Trash and recycling pickup in Cary: schedule, holidays and bulk pickup

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Town of Cary’s Garbage, Recycling & Yard Waste pages and Wake County Solid Waste.

The Town of Cary picks up household trash and yard waste at the curb once a week and recycling every other week, all on the same day, according to the town’s garbage collection page. To find your day, search your address in the town’s Cary Collects tool or app on the town’s trash page, or call 311.

Who to call

• Cary 311: dial 311 inside Cary, or 919-469-4000 from outside town limits
• Missed pickups, new carts, bulky items: 311, 919-469-4090 or the online request form
• Wake County Solid Waste (convenience centers): wake.gov convenience centers

Big change: the drop-off center is closing

The Citizen’s Convenience Center at 313 N. Dixon Ave. will close to the public for good at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2026, the town says on its convenience center page. Most of the site sits in the North Carolina Railroad’s right-of-way, where federally funded rail work is planned. The town says the Town Council is weighing future options and has not picked one. Curbside pickup is not affected.

Until then the center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, closed on town holidays. It takes household trash, recycling, food waste and yard waste from residents. Contractors, box trucks and enclosed trailers are not allowed.

From Jan. 1, 2027, the town points residents to the county’s sites. Wake County runs 11 convenience centers, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily except major holidays. The closest to Cary are:

• Site 3: 266 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville
• Site 2: 6120 Old Smithfield Road, Apex (also takes food waste and up to two mattresses a day)
• Site 4: 3600 Yates Mill Pond Road, Raleigh (also takes food waste and mattresses)

Cary residents in Chatham County can use Chatham County’s collection centers.

How weekly pickup works

• Put carts at the curb no earlier than dusk the night before and by 7 a.m. on pickup day, with the arrows on the lid facing the street, the town’s curbside page says.
• Bring carts back by 6 a.m. the next day. After a first warning, repeat violations within 12 months carry a $15 “roll-in” fee on your utility bill.
• Keep carts out of the street and away from mailboxes, light poles and hydrants.
• A second trash cart costs $4 a month. Extra recycling carts are free.
• Residents who cannot roll a cart to the curb because of a disability can apply for curbside assistance with a doctor’s signature.

The solid waste and recycling fee is $28 a month on the utility bill, up $2 in the budget the Town Council adopted June 25, 2026, according to the town’s budget page.

Yard waste and leaves

Yard waste goes out by 7 a.m. on your regular day, the town’s yard waste page says. Use paper bags or reusable containers up to 32 gallons and 25 pounds, or tied bundles no longer than 4 feet. Limbs must be under 4 inches across. Plastic bags are not collected. A chipper service for bigger limbs is available by request, for a fee.

Loose leaves: between November and February the town collects loose leaves three times from each street at no charge, according to its loose leaf page. Crews work zone by zone, and a live map shows progress. Rake leaves behind the curb, out of the road and away from storm drains, up to a week before each round, and keep sticks out.

Bulky items, appliances and hazardous waste

• Furniture, grills and other bulky items: pickup by appointment through 311. The fee is $15 for the first item and $8 for each extra item on the same trip.
• Appliances: curbside for a fee by request. Wake County’s multi-material facility takes them free.
• Used motor oil and filters: free curbside pickup by appointment. Oil goes in a sealed, labeled container of 5 gallons or less; filters must be triple-bagged.
• Cooking oil: free curbside pickup through the town’s cooking oil recycling program.
• Food scraps: a free drop-off at Mills Park, 425 Mills Park Drive, open sunrise to sunset, according to the town’s food waste page.

Paint, pesticides and other household hazardous waste do not go in the cart. Search the item in Cary Collects for where to take it.

Holidays

The town publishes its holiday collection changes each year through Cary Collects, which also sends reminders, under its solid waste policy. Check the app or call 311 the week of a holiday.

What this means for you

• Look up your pickup day and recycling week once in Cary Collects and turn on reminders.
• Plan big cleanouts before Dec. 30, when the Dixon Avenue center closes.
• Leaf season starts in November. Rake to the curb, not into the street.

More guides: Cary property taxes and who to call at Cary Town Hall.

Frequently asked questions

What day is trash pickup in Cary?

It depends on your address. Search it in the town’s Cary Collects tool or app, or call 311 (919-469-4000 from outside town limits). Trash and yard waste go out the same day every week.

Is recycling every week in Cary?

No. Cary collects recycling every other week, on the same day as your trash and yard waste. Items go in the cart loose, never bagged.

How do I get rid of furniture or a mattress in Cary?

Book a bulky item pickup through 311 or the town’s online request system. The town lists the fee as $15 for the first item and $8 for each extra item on the same trip.

When does the Cary Citizen’s Convenience Center close?

The center at 313 N. Dixon Ave. closes for good at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2026, because of planned railroad work, the town says. Curbside service is not affected.

When does Cary pick up loose leaves?

Between November and February the town collects loose leaves three times from each street at no extra charge. Rake leaves to the curb, out of the road, up to a week before each round.