Charlotte, NC trash pickup schedule
Charlotte trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.
Population 964,784 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.
Contents10 sections
Quick answer
| Who collects | The city collects City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services collects garbage, recycling, yard waste and bulky items for single-family homes; it also provides garbage, recycling and bulky waste collection to multi-family properties (apartments, condominiums, townhomes).2 |
|---|---|
| How often | Trash weekly, recycling every other week (green or orange week) on the garbage day, yard waste weekly, same day as garbage34 |
| Set out | at the curb by 6 a.m. on collection day, not sooner than the day before; cart removed by midnight on collection day3 |
| Your pickup day | Address lookup: experience.arcgis.com. App: CLT+5 |
| Holiday | Veterans Day, Wed, Nov 11, 2026: No change. Collection as scheduled.1 |
Bulk items: Scheduled pickup: request it ahead (details). Drop-off sites: 5 listed (hours and fees).
Charlotte holiday trash schedule 2026
| City’s rule | New in 2026: on MLK Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day (Mondays) there is no collection; Monday and Tuesday routes start Tuesday and crews work through Friday until all routes are complete (no Saturday collection, no yard waste that week). Thanksgiving and Christmas stay on a one-day delay with Friday routes collected Saturday. New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day and Veterans Day: no change.1 |
|---|---|
| Official notice | charlottenc.gov |
| Tips | MLK, Memorial Day and Labor Day weeks: set carts out on your normal day and leave them out until collected; report a miss to 311 if not collected within 48 hours of your normal day1 |
| Holiday | Date | Pickup | What the city says |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1, 2026 | No change | City offices closed; residential collection as scheduled.1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19, 2026 | Changes; see details | No collection Monday; Monday and Tuesday routes collected starting Tuesday, Jan. 20, Tuesday-Friday until complete; no Saturday collection; no yard waste that week.1 |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb 16, 2026 | No change | Collection as scheduled.1 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Apr 3, 2026 | No change | Collection as scheduled.1 |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25, 2026 | Changes; see details | No collection Monday; Monday and Tuesday routes collected starting Tuesday, May 26, Tuesday-Friday until complete; no Saturday collection; no yard waste that week.1 |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19, 2026 | No change | Collection as scheduled.1 |
| Independence Day (Fourth of July) | Fri, Jul 3, 2026 (observed) | No change | Collection as scheduled. July 4, 2026 is a Saturday; the city lists Independence Day among the no-change holidays without giving its observed date (so no date is recorded).1 |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 | Changes; see details | No collection Monday; Monday and Tuesday routes collected starting Tuesday, Sept. 8, Tuesday-Friday until complete; no Saturday collection; no yard waste that week.1 |
| Indigenous Peoples' Day | Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | No change | Collection as scheduled.1 |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | No change | Collection as scheduled.1 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Delayed one day | No collection Thursday; Thursday routes collected Friday, Friday routes Saturday, Nov. 28. Monday-Wednesday unchanged.1 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 | Delayed one day | No collection Friday; Friday routes collected Saturday, Dec. 26.1 |
Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.
Bulk trash pickup in Charlotte
| How it works | Scheduled pickup: request it ahead3 |
|---|---|
| How to request | Schedule in advance by calling 311 (704-336-7600), with the CLT+ app, or online (servicerequest.charlottenc.gov/service/BULKITEM); only for households that receive city garbage collection; cancel or change by noon the business day before; set out by 6 a.m. on the scheduled day, not sooner than the day before, 3 feet between items3 |
| Limits | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Not accepted | Not published by the city (official page) |
Recycling in Charlotte
| Pickup | every other week (green or orange week) on the garbage day3 |
|---|---|
| Type | single-stream3 |
| Glass | accepted in cart3 |
| Plastics | plastic bottles and jugs with necks (no plastic bags, food trays, cups, plasticware or takeout containers)3 |
Accepted
Programs
- 2026 recycling calendar (green/orange weeks) as PDF in English and Spanish; copies by email from [email protected]5
Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups
| Yard waste pickup | Yes3 |
|---|---|
| Season | year-round (except no yard waste in MLK, Memorial Day and Labor Day weeks in 2026)1 |
| How often | weekly, same day as garbage4 |
