Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for New Bern
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.
Town-issued 65-Gallon Cart Bin (Trash)
Place the cart out by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled day, away from vehicles and mailboxes. Bagged trash in excess of the cart must have a Craven County trash sticker applied.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Waxed food cartons
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Plastic grocery bags
- ✓Broken dishes and ceramics
County-issued Cart Bin (Recycling)
Collected once every four weeks by Craven County. Items must be loose inside the cart; do not bag recyclables. Bins must be out by 6:00 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean glass containers (clear, brown, green)
- ✓Aluminum and food cans
- ✓Plastic milk jugs and drink bottles
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and paper
- ✓Flattened dry corrugated cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Frozen food containers
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Light bulbs
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Do not mix yard waste with bulk items. Hedges must have excess dirt removed from roots. Loose leaves are only accepted unbagged from November 1st through the end of February.
Accepted Items
- ✓Limbs shorter than 5 feet and under 5 inches in diameter
- ✓Bagged leaves and pine straw
- ✓Bagged grass clippings and twigs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on Scheduled Route Day
Placement
Place items by 6:00 a.m. in a neat pile away from residential carts, vehicles, guide wires, trees, fences, and utility sources. Do not place in the street.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, tables, and mattresses
- ✓ Refrigerators, washers, and water heaters (doors removed)
- ✓ Microwaves and small appliances
- ✓ Tires separated from the rim
- ✓ Empty, dried-out paint cans
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics, TVs, and computers
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Treated, painted, or stained wood
- ✕ Tires still on rims
- ✕ Propane tanks and hazardous waste
If your bulk waste pile exceeds six cubic yards, the truck will pick up the limit and may return later or on the next route day. You must call ahead for exceptionally large piles.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Trash and recycling carts are typically serviced one day behind if your scheduled collection day falls on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk collections will also shift by one day alongside the delayed trash schedule during these major holidays.
For all other holidays not listed, assume collection will occur on your normal scheduled day unless otherwise announced by the City of New Bern.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Your Recycling
While New Bern allows plastic grocery bags in the regular trash, they are strictly prohibited in the recycling cart. Keep your glass, plastics, and paper completely loose to ensure they are processed correctly by Craven County's contractor [1.1.2].
Prep Your Paint Cans
Wet liquid paint is considered a hazardous material and will not be collected. If you need to throw away old paint cans in your bulk pile, the paint must be completely dried out (you can use kitty litter to harden it) and the lids must be completely removed.
Separate Your Debris Piles
When placing items at the curb, keep your yard waste (like limbs and bagged grass) in a completely separate pile from your bulk items (like old furniture). Mixed piles will be flagged as contaminated and left at the curb by city crews.
Seasonal Information
Winter
November to FebruaryThis is New Bern's official 'Loose Leaf Season.' Residents are permitted to place unbagged leaves and pine straw behind the curb line for collection. Ensure piles do not block storm drains or spill into the roadway.
Hurricane Season
August to OctoberAs a coastal city situated on the Neuse and Trent Rivers, New Bern is highly susceptible to tropical storms. Secure your 65-gallon trash and recycling carts indoors or tie them down during severe weather to prevent them from washing away in storm surges.
Spring
March to MaySpring yard cleanups often result in large brush piles. Remember that the city will only collect up to six cubic yards of yard waste on your scheduled route day. For larger piles, you must call Public Works ahead of time.
About New Bern Waste Management
Weekly Trash Service and the Craven County Sticker Rule
The City of New Bern Public Works Department provides residential customers with a 65-gallon rolling cart for weekly trash collection. All carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day. A unique rule in New Bern is that any excess bagged garbage that does not fit inside your city-issued cart must have a purchased Craven County trash sticker attached to it, or it will be left at the curb.
Four-Week Recycling Cycle Managed by the County
Unlike garbage collection, which is handled by the city, curbside recycling in New Bern is managed through the Craven County Curbside Recycling Program. A private contractor services recycling carts only once every four weeks. Because recycling pick-ups are infrequent, residents with excess recyclables are encouraged to drop them off for free at a Craven County Convenience Center.
Curbside Bulk Waste and Appliance Removal
New Bern offers generous curbside bulk waste collection on the same day as your yard debris pickup. Acceptable items include sofas, mattresses, and large appliances like refrigerators and washers, provided the doors have been securely removed. However, if your bulk waste pile exceeds six cubic yards, you must contact Public Works in advance to arrange a special collection.
Strict Loose Leaf Season Dates
For most of the year, New Bern requires all grass clippings, pine straw, and leaves to be securely bagged for collection. However, the city offers a designated 'Loose Leaf Season' running exclusively from November 1st through the last day of February. During this winter window, residents can rake loose leaves into neat piles just behind the curb line for vacuum collection.
E-Waste and Construction Debris Bans
The City of New Bern's sanitation trucks strictly prohibit the collection of electronic waste (such as computers, TVs, and printers) and construction debris (including treated lumber, sheetrock, and roofing shingles). Homeowners undertaking renovations or clearing out old electronics must haul these prohibited materials to one of the nearby Craven County Convenience Centers or the Regional Landfill in Tuscarora.
Drop-off Facilities
Craven County Convenience Center - Monette's
4001 Old Cherry Point Road, New Bern, NC 28562
Materials Accepted
Craven County Convenience Center - Bridgeton
605 NC Highway 55 East, New Bern, NC 28560
Materials Accepted
Coastal Environmental Partnership Regional Landfill
7400 Old US 70 Hwy West, New Bern, NC 28562
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if my garbage doesn't all fit in the 65-gallon cart?
Any bagged trash that exceeds the capacity of your city-issued cart requires a special Craven County trash sticker to be collected. You can purchase these stickers locally, attach them to the extra bags, and leave them next to your cart.
When does New Bern collect loose leaves?
The City of New Bern's Loose Leaf Season runs exclusively from November 1st through the last day of February. During these months, you can place unbagged leaves at the curb. For the rest of the year, all leaves must be bagged.
Who picks up my recycling and how often?
While the city handles your trash, recycling is managed by Craven County through a private contractor. Recycling carts are serviced only once every four weeks. You can check the county website for your specific four-week cycle date.
Where can I throw away an old TV or computer?
The City of New Bern will not collect electronic waste at the curb. You must transport old televisions, computers, printers, and other electronics to a Craven County Convenience Center for proper recycling.