2021 Holiday Collection Schedule

Solid Waste Services will operate on a normal schedule the week of Dec. 20. Solid Waste Services will collect trash, recycling, yard waste or bulk items on Friday, Dec. 24. Solid Waste Services will also operate on a normal schedule the week of December 27 and will collect trash, recycling, yard waste or bulk items on Friday, Dec. 31.

If you are a Solid Waste Services customer, you can sign up to receive collection service updates by texting your collection date to 732-24. Once you register, you will receive a text message any time there is a scheduled or unscheduled delay on your collection day.

Mecklenburg County full-service recycling centers will be closed Friday, Dec. 24-25, and Dec. 31-Jan.1. Mecklenburg County full-service centers will reopen on Dec. 26, 2021, and Jan. 3, 2022 at 7 a.m.

Collection Preparation

All collection items must be placed curbside no sooner than the day before your scheduled collection day and no later than 6 a.m. on your collection day.

Solid Waste Services is no longer collecting any plastic bags for disposal of yard waste, including compostable plastic yard waste bags. Residents must use paper yard waste bags or reusable containers weighing no more than 75 pounds for their yard waste.

Here are additional tips to make your items are collected properly:

• Bag all garbage before putting it into the garbage cart. Loose garbage should not be placed into a garbage cart.

• Rollout cart lids must be closed completely to ensure proper trash collection. This will reduce the chance of items falling out of the cart onto the ground.

• Yard waste in plastic bags is not accepted. Yard waste should be prepared in paper bags or reusable containers.

• Separate yard waste from other curbside trash and recyclables. Each type of collection item should be placed separately at the curb.

• Cardboard should be cut/torn into small pieces — not folded — and placed loosely in the recycling cart for collection.

• Do not place plastic bags in your recycling cart. Plastic bags damage recycling machinery and slow item processing. Acceptable recyclable items should be placed loosely in the cart.

• Do not park on the street on your collection day. On-street parking increases the risk of damage to personal property and can prevent collection.

• Schedule a bulk item collection if you are discarding larger-than-normal items such as furniture, large appliances or plumbing fixtures.

• Bulk item waste collection is provided the same day as other collection services but must be scheduled. You can schedule bulk item collection online, through the CLT+ mobile app or by calling 311 or 704.336.7600. Be prepared to provide your name, address and a description of the items you are discarding.

• Solid Waste Services only collects bulk items placed at the curb in front of the home. Bulk items should not be placed in the same location as the garbage cart.

• Empty all appliances, remove any doors on appliances, and place tape in the shape of an "x" on TV screens and any glass. This reduces risk of injury to Solid Waste Services crew members.

Christmas Tree Collection

Christmas tree collection will begin Monday, Dec. 27, 2021. Real Christmas trees can be placed curbside with other yard waste items. Artificial Christmas trees must be scheduled for bulk item collection. Trees, real or artificial, should be free of any decoration. Lights, ornaments and other tree decorations should be reused, donated, or bagged and thrown in the garbage.

Use the Solid Waste Services Waste Wizard tool for tips on how to dispose of other holiday items.