Greensboro Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026
Find your Greensboro collection day, recycling week (red or blue calendar), yard waste, bulk, and 2026 holiday schedule — City crews, no contractor.
City of Greensboro · Solid Waste & Recycling Department · Updated May 2026
Find Your Greensboro Collection Day
Select your pickup day to see your full schedule — trash, recycling week, yard waste, and bulk. Use the GSO Collects tool or app for your address-specific red or blue recycling calendar.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete Greensboro collection schedule.
⚠ Wednesday is not a collection day. Most Greensboro crews work Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri (4-day weeks; no Wednesday collection). Use GSO Collects online or the app to find your address-specific day and print your red or blue recycling calendar. More options ↓
Greensboro Waste Collection — Quick Facts
The City of Greensboro operates its own Solid Waste & Recycling Department — no private contractor. Crews work four-day weeks: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. There is no collection on Wednesdays. Greensboro uses a four-cart system: green trash, brown recycling, gray yard waste, and bulk items collected every other week. The recycling cart is brown (not blue), and glass is not accepted curbside — use glass drop-off sites. Use the GSO Collects app or online tool to find your address-specific red or blue recycling calendar.
Greensboro’s Four-Cart System — What Goes Where
Every Greensboro residential address receives four color-coded carts. Garbage and yard waste are collected weekly. Recycling and bulk items are collected every other week on the same day. Your address is on either the red calendar or the blue calendar — check at GSO Collects or download the app.
Green Cart — Garbage
All non-recyclable household waste. At curb by 7 a.m. Max 2 carts per address.
WeeklyBrown Cart — Recycling
Paper, cardboard, metal cans, plastic bottles/tubs/jugs. Loose, clean, dry. No glass. No bags.
Every other weekGray Cart — Yard Waste
Leaves, grass, branches, trimmings. Paper bags or tied bundles supplement. Lid must close.
WeeklyBulk Items
Furniture, mattresses, carpet rolls. No appliances — schedule separately. Max 50 lbs per item.
Every other week⏰ Set-Out Rules — All Carts
- All carts and bulk items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Items can be set out the night before.
- Carts must be removed by 7:00 a.m. the following day (Trash & Recycling Cart Rollback Program).
- No more than two City-approved carts per stream may be placed at the curb.
- Recycling cart lid must be fully closed. Open or overfilled carts may be skipped.
- Yard waste cart lid must be fully closed. Branches protruding or open lid = service denial.
- Need help? Residents with disabilities can request the Cart Rollback Program at 336-373-CITY.
Greensboro Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
Greensboro observes 10 City holidays in 2026 with service changes. The logic is unique: Monday holidays push Mon/Tue later; Thursday or Friday holidays push Thu/Fri earlier (to Wednesday or Thursday). Wednesday collections are unaffected. Trash collection may occur even when City Hall is closed.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Impact | Adjusted Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | Thu Earlier | Thursday → Wednesday, Dec 31 | Friday unchanged |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Mon/Tue Later | Monday → Tuesday, Jan 20 | Tuesday → Wednesday, Jan 21 |
| Spring Break | Fri, Apr 3 | Thu/Fri Earlier | Thursday → Wednesday, Apr 1 | Friday → Thursday, Apr 2 |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Mon/Tue Later | Monday → Tuesday, May 26 | Tuesday → Wednesday, May 27 |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19 | Thu/Fri Earlier | Thursday → Wednesday, Jun 17 | Friday → Thursday, Jun 18 |
| Independence Day | Fri, Jul 3 (observed) | Thu/Fri Earlier | Thursday → Wednesday, Jul 1 | Friday → Thursday, Jul 2 |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Mon/Tue Later | Monday → Tuesday, Sep 8 | Tuesday → Wednesday, Sep 9 |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11 | No Change | Falls on Wednesday — collection remains the same for all routes |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | Thu Earlier | Thursday → Wednesday, Nov 25 | Friday unchanged |
| Winter Break | Fri, Dec 25 | Thu/Fri Earlier | Thursday → Wednesday, Dec 23 | Friday → Thursday, Dec 24 |
| New Year’s Day 2027 | Fri, Jan 1 | Thu/Fri Earlier | Thursday → Wednesday, Dec 30 | Friday → Thursday, Dec 31 |
Greensboro Recycling — What Goes in the Brown Cart (No Glass)
Greensboro uses single-stream recycling in a brown cart, collected every other week on the same day as your bulk items. Your address is on either the Red Calendar or Blue Calendar — confirm at GSO Collects. All items must be empty, clean, dry, and loose. Glass is NOT accepted in the brown cart — use drop-off sites instead.
