Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Wendell
Trash Day
Trash is collected weekly on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, depending on your assigned neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Collected bi-weekly (every other week) on your designated trash pickup day based on your A/B week schedule.
Yard Waste
Weekly on the same day as regular trash collection (using provided yard waste carts).
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (cans may be placed at the roadside after 7:00 AM the day before).
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential solid waste collection is contracted through GFL and billed alongside water and sewer on your monthly Raleigh Water utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In-Person
Standard GFL Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash should be bagged to prevent neighborhood litter. Carts must be placed behind the curb line (or off the paved surface if no curb exists) by the morning of collection. Carts left open that collect rainwater will not be serviced.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Everyday food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Standard packaging materials
GFL Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected every other week (A Week or B Week) on your designated Monday or Tuesday. All recyclables must be placed loosely in the cart without any plastic grocery bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Mixed paper and mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and films
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food-soiled materials
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must be placed in the designated GFL yard waste can with the lid completely closed. Do not include dirt, rocks, trash, or mulch. Yard waste is picked up weekly on the same day as your household trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small limbs and branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Curbside Bulk NOT Provided / 3x Year for Large Brush Only
Placement
Do not place bulky household items at the curb; you may receive a code violation. For scheduled courtesy limb pickups, place branches securely behind the curb line.
Accepted
- ✓ Oversized tree limbs and brush (Requires calling Public Works ahead of time)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Furniture and mattresses
- ✕ White goods and appliances
- ✕ Televisions and electronics
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
Because the town does not offer curbside bulk trash removal, residents must utilize the free East Wake Convenience Center #11 for appliances and electronics, or pay the county tipping fees at the North Wake Landfill for other heavy debris.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a recognized holiday falls on a Monday or Tuesday, GFL trash, recycling, and yard waste collection is typically delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Monday routes move to Tuesday, Tuesday routes to Wednesday).
Yard Waste Exception
The specialized winter loose-leaf vacuuming schedule explicitly excludes major holidays, such as Veterans Day, which may alter the specific two-week collection blocks in November.
Because standard Wendell collections strictly occur on Mondays and Tuesdays, holidays occurring later in the week (like a Thursday Thanksgiving) generally do not impact the town's curbside service schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
No Dirt or Rocks in the Yard Cart
When filling your weekly GFL yard waste container, ensure you are only tossing in organic greenery like grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs [3.2.4]. Mixing in heavy dirt, soil, mulch, or rocks will contaminate the load and make the cart too heavy for the automated arm, resulting in a rejected pickup.
Keep Carts Closed During Rain
Wendell solid waste rules explicitly state that GFL drivers will not service roll-out carts that have been left open and allowed to fill with rainwater. Always ensure your cart lids are tightly secured to keep materials dry and prevent mosquito breeding.
Ditch the Plastic Bags for Leaves
During the town's winter loose-leaf vacuuming program, never put your leaves inside plastic bags. The specialized vacuum trucks require leaves to be raked loosely to the curb edge, free of sticks and trash, to prevent severe damage to the vacuum impellers.
Seasonal Information
Winter
November to JanuaryWendell Public Works operates an extensive loose-leaf vacuum collection program during the second and third full weeks of November, December, and January. Rake loose leaves at least 3 feet away from vehicles and mailboxes, and never cover fire hydrants or storm drains.
Spring/Summer
April to AugustDuring peak lawn maintenance season, remember that contractor-generated debris will not be accepted by the town. If you hire a professional landscaping company, they are legally responsible for hauling away the heavy yard waste they produce.
Holidays
Year-RoundMajor holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving will generally push your scheduled Monday or Tuesday GFL pickup back by one day. The Town of Wendell consistently posts these one-day delay alerts on their official homepage.
About Wendell Waste Management
Wendell's Hybrid Approach to Waste Management
The Town of Wendell operates a highly cooperative solid waste system. Standard household garbage, alternating bi-weekly recycling, and containerized yard waste are collected weekly on Mondays or Tuesdays by contracted partner GFL Environmental. Meanwhile, Wendell's own Public Works Department steps in to directly handle specialized municipal services, including the extensive winter loose-leaf vacuuming program and courtesy large-limb pickups.
Navigating Bulky Waste in East Wake
Unlike many North Carolina municipalities, the Town of Wendell and GFL do not provide standard curbside collection for bulky household items like furniture, mattresses, or white goods. Residents cannot leave these massive items at the curb. Instead, all bulky refuse, electronics, and household hazardous waste must be self-hauled to the East Wake Convenience Center (#11), conveniently located right on Wendell Boulevard, or transported to the North Wake Landfill.
The 3x Courtesy Brush Pickup Program
For extenuating circumstances or heavy landscaping projects that generate more branches than the standard GFL yard waste cart can handle, Wendell Public Works offers a unique lifeline. Each household is permitted to request a special oversized limb and brush pickup up to three times per calendar year. Residents must call the Public Works department (919-365-4822) to schedule this service before ever moving the heavy debris to the curb.
Strict Rules for Roll-Out Cart Placement
Wendell enforces specific municipal ordinances regarding the timing and placement of your rollout containers. You can place your GFL trash and recycling carts at the roadside as early as 7:00 AM on the day preceding your collection, but they must be removed from the curb no later than 7:00 AM the day following collection. Carts left open that fill with rainwater will be bypassed by collection drivers, requiring you to empty the water before the next cycle.
Drop-off Facilities
East Wake Convenience Center #11
5051 Wendell Blvd, Wendell, NC 27591
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away large furniture or appliances in Wendell, NC?
The Town of Wendell and GFL do not provide curbside bulk trash collection [2.1.3]. You cannot leave furniture, appliances, or TVs at the curb. Instead, you must transport these items to the East Wake Convenience Center #11 located at 5051 Wendell Blvd (appliances/electronics) or the North Wake Landfill.
Does Wendell pick up yard waste?
Yes, GFL provides a weekly yard waste cart pickup on your normal trash day for small twigs and grass clippings. For larger limbs, residents can call Public Works at 919-365-4822 to request a courtesy oversized brush pickup, strictly limited to 3 times per calendar year.
What are the rules for the winter leaf collection?
During designated weeks in November, December, and January, Public Works runs leaf vacuum trucks. Residents should rake unbagged leaves to the curb (not in the street or ditch). Keep piles at least 3 feet away from parked cars, mailboxes, and utility poles, and completely clear of storm drains.
What time should my trash carts be at the curb in Wendell?
Per town ordinance, you can place your carts at the roadside as early as 7:00 AM the day before your scheduled Monday or Tuesday collection. They must be removed from the curb no later than 7:00 AM the day after they are emptied.