Yard Waste Collection







Paper Bag Mandate FAQ

Summary

  • Solid Waste Services is no longer collecting any plastic bags for disposal of yard waste, including compostable plastic yard waste bags.

  • Starting Monday, July 5, residents must use paper yard waste bags or reusable containers no larger than 32-gallons for their yard waste.

    • Residents who do not comply will receive a note and a one-time courtesy collection.

The Queen City is going green:

The City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services is making changes to improve service and protect the health of the community!

Solid Waste Services is protecting the environment, improving operational efficiency of the yard waste collection program and protecting employee and resident health by eliminating the use of plastic bags for yard waste disposal.

Beginning July 5, residents that receive city collection will be required to use paper yard waste bags or reusable containers no larger than 32-gallons for yard waste collection.

​Single-use plastic, such as plastic yard waste bags, create numerous environmental problems. Single-use plastic creates more than 8 million tons of waste in the ocean every year and emits toxic and poisonous gases into the atmosphere, damaging our ecosystem and causing both climate change and health issues. Conversely, paper bags are extracted from unbleached, recycled brown kraft paper, which saves natural resources and energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to environmental concerns, plastic yard waste bags create operational issues, including preventing the collection of materials on scheduled days of collection and keeping employees from social distancing. Eliminating single-use, plastic yard waste bags will allow Solid Waste Services to make operational changes to the collection program that will:

  • Decrease the amount of time required to provide service at each home. Since fiscal year 2016, the amount of yard waste collected by Solid Waste Services’ crews has increased nearly 30 percent. The large amounts of yard waste at the curb also increases the time that crews are at a stop. In addition to the large quantity of yard waste, the yard waste disposal facility does not accept yard waste in plastic bags. This requires Solid Waste Services’ staff to debag leaves at the curb, which increases collection times and makes it difficult to complete routes on the scheduled day of collection.

  • Reduce employees’ exposure to COVID-19. The elimination of plastic bags will reduce collection time during the workday and the number of employees in the truck cab, increasing the health and safety of Solid Waste Services’ employees.

Solid Waste Services will be sending information to homes regarding the change. Residents can expect this communication to come via a door hanger that will be placed on the front door.

If residents don’t receive a doorhanger by June 18, they can call 311 and have the information delivered to their home.

Residents can watch the Government Channel and local news outlets and follow Solid Waste Services on social media (see links below) for continuous updates.

When setting out yard waste for collection, use paper yard waste bags or reusable 32-gallon containers. Starting July 5, Solid Waste Services will no longer accept yard waste in plastic bags. If residents use plastic bags after this date, Solid Waste Services will leave a note reminding them of the change and provide a one-time courtesy collection.

For convenience, residents also have the option of disposing of yard waste by taking the items, in paper bags or reusable containers, to one of the four Mecklenburg County full-service recycling centers. Fees may be charged when disposing at the full-service centers.

​If residents forget and place yard waste in a plastic bag, Solid Waste Services’ staff will leave a note reminding them of the change and requesting they use paper yard waste bags or reusable containers no larger than 32-gallons for the next collection. Staff will provide a one-time courtesy collection for the plastic bags at that service. If residents continue to use plastic bags, they could be subject to a minimum $150 fine per the Charlotte City Code.

​Paper yard bags and reusable containers no larger than 32-gallons can be purchased at local discount, hardware and home improvement stores. Please note, only compostable, paper yard waste bags will be accepted. Compostable plastic bags are not accepted as they are not accepted by the yard waste disposal site because they compromise the integrity of the compost product.

In addition to local stores, beginning July 5 there will be a limited supply of paper bags available for pick up, at no cost, at City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services’ office (1105 Otts Street) and any of the Mecklenburg County full-service recycling centers.

​Residents can place grass and grass clippings, leaves, flowers, small pruning, limbs and twigs in paper bags. Yard waste does not include dirt, mulch, and rocks.

Residents are advised to place properly prepared yard waste at the curb on their collection day in paper yard waste bags or reusable plastic containers that are no larger than32-gallons. Residents are allowed to have as many paper bags resuable containers no larger than 32-gallons as needed. Yard waste will not be collected in tarps.

Preparing yard waste for collection is as easy as 5,4,3,2,1!

  • 5 | Tree limbs should be no longer than five feet in length.

  • 4 | Limbs and loose debris should be no larger than four inches in diameter.

  • 3 | Each yard waste pile should be no higher than three feet and separated by type: leaves, limbs and loose debris. Piles should also be three feet from other objects.

  • 2 | Yard waste piles should be two feet apart from each other.

  • 1 | When yard waste is prepared properly it makes for one easy collection for Solid Waste Services collection staff.

Detailed preparation guidelines can be found on the city’s website - curbit.charlottenc.gov.

​To stay up to date with the latest information subscribe to our newsletter and text message updates.

Yard Waste

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.

How To Prepare Yard Waste For Collection:

  • Refer to your particular type of yard waste below for proper preparation.

  • Place yard waste at the curb by 6:00 am on your scheduled collection day.

  • Place yard waste within six feet of the curb and at least three feet away from other collection items (including other yard waste) and obstacles such as mailboxes, phone poles and vehicles, etc. Do not block the sidewalk.

  • Please place yard waste at the curb no sooner than the day before collection. A minimum $150 citation may be issued if you place yard waste at the curb sooner than the day before collection.

  • Please do not blow yard waste into the street.

Note: Residents using their personal containers for yard waste collection should use uncovered containers less than 32 gallons. Solid Waste Services recommends the use of paper bags for grass clippings, leaves and weeds for collection preparation. Paper bags can be purchased from some local retailers.

Brush 

  • Brush should be no longer than five feet in length and four inches in diameter.

  • Separate brush into piles that are no longer than five feet long and three feet high. There should be two feet in between each pile.

Grass clippings 

  • Grass clippings must be placed in untied plastic bags or paper for collection or placed in uncovered containers less than 32 gallons.

  • Containers or plastic/paper bags should not weigh more than 75 pounds each.

  • Grass clippings can be mixed with other yard waste such as leaves and trimmings.

Leaves 

  • Leaves must be placed in untied plastic or paper bags for collection or placed in uncovered trash cans. Do not put any other trash in the same container.

Limbs 

  • Limbs must be no longer than five feet in length and no larger than four inches in diameter.

  • Limbs should be separated in piles that are no longer than five feet long and three feet high. There should be two feet in between each pile.

  • Limbs should not be tied.

  • Limbs may be placed in containers for collection.

Logs 

  • Logs must be under four inches in diameter

  • Tree stumps will not be collected.


Prefer to Use Grass Clippings for Mulch?

Leaving grass clipping on the lawn after mowing ensures that nutrients will be returned to the soil. Grass clippings are 20-30% protein and usually contain about 4% nitrogen, 2% potassium and 0.5% phosphorus as well as all the necessary trace elements plants need.

When leaving clippings on the lawn, adjust your lawn mower to remove no more than one third of the grass leaf surface at any one mowing. Any mower can be used, but one that mulches as it cuts is best. Use a slow-release fertilizer, water when necessary, and mow the grass at the proper height.