✅ Recycling Is As Easy as 1-2-3
- 1. Paper & cardboard: newspapers, magazines, office paper, mail, flattened cardboard boxes, paper bags
- 2. Metal food & drink cans: aluminum and steel cans, empty aerosol cans
- 3. Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs: rinsed beverage bottles, detergent jugs, yogurt tubs, shampoo bottles
- All items: empty, clean, dry, and loose (never bagged)
🚫 Never in the Brown Cart
- Glass → use glass drop-off locations
- Plastic bags or film → grocery store drop-off
- Styrofoam of any kind
- Food or food-soiled items
- Electronics, batteries → HHW Collection Center
- Yard waste, clothing, or textiles
- Loose shredded paper (bag it in a paper bag, then recycle the bag)
⚠ #RecycleRight Contamination Enforcement
Greensboro actively monitors recycling carts for contamination. Drivers use GPS-enabled phones to audit carts and photograph contamination before emptying. If contamination is found, you receive a postcard with a photo. Three contamination incidents within six months can result in your recycling cart being removed. Repeated contamination may also cause your cart to be deliberately skipped that day. Use the Waste Wizard in GSO Collects to confirm any item before recycling.
Glass Recycling — Drop-Off Locations Across Greensboro
Glass cannot go in the curbside brown recycling cart. However, clean, empty glass bottles and jars can be recycled at any of the following 19 drop-off locations across Greensboro. Glass collected here is recycled into new glass bottles and jars in North Carolina.
Greensboro Yard Waste Collection — Gray Cart
Yard waste is collected weekly on your regular garbage day. North Carolina state law requires yard waste to be separated from trash and recycling. Each household receives one free 95-gallon gray yard waste cart; a second can be purchased. Paper yard waste bags and tied bundles supplement the cart each week.
✅ Accepted in Gray Cart & Paper Bags
- Leaves, grass clippings, dead plant material
- Branches and twigs (must fit with lid closed)
- Yard trimmings, flowers, sod, mulch
- Paper yard waste bags (biodegradable, under 50 lbs)
- Tied bundles: max 5 ft long, max 50 lbs, tied with twine or string
- Up to 10 bags or bundles (any combination) per week; 15 during leaf season (Nov–Feb)
- Christmas trees: remove all decorations, lights, tinsel, stand; cut in half if over 5 ft
🚫 Not Accepted in Yard Waste
- Plastic bags — even biodegradable ones → always paper only
- Soil, fertilizer bags, bricks, rocks, dirt
- Plant pots, plastic fencing or barriers
- Pet waste, food waste, garbage
- Any item over 50 lbs
- Items that prevent lid from closing
- No loose leaves or organic material in the street or right-of-way
🍂 Leaf Season — November through February
From November through February, the bag/bundle limit increases to 15 items per week (any combination of bags and bundles) in addition to your gray cart. All leaves must be in your yard, in the gray cart, or in paper bags — never loose in the street or right-of-way. The leaf season limit reduces back to 10 in March.
Greensboro Bulk Item Pickup — Every Other Week
Bulk items are collected every other week on the same day as your recycling — check your red or blue calendar or GSO Collects. Items must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your bulk collection day. Each item must weigh 50 lbs or less. Appliances and electronics require separate scheduling.
✅ Accepted Bulk Items
- Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers (under 50 lbs each)
- Mattresses and box springs
- Carpet: rolled and tied, max 5 ft per bundle
- Clean lumber and wood (no nails or screws)
- Small power yard equipment (gas and oil fully drained)
- Items under 50 lbs — the 2-2-2 rule: never 2 big for 2 people 2 carry
🚫 Not Accepted as Curbside Bulk
- Items over 50 lbs
- Appliances (fridges, washers, dryers, AC units) → schedule separately
- Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors) → HHW Collection Center
- Cardboard boxes → flatten into brown recycling cart
- Extra bags of trash → not bulk; purchase additional trash cart
- Construction debris in large quantities → call for fee-based pickup
- Lawn equipment with gas/oil still in it → drain first or take to HHW
🔊 Appliance Disposal — Schedule Separately
Appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, ovens, AC units) are not bulk items. Call the City’s Contact Center at 336-373-CITY (2489) to schedule a separate appliance pickup. The City provides this service to residential customers. Do not place appliances at the curb on bulk day without scheduling first.
Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics — HHW Collection Center
The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center is free and open to Guilford County residents only. It accepts a wide range of household chemicals, automotive fluids, batteries, electronics, and more. Never put these items in regular trash, recycling, or bulk piles.
⚠ HHW Collection Center
2750 Patterson Street, Greensboro, NC 27407
Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
Free for Guilford County residents. Residential use only.
💻 Electronics Accepted
TVs, computers, laptops, monitors, phones, printers — all accepted free at the HHW Collection Center.
Do not put electronics in trash, recycling, or bulk piles.
Contact: 336-373-CITY (2489)
✅ Accepted at HHW Center
- Paint, paint thinner, stain, varnish, deck sealer
- Motor oil, brake fluid, antifreeze, gasoline, starter fluid
- Car batteries, wet-cell batteries, rechargeable batteries
- Pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rat poison, weed killer
- Pool chemicals, household cleaners (solvent-based), drain cleaners, oven cleaner
- Nail polish, hair spray, acetone, turpentine
- Electronics: TVs, computers, monitors, phones, printers
- Fluorescent bulbs and tubes
- Glues, contact cement, photographic chemicals, shellac
🚫 Not in Regular Trash or Recycling
- Any paint, paint thinner, or automotive fluid
- Gasoline or fuel of any kind
- Batteries (all types)
- Pesticides or pool chemicals
- Electronics (TVs, computers, phones)
- Fluorescent or CFL bulbs
- Medical waste or sharps
- Propane tanks
💊 Medication Drop-Off Boxes
Prescription and over-the-counter medications can be dropped off safely at medication collection boxes available at several City locations. Use the GSO Collects Waste Wizard or call 336-373-CITY (2489) to find the nearest location. Do not flush medications or put them in the trash.
White Street Landfill & Solid Waste Transfer Station
Greensboro operates two City waste facilities for residents who need to self-haul or drop off excess materials. Both also offer free recycling drop-off for paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, and glass (separate container).
🏭 White Street Landfill
2503 White St., Greensboro, NC
Hours: Mon–Fri, 7:50 a.m.–4:50 p.m. • Sat, 7 a.m.–1 p.m.
Accepts: construction debris and yard waste from Guilford County only. Tipping fees apply.
Free recycling drop-off for residents (proof of residency); $10 for non-residents.
🏭 Solid Waste Transfer Station
6310 Burnt Poplar Rd., Greensboro, NC
Hours: Mon–Fri, 6 a.m.–6 p.m. • Sat, 7 a.m.–1 p.m.
Accepts: municipal solid waste, bulk trash, construction debris. Tipping fees apply.
Free recycling drop-off for residents (proof of residency); $10 for non-residents.
📈 Compost & Mulch from White Street Landfill
The City produces compost and mulch from collected yard waste at White Street Landfill. Finished compost and mulch products are available to Greensboro residents. Visit greensboro-nc.gov/compost-and-mulch for current availability and pricing.
What to Do If Your Pickup Was Missed in Greensboro
- Confirm your collection day and week using GSO Collects online at greensboro-nc.gov/gso-collects or the app. Remember: no collections on Wednesdays. Confirm whether it is your recycling/bulk week or your trash/yard waste week.
- Check for a holiday adjustment. Greensboro’s holiday logic is unusual — Thursday/Friday routes often shift earlier, not later. Use GSO Collects, which adjusts automatically for every holiday.
- Check for a weather delay. Greensboro suspends collection in icy or snowy conditions. Follow the City’s social media or greensboro-nc.gov for weather updates.
- Verify cart placement. Items at curb by 7:00 a.m., lid fully closed, no overfilling, no items outside the cart, within 2 cart lengths of the street (not at an alley or side street).
- Check for a contamination tag. A recycling cart with prohibited items (glass, plastic bags, food waste) may be skipped or tagged. Remove offending items and check for a postcard.
- Report the missed pickup using the Report an Issue feature in GSO Collects (online or app) or call the Contact Center at 336-373-CITY (2489).
Greensboro Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Greensboro or Just Moved In?
