Garbage, Recycling, and Yard Waste Preparation

Garbage and Recycling Prep

Follow the steps below to ensure that the right item is in the right cart at the right time. If necessary, customers can request an additional cart for extra capacity.

Step	Description
1. Prep it	Bag garbage before placing it in the cart to keep cart clean, lessen odors and reduce litter problems. Loosely place recyclable items in the blue cart. No plastic bags will be accepted in blue cart.
2. Use the right cart	Use only City-issued carts; no other carts or containers will be serviced by SWS personnel. Carts placed at townhomes, condos, apartments, rooming houses, etc., must be labeled with the street address, unit number or letter. Note: Purchased containers without the City's proof of purchase sticker will be removed from your property.
3. Place your cart curbside (the right way) on your collection day	Place garbage and recycling carts a few inches from the curb or edge of the street, not in the street. Place carts at least five feet from other objects (i.e. vehicles, mail boxes, fences, power lines). The lid on a full cart should not be open more than 12 inches wide. Position carts so that cart handle faces your house (see arrows on the lid). This will ensure the lid opens properly and is not damaged when emptied. Place cart at the curbside no earlier than noon the day before your collection day and no later than 6 a.m. on collection day.
4. Move your car if needed	Vehicles parked near waste carts may prevent curbside collection service.
5. Remove your cart after collection day	Remove carts from the curb by 7 p.m. the day after collection. Carts should be stored where they cannot be seen from the street.

Unaccepted Items for Garbage and Recycling Carts

Not all items can go into your City garbage and recycling carts. Find information and instructions on recycling, reusing, donating, or disposing of any kind of material using our Raleigh Reuse Tool.

Yard Waste Prep

Yard waste can be placed curbside for collection (see specific instructions below).

To set out yard waste, use any of these options:

Light green 95-gallon City-issued cart(s).
Biodegradable paper bags. Limit of 15 bags per collection, with a weight limit of 25 pounds per bag.
Bundles of sticks tied with rope or twine. Limit of 5 bundles per collection, with a weight limit of 50 pounds per bundle.

Please note: black or clear plastic bags containing yard waste will not be collected.

To set out yard waste, follow these instructions:

Step	Description
Prep	Limbs and brush must be securely tied into bundles of no more than five feet in length, 18 inches in diameter, and weighing no more than 50 pounds. Limit the number of bundles set out for collection to 5. Limit the number of biodegradable paper bags set out for collection to 15.
Placement	Yard waste cannot be placed on the curb until noon on the day before your assigned collection day. This includes yard waste produced from weekend work. Improperly prepared yard waste that was not collected and yard waste containers must be removed from the curb by 7 p.m. on the day after your collection.
Items Never Accepted	Logs and limbs more than six inches in diameter or over five feet in length, stumps, rocks, old mulch, and dirt will not be collected. Yard waste produced from contracted jobs or land clearing will not be collected.

Residents living within the Raleigh city limits may also take yard waste to the City's Yard Waste Recycling Center for recycling. The Center is located at 900 N. New Hope Road. There is a cost for this service. The Yard Waste Center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Fines and Penalties

Part 7 of the Raleigh City Code governs the placement of garbage or recycling containers and yard waste for collection have been established to protect the appearance of neighborhoods and keep the streets free of obstacles for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Garbage or recycling containers or yard waste placed too early or still on the curb after 7 p.m. on the day after your assigned collection day may incur a $50 citation for violation of the Solid Waste Code.

Violations of any provision contained within Part 7 of the Raleigh City Code may result in the following enforcement actions:

Violation	Fine/Penalty Amount
Garbage/Yard Waste First Violation	Initial Warning Letter
Garbage/Yard Waste Second Violation	$100 Administrative Fee
Garbage/Yard Waste Third Violation in a 12-Month Period	$100 Administrative Fee $250 Civil Penalty for each 24 hour period the violation exists
Recycling Waste Violation*	$150 Administrative Fee per violation $250 Civil Penalty per violation

*The placement of items banned from landfills as noted in North Carolina General Statute 130A-309.10(e) in garbage or recycling carts is subject to the enforcement actions in the above table.

Appeal Citation
To appeal a citation, contact Solid Waste Services at 919-996-3245.

Raleigh Reuse Web Tool and App

But wait, there's more! If you're curious about something not covered on the posters, fear not! Simply use the search function in our Raleigh Reuse Web Tool and App to find the answers you seek. Happy exploring!