Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Rocky Mount
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.
Black Lid Cart Bin (Trash)
Carts must be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on collection day. Keep the cart at least 3 feet away from mailboxes, cars, and other bins, with the lid opening facing the street. Remove by midnight.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Animal waste (if double-bagged and tied tightly)
Blue Lid Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables inside the cart; place them loosely. If the cart is full, extra recyclables can be placed in a clear plastic bag resting on top of the closed cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Paper and flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Wood and building materials
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste bags must be left UNTIED so the driver can inspect them. Limbs must be tied with string/twine and weigh under 50 lbs. Keep yard waste out of standard garbage carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Tree trimmings and prunings
- ✓Limbs (under 4 feet long and under 4 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Appointment Only (Collected on normal trash day)
Placement
Place items at the curb away from mailboxes, fences, and low-hanging wires. Do not block the sidewalk or place items in the street.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture, mattresses, and box springs
- ✓ Mirrors or windows (glass must be taped with an 'X')
- ✓ Lawnmowers (oil and gas completely drained)
- ✓ Up to 2 automobile tires (non-commercial)
- ✓ Large household appliances (doors removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Building materials (lumber, drywall, bricks)
- ✕ Car parts and batteries
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and logs/stumps
- ✕ Hazardous materials or wet paint
- ✕ Propane or oxygen cylinders
Bulk collection is provided at no extra cost for standard residential households. Multi-family dumpsters and commercial establishments are not eligible for this service.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a city holiday occurs, collections are typically pushed forward by one day. For example, a Wednesday holiday means Wednesday routes are collected Thursday, and Friday routes are pushed to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Because yard waste and recyclables are collected on your normal garbage day, they will experience the exact same holiday delay schedule as your household trash.
Rocky Mount frequently shifts Thanksgiving collections, so always check the downloadable annual holiday calendar on the Environmental Services web page for exact dates.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Leave Yard Waste Bags Untied
It goes against common sense, but Rocky Mount requires you to leave your clear or transparent yard waste bags untied at the top. The collection crews need to easily see inside to confirm there is no household trash mixed in.
Double Bag Your Pet Waste
Animal waste is only permitted in the standard garbage cart if it is properly double-bagged in plastic and securely tied shut. Loose animal waste poses a severe health hazard to sanitation workers.
No Building Materials in the Cart
Never place lumber, bricks, roofing shingles, or drywall in any of your curbside carts. Construction debris is strictly prohibited and must be hauled to the landfill by the homeowner or the contractor.
Seasonal Information
Late Fall
November to JanuaryThe city operates a loose leaf vacuum collection program. Check the city's Loose Leaf Collection Map to find out when your zone is scheduled for unbagged leaf pickup.
Spring
March to MayHeavy spring pruning generates oversized limbs. If you have a brush pile up to 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 4 feet high, you must call Environmental Services two days in advance for a special heavy yard waste pickup.
Hurricane Season
August to OctoberDuring severe weather watches, secure all rollout carts inside a garage or tied to a sturdy structure. High winds can turn empty carts into dangerous projectiles and scatter trash into storm drains.
About Rocky Mount Waste Management
Rocky Mount's Rollout Cart Services
The City of Rocky Mount Environmental Services Division provides residents with a 96-gallon cart with a black lid for household garbage. Collection happens once a week on your designated Tuesday through Friday route. To ensure smooth pickup, carts must be placed at the curbside by 6:30 a.m., with the lid opening facing the street. All household waste inside the cart must fit perfectly with the lid closed. If you have bulky items or boxes, be sure to break them down before tossing them in.
Bi-Weekly Recycling with the Blue-Lidded Cart
Rocky Mount offers a bi-weekly curbside recycling program to all single-family homes, divided into 'Green' and 'Red' alternating routes. Recyclables are picked up on the same day as your standard trash. Residents are provided with a blue-lidded recycling cart where items such as plastic, glass, and aluminum should be placed completely loose. If you run out of room in the blue cart, the city uniquely allows you to place excess recyclables in a clear plastic bag securely set on top of the cart.
Strict Rules for Yard Waste Containers
Yard waste is collected weekly on your normal trash day by a separate truck. The city has highly specific container rules for landscaping debris. You can place grass, leaves, and small trimmings in 32-gallon personal cans, city-purchased yard waste carts, or transparent plastic bags. However, unlike regular household garbage, yard waste bags must be left completely untied so the driver can visually inspect the contents for hidden trash or banned items.
Appliance and Bulk Furniture Scheduling
Unlike municipalities that offer open bulk sweep weeks, Rocky Mount requires residents to schedule all bulky waste and appliance pickups in advance. If you have furniture, mattresses, or white goods like a refrigerator, you must call the Environmental Services Division at least two business days prior to your normal collection day to get on the route schedule. Remember to tape large glass items with an 'X' to prevent shattering during transport.
U-Load It Trailer Program for Heavy Debris
If you have a massive yard cleanup or are generating debris that exceeds the normal curbside limits, Rocky Mount offers a unique 'U-Load It Debris Trailer' program. Residents can request a specialized trailer to be parked at their property for a designated period. This is an excellent alternative for disposing of large quantities of vegetation or approved bulky waste without making multiple trips to the county landfill.
Drop-off Facilities
Oakwood Shopping Center Recycling Drop-Off
Fairview Road, Rocky Mount, NC
Materials Accepted
Nash County Landfill
3057 Duke Rd, Nashville, NC 27856
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to tie my bags of yard waste in Rocky Mount?
No. The City of Rocky Mount explicitly requests that all transparent or clear bags containing yard waste be left untied at the top. This allows the collection crews to easily look inside and verify that there is no household trash or banned material mixed in.
How do I get rid of an old couch or refrigerator?
You cannot just leave large items at the curb. You must call the Environmental Services Division at 252-467-4980 at least two business days prior to your normal trash day to schedule a bulk pickup. Remember to remove the doors from all refrigerators.
What should I do if my blue recycling cart is completely full?
If you have more recyclables than will fit in your blue-lidded cart, Rocky Mount allows you to place the excess items in a clear plastic bag and set it securely on top of your closed recycling cart. Alternatively, you can use one of the city's four public recycling drop-off sites.
Will the city pick up old lumber or drywall from my renovation?
No. Building materials such as lumber, bricks, roofing shingles, and drywall are not considered standard residential solid waste. The city will not collect these items; disposal is the full responsibility of the homeowner or hired contractor.