Use GSO Collects at greensboro-nc.gov/gso-collects to find your address-specific collection day and your red or blue recycling calendar. Download the GSO Collects app for automatic holiday and weather adjustments. Your recycling cart is brown. No glass in any curbside cart — use the 19 glass drop-off locations. Call 336-373-CITY (2489) for cart delivery, extra carts, or appliance pickup scheduling.
🍂 Red Calendar vs. Blue Calendar
Every Greensboro address is on either a red recycling calendar or a blue recycling calendar. Both calendars collect recycling every other week, but on different weeks. Your red or blue calendar also determines your bulk item pickup week, since bulk is always collected on the same day as recycling. Print your 2026 calendar from GSO Collects — the app will automatically remind you on the right days.
🚫 5 Common Mistakes Greensboro Residents Make
- Putting glass in the brown recycling cart — glass is a contaminant; use the 19 drop-off locations
- Using plastic bags in the brown recycling cart — always loose; never bagged
- Not knowing whether this week is a recycling/bulk week or trash/yard-waste-only week
- Placing appliances at the curb on bulk day — appliances require a separate scheduled pickup via 336-373-CITY
- Using plastic bags for yard waste — Greensboro only accepts paper bags since March 2024
🏭 Recycle Rodeo — Annual Drop-Off Event
Each spring, Greensboro hosts the Recycle Rodeo, a free event accepting hard-to-recycle items not collected curbside (tires, electronics, hazardous materials, and more). The 2026 Recycle Rodeo was held April 18 at a City location. Watch for announcements on greensboro-nc.gov/solid-waste for future events.
Contact Greensboro Solid Waste & Recycling
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| City Contact Center | 📞 336-373-CITY (2489) — trash, recycling, yard waste, bulk, missed pickups, appliance scheduling, extra carts, HHW questions. Calls may be recorded. |
| GSO Collects (Online Tool & App) | greensboro-nc.gov/gso-collects — address schedule lookup, 2026 red/blue calendar, Waste Wizard, missed pickup reports, reminders. Free iOS & Android app. |
| HHW Collection Center | 2750 Patterson St. • Mon–Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m. • Sat 8 a.m.–2 p.m. • Free for Guilford County residents |
| White Street Landfill | 2503 White St. • Mon–Fri 7:50 a.m.–4:50 p.m. • Sat 7 a.m.–1 p.m. • C&D and yard waste (Guilford County only) |
| Solid Waste Transfer Station | 6310 Burnt Poplar Rd. • Mon–Fri 6 a.m.–6 p.m. • Sat 7 a.m.–1 p.m. • Municipal solid waste, bulk, C&D |
| Recycling Drop-Off (Overflow) | Free for Greensboro residents at White Street Landfill and Transfer Station (paper, cardboard, metal, plastic; glass in separate bin). $10 for non-residents. Proof of residency required. |
| Email — Recycling Questions | recycle@greensboro-nc.gov — recycling questions and program feedback |
| Solid Waste & Recycling Dept. | greensboro-nc.gov/solid-waste — full program information, schedules, news, holiday updates |
Frequently Asked Questions — Greensboro Trash Pickup
Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?
The most reliable source for your Greensboro collection schedule is the GSO Collects tool. Enter your address to generate your personalized calendar, confirm your red or blue recycling week, print a 2026 calendar, set up reminders, and look up any item.
🔍 Official Greensboro Schedule Lookup & Contact Options
All of the following are official sources for Greensboro collection schedule information:
🔍 Open GSO Collects Tool 📞 Call 336-373-CITY| GSO Collects Tool & App | greensboro-nc.gov/gso-collects — address-based schedule, red/blue recycling calendar, Waste Wizard, missed pickup reports, holiday-adjusted reminders. Free iOS & Android app. |
| 2026 Recycling Calendars (PDF) | Download the Red Calendar or Blue Calendar directly from the City. Your address determines which one applies. |
| City Contact Center | 336-373-CITY (2489) — trash, recycling, bulk, yard waste, missed pickups, appliance scheduling, cart requests. |
| Holiday Schedule | greensboro-nc.gov/collection-schedule — full 2026 holiday pickup schedule with specific dates and adjusted days for each holiday. |
| Solid Waste & Recycling Dept. | greensboro-nc.gov/solid-waste — all programs, news, HHW center, landfill, transfer station, yard waste, and bulk. |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above. The GSO Collects tool is Greensboro’s official source for personalized address-based schedules.
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