Trash and Recycling

city skyline with garbage collection trucks in front


Garbage Collection

Garbage is collected once a week on your scheduled collection day. To find your collection day and recycling week, visit the GeoPortal system.

Help us Wipe Out Waste! Learn more aboutcollection managementfrom Mecklenburg County.

Garbage Collection Guidelines

  • 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 cart 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, 748KB).
  • Place garbage cart at the curb no later than 6 a.m. on your scheduled collection day and no sooner than the day before collection. The cart must be removed from the curb by midnight on the day of collection.
  • 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 or email cartsadmin@charlottenc.gov with the following information:
    • Resident name and address.
    • Which cart is damaged (garbage and/or recycling).
    • What part of the cart is damaged (wheel, lid, axle, barrel and/or bar).

Recycling Collection

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.

Recycling Collection Guidelines

  • Do not bag recyclables. Place them loosely in the city-issued recycling cart.
  • Do not overfill carts or place items outside of the cart. Items outside the rollout cart will not be collected.
  • Please place recycling cart 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, 748KB).
  • Place recycling cart at the curb no later than 6 a.m. on your scheduled collection day and 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, 704.336.7600 or email cartsadmin@charlottenc.gov with the following information:
    • Resident name and address.
    • Which cart is damaged (garbage and/or recycling).
    • What part of the cart is damaged (wheel, lid, axle, barrel and/or bar).

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. You can schedule bulky items by calling 311 or 704.336.7600, or by using the CLT+ app.

To be eligible for this service, you must currently receive garbage collection from the City of Charlotte.

If you need to cancel or make changes to an existing pickup request, please call 311 (704.336.7600) by noon on the business day prior to your scheduled pickup.


2024 Holiday Collection Schedule

We collect garbage, recycling, yard waste and bulky waste on all holidays except for the following listed below. During observed holiday weeks, all collection services will operate on a one-day delay with Friday customers receiving service on Saturday. Subscribe for service impact updates by texting your collection day of the week to 73224.

Martin Luther King Jr. - Monday, Jan. 15

Friday collection on Jan. 20

Juneteenth - Wednesday, June 19

Friday collection on June 22

Thanksgiving - Thursday, Nov. 28

Friday collection on Nov.30

Christmas - Wednesday, Dec. 25

Friday collection on Dec.28


Work with Us

Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina, and the dedicated workers of Solid Waste Services provide its residents with garbage, recycling, yard and bulk waste collection services. Join the team and help accomplish the mission of remaining customer-focused while continually evolving to adopt more convenient, environmentally friendly solutions to keep Charlotte clean.

Become a member of Team Charlotte today!


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.


Contact Us

City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services
1105 Otts St.
Charlotte, N.C. 28205

704.336.7600