ensure your route driver does not miss your home, the town mandates that containers be placed at the edge of the street by 6:00 a.m. on your designated pickup day. Carts must be positioned with the arrows on the lid pointing toward the roadway, allowing the automated lifting arms to grab the bin safely. Please ensure there is a minimum three-foot radius of clear space around the container.
Bi-Weekly Single-Stream Recycling
Matthews is committed to reducing landfill dependence through a bi-weekly recycling schedule. Your separate recycling cart is serviced every other week on the same day as your trash collection. Acceptable materials include rinsed glass jars, aluminum cans, flattened corrugated cardboard, and rigid plastic jugs. Because Mecklenburg County sorting facilities operate using single-stream technology, it is incredibly important to keep tanglers out of your cart. Items like garden hoses, electrical cords, and plastic grocery bags are strictly prohibited because they wrap around the sorting gears and cause facility shutdowns.
Rules for Yard Debris and Bulky Item Disposal
Handling yard waste and large household discards requires adhering to a few specific town regulations. Yard debris is collected weekly, provided it is prepared correctly. Tree limbs must be trimmed to less than five feet in length, under four inches in diameter, and stacked parallel to the curb. Loose leaves and grass clippings must be bagged in paper yard sacks or placed in clear plastic bags left untied. If you need to dispose of bulky items like old couches or non-refrigerated appliances, you must call Republic Services directly to schedule a specialized pickup, as these items will not be collected by standard garbage trucks.
Electronics Ban and Holiday Schedule Shifts
Under North Carolina state law and Mecklenburg County solid waste ordinances, electronics such as televisions, laptops, and monitors cannot be thrown into your residential trash cart. Residents must transport e-waste to a designated county full-service recycling drop-off center, like the Foxhole facility. Additionally, during major observed holidays—including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day—curbside service is typically delayed by one full day. When a holiday falls on a Monday, all routes for the remainder of the week are pushed back, with Friday routes being serviced on Saturday.
Drop-off Facilities
Foxhole Recycling Center (Mecklenburg County)
17131 Lancaster Highway, Charlotte, NC 28277
Materials Accepted
Compost Central and Recycling Center
140 Valleydale Road, Charlotte, NC 28214
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I put my trash cart out in Matthews?
All garbage and recycling carts must be placed at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled service day to guarantee collection by Republic Services.
Can I throw a broken television in my garbage bin?
No. State and county laws prohibit electronic waste in landfills. You must take televisions, computers, and other e-waste to a Mecklenburg County drop-off center.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or couch?
Bulky items are not picked up on the regular route. Matthews residents must contact Republic Services ahead of time to schedule a special bulk collection.