Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Wilmington
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.
Green or City-Issued Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged and fit inside the cart with the lid closed. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. Extra bags require an ORANGE trash sticker.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Bagged pet waste
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Collection is every other week on your normal trash day. Do not bag recyclables. Extra recycling can be placed in a cardboard box next to the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (#1-#7)
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and office paper
- ✓Flattened cardboard and chipboard
- ✓Drink boxes and juice cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam/foam plastic
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Cords, hoses, and ropes
- ✕Household trash
Yard Waste Bin
Collected weekly on trash day. Max limit of 7 cubic yards. Loose items must be in a personal 30-gallon container or box. Do not use tarps, wheelbarrows, or city trash carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and pine straw
- ✓Vines
- ✓Tree limbs (max 4 feet long and 6 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Appointment Only
Placement
Place items curbside by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled day. You must separate bulk trash, electronics, and metal into distinct piles. Remove nails from lumber.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, mattresses)
- ✓ Large appliances/white goods
- ✓ Electronics (TVs, computers, printers)
- ✓ Oversized wood and metal items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor debris
- ✕ Demolition/construction materials
- ✕ Hazardous materials and chemicals
- ✕ Wet paint and hot ashes
- ✕ Tires
There is no extra fee for standard residential customers, but appointments must be scheduled by 4:30 p.m. the business day prior.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Service that falls on a major holiday is typically delayed by one day for the remainder of the week. Saturday services usually run as normal.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is collected on the same delayed schedule as regular household trash during holiday weeks.
Holidays like Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day often have normal collection schedules, though the solid waste office may be closed.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Bin
Plastic bags and film tangle the sorting machinery at the recycling facility. Take plastic grocery bags to local retail drop-offs or the UNCW Recycling Depot instead.
Flatten Cardboard Completely
Large, unflattened boxes can take up too much space and cause blockages in automated trucks. Make sure all cardboard is broken down before placing it in the blue cart.
Rinse Jars and Cans
A quick rinse to remove food residue from glass and plastic containers keeps pests away, prevents odor, and ensures the items are actually clean enough to be recycled.
Seasonal Information
Summer/Fall
June - NovemberDuring Atlantic Hurricane Season, secure all rollout carts during high wind events. Do not place bulk items or yard debris at the curb if a tropical storm or hurricane warning is in effect.
Spring
March - MaySpring yard maintenance yields heavier yard waste volumes. Remember to bundle limbs under 4 feet and keep loose debris in open 30-gallon personal containers to ensure collection.
Winter
December - JanuaryPost-holiday excess trash that doesn't fit in your 35- or 95-gallon cart must have an ORANGE sticker to be collected. Break down and recycle all shipping boxes in your blue cart.
About Wilmington Waste Management
Reliable Residential Waste Collection in Wilmington
The City of Wilmington Solid Waste Services utilizes a fully automated truck fleet to handle weekly trash and yard waste collections, alongside bi-weekly recycling. Serving residents from the historic downtown area to the coastal suburbs, the city's Pay-As-You-Throw program allows homeowners to save money by opting for a smaller 35-gallon trash cart while maximizing their use of the free 95-gallon blue recycling bin.
Scheduling Bulk and Electronic Pickups
If you have large items like old sofas, mattresses, or outdated televisions, you don't need to haul them to the landfill yourself. Wilmington includes bulk and electronic item collection in your standard residential service. Simply call 910-341-7875 before 4:30 p.m. the day before your regular trash day to schedule an appointment. Always separate your piles—metal, electronics, and general bulky items are collected by three different specialized trucks.
Proper Yard Waste Disposal Guidelines
With Wilmington's lush coastal environment, yard maintenance generates a lot of debris. The city collects yard waste automatically on your regular trash day, provided it meets specific rules. Keep limbs under four feet in length and six inches in diameter. Loose debris like pine straw, grass clippings, and leaves must be placed in a 30-gallon or smaller container—never in your city trash or recycling cart, and avoid using tarps or wheelbarrows.
Handling Excess Household Trash
Have more garbage than your cart can handle after a party or a cleanout? In Wilmington, any trash left outside your rollout cart will not be collected unless it is bagged and tagged with an official ORANGE extra trash sticker. These stickers are a convenient way to manage occasional heavy trash weeks without permanently upgrading to a larger cart. They can be purchased in bundles of 12 by contacting the Solid Waste Services office.
Central Business District Bag-It Program
Waste collection rules differ slightly for residents and businesses located in the Downtown Central Business District (from Water St. to 3rd St.). Due to space constraints and historic street layouts, this area utilizes a specialized 'Bag-It' program featuring approved blue bags for commercial waste and green bags for residential trash. Service frequency can be customized up to seven times a week based on the service level chosen.
Drop-off Facilities
New Hanover County Landfill
5210 US Hwy 421 N, Wilmington, NC 28401
Materials Accepted
NHC Household Hazardous Waste Facility
3002 Hwy 421 North, Wilmington, NC 28401
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I have extra trash that won't fit in my cart in Wilmington?
Any extra household trash must be bagged and clearly marked with an ORANGE extra trash sticker. These stickers are sold in minimums of 12 and can be purchased by calling the Solid Waste Services office at 910-341-7875. Bagged trash on the ground without these stickers will not be collected.
Does Wilmington provide curbside pickup for old TVs and computers?
Yes, electronic waste such as televisions, computers, and printers is collected at no extra charge. However, it is by appointment only. You must call Solid Waste Services to schedule a pickup and place the electronics in a completely separate pile from other bulk yard waste or trash.
Are plastic bags allowed in the blue city recycling carts?
No, plastic bags and plastic film are strictly prohibited in the blue recycling carts as they severely jam the single-stream sorting facilities. Instead, you can drop off clean, dry plastic bags at local grocery store bins or the UNCW Recycling Depot.
How do I change the size of my trash cart to save money on my utility bill?
Wilmington operates a Pay-As-You-Throw program, meaning a smaller 35-gallon cart costs significantly less per month than the standard 95-gallon cart. You can call 910-341-7875 to request a cart downsize and lower your monthly garbage collection fees.