Raleigh recycling goes every other week and yard waste now goes weekly, leaves included. Bulky pickup is $35 a load. Questions: 919-996-3245.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Updated each year and whenever the city changes a service. Facts on this page come from the City of Raleigh’s Solid Waste Services pages and Wake County Solid Waste Management.
The City of Raleigh’s Solid Waste Services department collects garbage, recycling and yard waste from homes with city curbside service. The big change this fall: weekly yard waste pickup started Sept. 8, 2026, and with it the old loose-leaf collection ended, according to the city’s announcement. Leaves now go in the yard waste cart.
Who to call
- Missed pickup, new or broken cart, bulky pickup: Solid Waste Services Customer Support, 919-996-3245, or sws@raleighnc.gov (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday)
- Dead animal pickup after hours and on weekends: 919-996-6311
- Wake County drop-off sites and hazardous waste: 919-856-7400, recycling@wake.gov
- Your pickup calendar: the Raleigh Reuse web tool and app
What day is my pickup?
Type your address into the Raleigh Reuse tool, or download the Raleigh Reuse app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It shows your collection calendar, sends reminders and shows how holidays change your pickup. You can also print or subscribe to your calendar.
- Garbage goes in the dark green cart, bagged. The standard cart is 95 gallons; a household that does not fill it can swap once for a 65-gallon cart, according to the city’s common questions page.
- Recycling goes loose in the blue cart, never in plastic bags, and is collected every other week.
- Yard waste goes in the light green 95-gallon city cart and is collected weekly on your regular day.
Put carts at the curb the night before or by 6 a.m. on collection day and bring them in by 7 p.m. after pickup, according to the city’s preparation rules. Only city-issued carts are emptied. Residents who cannot roll a cart to the curb can apply to the city’s Needs Assistance Program.
If your cart was out by 6 a.m. and was missed, look for a tag explaining why, then report it on the city’s missed collection form or by phone. The city asks you to allow two business days.
Holidays and bad weather
Some holidays move curbside pickup back a day; others do not. The city does not post one fixed list. Check the Raleigh Reuse tool, which shows each holiday change for your address, or call 919-996-3245. Bad weather can also delay collection; the city posts changes on its website and in the app.
Wake County’s drop-off sites close on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and at noon on Christmas Eve, according to the county.
Yard waste and leaves
Each week you can set out the yard waste cart, up to 15 biodegradable paper yard waste bags of no more than 25 pounds each and up to five tied bundles of sticks no longer than 5 feet. Black or clear plastic bags are not collected. Yard waste goes to the curb no earlier than noon the day before your collection day. Logs and limbs over 6 inches wide or 5 feet long, stumps, rocks, dirt and land-clearing debris are not collected.
A second yard waste cart costs $55 plus $2 a month; order it through the city’s cart page. The city also suggests leaving leaves in place as mulch; see its leaf collection options.
The city’s Yard Waste Recycling Center at 900 N. New Hope Road takes yard waste from city residents for a fee. It is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Bulky items, appliances and electronics
Call 919-996-3245 with your name, address, phone number and a description of the items. The charge goes on your next utility bill, according to the city’s bulky, special and e-waste page.
| Pickup | Cost | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulky load | $35 a load | Furniture, mattresses and box springs, bed frames, rugs, bicycles, grills (no propane tank), push mowers (fuel drained) |
| Special load | $70 a load | Large appliances, exercise equipment, extra garbage bags, extra yard waste bags |
| E-waste | Free, up to four items a week | TVs, monitors, microwaves, vacuums and other household electronics with a plug |
A load is up to 4 cubic yards, or 6 feet long, 3 feet wide and 4 feet high. Cancel by noon the business day before to get a refund. E-waste pickup moves from Tuesdays to Mondays only starting Oct. 26, 2026. The city never collects batteries, tires, stumps, treated lumber, chemicals, car parts, carpet or construction debris.
Shred + Dead event, Saturday, Oct. 24
Solid Waste Services holds its 2026 Shred + Dead event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Wilders Grove Solid Waste Services Facility, 630 Beacon Lake Drive. It takes documents for shredding (up to four banker boxes or four 13-gallon bags), small electronics, all household batteries and computer equipment for the Kramden Institute, and hands out free yard waste bags. One visit per household.
Wake County drop-off sites in Raleigh
From the county’s waste and recycling guide (updated September 2025). Convenience centers are for Wake County residents only. Find every site on the county’s drop-off locator.
| Site | Address | Hours as posted |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience Center 1 | 10505 Old Stage Road | Daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Convenience Center 4 | 3600 Yates Mill Pond Road | Daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Convenience Center 5 | 8401 Battle Bridge Road | Daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Convenience Center 7 | 9024 Deponie Drive | Daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| North Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility | 9029 Deponie Drive | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday |
| North Wake Household Hazardous Waste | 9037 Deponie Drive | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday |
Box trucks, enclosed trailers and dual-axle trailers need a county Trash Pass to use a convenience center.
What this means for you
- Recycling is every other week; check your weeks in the Raleigh Reuse app.
- Leaves go in the yard waste cart or paper bags, weekly. There is no more curbside leaf vacuum.
- Bulky pickup is $35 a load and must be booked by phone.
- Batteries, paint and chemicals go to a county hazardous waste site, never in a cart.
The city’s monthly solid waste fee is $28.50 on the utility bill ($16 garbage, $5.55 recycling, $6.95 yard waste), according to its fee schedule. More city services: who to call at City Hall and property taxes.
Frequently asked questions
What day is trash pickup in Raleigh?
Every home has an assigned collection day. Type your address into the city’s Raleigh Reuse web tool or app to see your calendar, or call Solid Waste Services at 919-996-3245.
Is recycling every week in Raleigh?
No. The city collects the blue recycling cart every other week. The Raleigh Reuse tool shows which weeks are yours.
Does Raleigh still pick up loose leaves?
No. Loose-leaf collection ended Sept. 8, 2026, when weekly yard waste pickup began. Leaves go in the light green yard waste cart, plus up to 15 paper yard waste bags a week.
How much does bulky pickup cost in Raleigh?
A bulky load, such as furniture or a mattress, costs $35 and a special load, such as a large appliance, costs $70. Call 919-996-3245 to book; the charge goes on your utility bill.
Where do I take household hazardous waste in Raleigh?
Wake County runs household hazardous waste drop-offs for county residents, including the North Wake site at 9037 Deponie Drive in Raleigh, open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Have your say