Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Wake Forest
Trash Day
Curbside trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected once per week on the same day as your regular trash service.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected weekly, scheduled one business day prior to your regular trash and recycling collection day.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential solid waste and recycling services in Wake Forest are billed monthly as a fixed non-metered fee on your City of Raleigh water and utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
A free Collection Assistance Program is offered for elderly or disabled residents who need assistance rolling carts to the curb. Emergency utility payment relief is also available through Project Share.
Dark / Town-issued Cart Bin (Trash)
Town ordinance strictly requires all trash to be securely bagged before being placed in the cart to prevent flyaway litter during automated truck dumping. Leave four feet of space between carts at the curb.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Clamshell to-go boxes
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Blue / Town-issued Cart Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the cart without bagging. Keep items in their original 3D shape—do not crush cans or bottles, as modern sorting technology relies on shape to process materials.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Corrugated cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper and junk mail
- ✓Phone books
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Clamshell to-go boxes
- ✕Solo cups and straws
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Place yard waste in paper yard waste bags or reusable plastic containers weighing no more than 50 pounds. No dirt, mulch, rocks, or plastic bags are permitted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Small tree limbs (under 4 feet)
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Pine needles and cones
- ✓Weeds (including invasive plants)
- ✓Flowers and garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on Tuesdays (By Appointment Only)
Placement
Place items within six feet of the curb and at least four feet away from mailboxes, poles, or parked cars by 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Furniture (tables, chairs, recliners)
- ✓ Bicycles and broken-down swing sets
- ✓ Grills (propane tank removed)
- ✓ Toilets (water drained)
- ✓ Washing machines and water heaters
Not Accepted
- ✕ Televisions and computers
- ✕ Construction and remodeling materials
- ✕ Tires and car parts
- ✕ Appliances containing Freon (refrigerators, A/C units)
- ✕ Hazardous waste or liquid paint
- ✕ Move-out or eviction clean-outs
All bulk pickups must be requested online. Items placed at the curb without a verified scheduled appointment will not be collected.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
On the six major holidays recognized by Republic Services, curbside trash and recycling collections are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Because yard waste is collected by Town of Wake Forest crews (not Republic Services), holiday shifts for yard waste may differ. Always consult the Waste Wizard tool for precise holiday week scheduling.
Town Hall offices may close for additional holidays (like Good Friday or MLK Jr. Day), but standard curbside trash collection will run normally unless it is one of the six major haul holidays.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
October - MarchDuring Loose Leaf Season (first Monday in October to the second Friday in March), the town operates vacuum trucks to collect unbagged leaves directly from the curb. Keep these piles free of sticks and rocks to prevent equipment damage.
Spring/Summer
Mid-March - SeptemberOnce loose leaf collection ends, the Bagged Leaf Season begins. All grass clippings, pine needles, and leaves must be placed in paper yard bags (up to 20 per week) or reusable yard waste carts.
Winter
December - JanuaryCardboard boxes from holiday shopping must be flattened to fit entirely inside the recycling cart. Natural Christmas trees can be collected as standard yard waste—just remove all lights, ornaments, and stands.
Local Tips & Community Info
Understanding Wake Forest Solid Waste Operations
Living in the Town of Wake Forest comes with specific protocols for maintaining a pristine neighborhood. The Public Works Department handles residential garbage collection on a weekly basis, providing each home with a standard rollout cart. To guarantee your household refuse is collected, you must have your cart stationed at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your designated service day. Because the town emphasizes tidy streets, local ordinances strictly mandate that all emptied receptacles be removed from the public right-of-way and secured by 8:00 p.m. on the evening of your collection.
The Four-Foot Clearance Mandate
Wake Forest relies on fully automated collection trucks, making precise bin placement a requirement rather than a suggestion. When setting your carts out, you must ensure there is a minimum of four feet of unobstructed clearance surrounding each container. This means keeping the bin four feet away from recycling carts, mailboxes, parked cars, and utility poles. The arrows on the cart lid must face directly toward the street. Bins that are clustered together or positioned backward will not be serviced, as the mechanical arms require adequate space to operate without damaging private property.
Alternating Weeks for Curbside Recycling
Recycling operations in the town function on a bi-weekly schedule, meaning your blue recycling cart is serviced every other week alongside your standard garbage. Wake Forest utilizes a single-stream recycling system, allowing you to mix flattened cardboard, metal food cans, and plastic bottles together. However, tanglers such as garden hoses, plastic grocery sacks, and electrical cords are strictly forbidden. To eliminate the guesswork of which week is your recycling week, residents are strongly encouraged to download the town's official Waste Wizard app, which provides a printable calendar and push notifications for your specific address.
Stringent Rules for Landscaping Debris
If you maintain your own lawn, you must adhere to the town's specific yard waste regulations. Wake Forest crews provide weekly yard debris collection, provided the material is properly packaged. Grass clippings and loose leaves must be contained within biodegradable paper yard bags or completely clear plastic bags; dark or opaque trash bags will be ignored. Each bag must weigh less than 50 pounds. For tree trimmings and brush, limbs must be cut to lengths no longer than four feet and have a diameter of less than 10 inches, stacked neatly just behind the curb line.
Arranging for Oversized Bulk Removals
You cannot simply discard old furniture, mattresses, or white goods at the curb and expect the standard trucks to haul them away. Wake Forest requires residents to formally schedule a bulk waste pickup in advance. This can be easily coordinated by submitting a request through the online Waste Wizard portal or by calling the Public Works office. It is important to note that certain items, particularly appliances containing Freon, may incur a specialized processing fee. Construction debris, such as drywall or roofing shingles, is entirely prohibited and must be taken to a private Wake County landfill.
Drop-off Facilities
Wake County Convenience Center Site 8
2001 Durham Road / Highway 98, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for removing empty trash bins from the street in Wake Forest?
By town ordinance, all garbage and recycling carts must be pulled back from the curb and stored by 8:00 p.m. on the day they are collected.
How far apart do my trash and recycling carts need to be?
Residents must leave at least four feet of clearance between carts and any surrounding objects, such as mailboxes or parked cars, to allow the automated trucks to work.
What kind of bags are required for yard waste?
All grass clippings and leaves must be placed in either clear plastic bags or biodegradable paper yard bags weighing under 50 pounds. Opaque or black bags will not be collected.