| Rules | Out by 6 a.m., not sooner than the day before (min. $150 citation); within 6 ft of curb, 3 ft from other items; leaves/grass in paper bags or containers up to 32 gallons (no plastic or compostable plastic bags); brush and limbs max 5 ft long and 4 in diameter, piles max 5 ft long x 3 ft high, 2 ft apart, not tied; logs under 4 in diameter; no stumps3 |
| Food scraps | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Christmas trees | Single-family: natural trees at the curb with yard waste on the regular collection day, free of decorations; artificial trees and all wreaths must be scheduled as bulky items. Multi-family: all trees and wreaths scheduled as bulky items; collections throughout January. (Published on the city's 2026 Holiday Collection Schedule page, without a season year; applies to the January after Christmas.)1 |
| Leaf collection | Not published by the city (official page) |
Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste
North Mecklenburg Recycling Center and Yard Waste (full-service)
| Type | Recycling center |
|---|---|
| Run by | county (Mecklenburg County) |
| Address | 12300 N. Statesville Road, Huntersville, NC 28078 · Map5 |
| Hours | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
Compost Central and Recycling Center (full-service)
| Type | Recycling center |
|---|---|
| Run by | county (Mecklenburg County) |
| Address | 140 Valleydale Road, Charlotte, NC 28214 · Map5 |
| Hours | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
Hickory Grove Recycling Center and Yard Waste (full-service)
| Type | Recycling center |
|---|---|
| Run by | county (Mecklenburg County) |
| Address | 8007 Pence Road, Charlotte, NC 28215 · Map5 |
| Hours | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
Foxhole Recycling Center and Yard Waste (full-service)
| Type | Recycling center |
|---|---|
| Run by | county (Mecklenburg County) |
| Address | 17131 Lancaster Highway, Charlotte, NC 28277 · Map5 |
| Hours | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
Mecklenburg County Full-Service Recycling Facilities (HHW accepted)
| Type | Household hazardous waste |
|---|---|
| Run by | county (Mecklenburg County) |
| Address | see the four full-service centers above6 |
| Hours | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.
Missed pickup and contacts
| Missed pickup form | Not published by the city (official page) |
|---|---|
| Phone | 704-336-76002 |
| 311 | CharMeck 311 (704-336-7600)2 |
| Official website | charlottenc.gov |
Nearby cities
- Concord, NC17 miles · The city collects
- High Point, NC72 miles · The city collects
- Columbia, SC81 miles · The city collects
- Fayetteville, NC105 miles · The city and contracted haulers (by area or service)
- Raleigh, NC130 miles · The city collects
- Augusta, GA146 miles · A private hauler under city contract
All North Carolina cities: North Carolina trash pickup schedules.
Charlotte trash pickup FAQ
What day is trash picked up in Charlotte?
Trash is collected weekly. Charlotte does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s address lookup (experience.arcgis.com) or the CLT+ app.
Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving Day 2026 in Charlotte?
Thanksgiving Day falls on Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Delayed one day: No collection Thursday; Thursday routes collected Friday, Friday routes Saturday, Nov. 28. Monday-Wednesday unchanged.
Is trash picked up on Christmas Day 2026 in Charlotte?
Christmas Day falls on Fri, Dec 25, 2026. Delayed one day: No collection Friday; Friday routes collected Saturday, Dec. 26.
Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2026 in Charlotte?
New Year's Day falls on Thu, Jan 1, 2026. No change: City offices closed; residential collection as scheduled.
How do I get rid of bulky items in Charlotte?
Scheduled pickup: request it ahead. Schedule in advance by calling 311 (704-336-7600), with the CLT+ app, or online (servicerequest.charlottenc.gov/service/BULKITEM); only for households that receive city garbage collection; cancel or change by noon the business day before; set out by 6 a.m. on the scheduled day, not sooner than the day before, 3 feet between items
Does Charlotte recycle glass?
Glass: accepted in cart.
How do I report a missed trash pickup in Charlotte?
call 704-336-7600.
Sources
- 1 2026 Holiday Collection ScheduleCity · charlottenc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 2 Trash and Recycling (Solid Waste Services)City · charlottenc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 3 Collection GuidelinesCity · charlottenc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 4 Solid Waste Service FAQsCity · charlottenc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 5 Recycling (collection schedule and recycling centers)City · charlottenc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 6 Household Hazardous WasteCity · charlottenc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 7 Additional ServicesCity · charlottenc.gov · checked October 30, 2026
Something changed? Report a change
Second-pass verification against every source: October 30, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.