Trash and Recycling

Garbage and recycling collection

Garbage is collected once a week on your scheduled collection day.

Recyclables are collected every other week on the same day as garbage and yard waste collection. To find your collection day and recycling week, visit the GeoPortal system. 

  • Bag all garbage before placing it in the garbage rollout cart. Do not overfill carts or place garbage items outside of the cart. Items outside the rollout cart will not be collected.
  • Please place garbage and recycling carts within 6 feet of the curb and with the handle facing toward your property. Do not block the sidewalk.
  • Please allow 3 feet of space between collection items and other obstacles such as mailboxes, phone poles and vehicles.
  • More service details can be found by viewing our administrative policy(PDF, 5MB).
  • Place garbage and recycling carts at the curb no later than 6 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.
  • Place garbage and recycling carts at the curb no sooner than the day before collection. The cart must be removed from the curb by midnight on the day of collection.
  • For cart repairs, replacement or other cart-related inquiries, please call CharMeck311 or 704.336.7600. You may also email cartsadmin@charlottenc.gov.
  • You can find more information on Mecklenburg County recycling guidelines.
 

 

Yard waste collection

Yard waste is collected from the curb once a week on your scheduled collection day provided the materials meet preparation requirements. Yard waste is made into mulch and compost for reuse.

Bulky waste collection

Items such as household furnishings, appliances, mattresses, box springs, lawn equipment and similar items too large to be placed in the garbage rollout cart and not eligible for recycling or yard waste collection are considered bulky waste and must be scheduled for collection.

Special Services

There are two specialized services offered under the Curb it! program - small business garbage collection and dead animal collection.

The following specialized street cleaning services are only provided on city-maintained streets and rights-of-way:

  • Street sweeping
  • Litter control/removal
  • Illegal dump cleanup
  • After-hours emergency response

Issues on state-maintained streets, including interstates, should be reported to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Special services also provides a variety of services in Uptown, with primary concentration on the Tryon Street mall. This includes areas from Stonewall to Eighth Streets and the 100 blocks of East and West Trade Street.

Uptown On-Street Recycling Program

Pedestrians have the opportunity to Recycle it! in Uptown by using any of the 80 on-street recycling containers that currently line the streets. The recycling containers were funded by the energy grant awarded to the city in 2010.

If you are taking a stroll through Uptown and have recyclables to dispose of, please remember to recycle it!

Disability collection services

If you are a customer with a disability or other physical limitation that does not permit you to roll the cart to the curb, please call 311 or 704.336.7600 to discuss special arrangements for collection.

 

    

Dead animal collection 

Solid Waste Services will collect dead animals from streets, public rights-of-way, and residences located within the city. Service does not include interstate highways/ramps or public parks. Dead animals (wild or domesticated) on private property must be scheduled for collection and placed curbside.


Who are we?

City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services provides Charlotte residents with garbage, recycling, yard and bulk waste collection services. We are committed to partnering with the community to ensure a green and sustainable future. Our mission is to remain customer-focused and continually evolve to adopt more convenient, environmentally friendly solutions to help keep Charlotte clean.


Recycling center locations

Full service

North Mecklenburg Recycling Center and Yard Waste
12300 N. Statesville Road
Huntersville, NC 28078

Compost Central and Recycling Center
140 Valleydale Road
Charlotte, NC 28214

Hickory Grove Recycling Center and Yard Waste
8007 Pence Road
Charlotte, NC 28215

Foxhole Recycling Center and Yard Waste
17131 Lancaster Highway
Charlotte, NC 28277