Your Cary Trash Day — Easier to Track in 2026
If you live in Cary, the hard part is usually not weekly garbage. It is remembering that recycling runs every other week, yard waste is collected on the same day as garbage, bulky items need an appointment, and holiday changes are shown in your personalized Cary Collects schedule. This guide keeps your cary trash pickup schedule garbage collection details simple and easy to use.
📑 What’s in this guide
Cary provides weekly curbside household garbage and yard waste collection, plus every-other-week recycling on the same day as your garbage route. The town also offers bulky trash pickup by appointment, appliance pickup options, special leaf programs, and a Citizen’s Convenience Center for resident drop-off through December 30, 2026.
Dial 311 in Cary
How to Find Your Cary Trash Pickup Day (Fast Lookup)
Cary uses the Cary Collects system to show personalized schedules, holiday changes, and disposal guidance. This is the best official source for your exact curbside day.
- Open Cary Collects. Go to carync.gov/collects.
- Enter your exact address. Use your Cary service address to load your personalized collection calendar.
- Check all service types. Confirm weekly garbage, weekly yard waste, and every-other-week recycling.
- Use the Waste Wizard when needed. Cary Collects also helps with disposal questions for items that do not belong in your cart.
- Keep your schedule handy. Holiday changes and loose leaf timing can appear in your personalized Cary Collects calendar.
Cary Trash Pickup Schedule: What Runs When
Cary’s residential curbside system is straightforward once you separate the regular weekly services from the appointment-based services.
| Service | How It Works | Typical Timing | Where to Confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household Garbage | Town-provided rollout cart | Weekly | Cary Collects / Garbage Collection page |
| Recycling | 95-gallon recycling cart | Every other week | Cary Collects / Recycling page |
| Yard Waste | Paper bags, reusable containers, or tied bundles | Weekly on garbage day | Cary Collects / Yard Waste page |
| Bulky Trash | Appointment required | As requested | 311 / Garbage Collection page |
| Appliances | Pickup by request or drop-off | As requested | 311 / Citizen’s Convenience Center |
Cary also runs a town-wide loose leaf collection program and publishes service adjustments through Cary Collects. During 2026, curbside service continues even though the Citizen’s Convenience Center is scheduled to permanently close after December 30, 2026.
Cary Garbage, Recycling, Yard Waste, and Bulky Pickup System
Cary keeps household waste streams separate so each material can be handled properly at the curb or at the drop-off center.
Garbage Cart
Recycling Cart
Yard Waste
Bulky Pickup
Cary says yard waste can include grass clippings, brush, leaves, and limbs. Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected. Recyclables must be placed loose in the cart, and excess recycling can be taken to the Citizen’s Convenience Center through December 30, 2026.
⭐ Easy Cary shortcut
If you have something that does not fit the weekly garbage, recycling, or yard waste rules, check Cary Collects first before leaving it at the curb. That is usually the fastest way to avoid a missed pickup.
Cary Set-Out Rules
Cary’s rollout carts use automated collection trucks, so placement and spacing matter.
- Place carts at the curb no earlier than dusk the night before your collection day.
- Set carts out no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
- Point the arrows on the lid toward the street.
- Keep carts out of the roadway and away from poles, mailboxes, and hydrants.
- Remove emptied carts before 6:00 a.m. the next day.
- Leave room between carts and yard waste.
Cary Bulky Trash and Appliance Pickup
Cary offers bulky trash pickup by appointment for items too large to fit inside the standard rollout cart. Appliances can also be picked up curbside for a fee or taken to approved disposal locations.
Common bulky pickup items include:
- Furniture
- Gas grills
- Large televisions
- Bicycles
- Wheelbarrows
- Swing sets and other oversized approved household items
- Request the pickup first. Use Cary 311 or call 311.
- Know the fee. Cary charges $15 for the first bulky item and $8 for each additional item collected during the same trip.
- Use appliance pickup when needed. Refrigerators, washers, dryers, and similar appliances can be picked up curbside for a fee.
- Use the convenience center if preferred. Appliances can also be dropped off at the Citizen’s Convenience Center for a fee while the site remains open.
- Keep the curb organized. Do not mix appointment-only items with your normal weekly yard waste or cart service.
⭐ Cary resident advantage
If you have extra garbage that will not fit inside the cart, Cary says you can either take it to the Citizen’s Convenience Center at no charge or schedule a special collection that may involve fees.
Cary 2026 Holiday Schedule Guidance
Cary does not use one simple blanket rule for every holiday week. Instead, the town publishes the annual solid waste holiday schedule and reflects personalized changes in Cary Collects. That means your exact 2026 collection shift should always be checked by address.
| Observed Town Holiday | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Check Cary Collects for your personalized curbside schedule |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Check Cary Collects for your personalized curbside schedule |
| Good Friday | Check Cary Collects for your personalized curbside schedule |
| Memorial Day | Check Cary Collects for your personalized curbside schedule |
| Juneteenth | Check Cary Collects for your personalized curbside schedule |
| Independence Day | Check Cary Collects for your personalized curbside schedule |
| Labor Day | Check Cary Collects for your personalized curbside schedule |
| Veterans Day | Check Cary Collects for your personalized curbside schedule |
| Thanksgiving | Check Cary Collects for your personalized curbside schedule |
| Christmas | Check Cary Collects for your personalized curbside schedule |
This is the safest way to avoid mistakes, because Cary’s holiday collection changes can vary and are published through the town’s annual solid waste schedule and Cary Collects system.
What to Do If Cary Missed Your Pickup
If your garbage, recycling, yard waste, or appointment pickup was missed, Cary 311 is the main contact point for getting help.
- Check Cary Collects first. Confirm that you used the correct day and recycling week for your address.
- Review your set-out timing. Carts should be out by 7:00 a.m. and yard waste should also be curbside by 7:00 a.m.
- Check preparation rules. Yard waste in plastic bags or overloaded containers may not be collected.
- Contact Cary 311. Use the 311 page, dial 311 in Cary, or call (919) 469-4000 outside town limits.
- Use the online request system if needed. Cary’s service request tools are designed for missed collections and curbside questions.
or dial 311 in Cary
Cary Citizen’s Convenience Center and Drop-Off Options
Cary’s Citizen’s Convenience Center accepts residential solid waste, recycling, food waste, and yard waste for proper disposal. It remains open through December 30, 2026, then permanently closes starting January 1, 2027.
Citizen’s Convenience Center
313 N. Dixon Ave., Cary, NC 27513; open through December 30, 2026
Recycling Drop-Off Guidance
Extra recycling can be taken to the convenience center through December 31, 2026, at no charge
Yard Waste Rules
Weekly curbside rules plus drop-off options for yard waste at the convenience center
Garbage Collection
Bulky trash fees, appliance pickup options, and cart rules
Frequently Asked Questions About Cary Trash Pickup
How do I find my Cary trash pickup day?
Use Cary Collects and search your address to get your personalized collection schedule.
Is garbage collected every week in Cary?
Yes. Cary collects household garbage weekly at the curb on the same day as yard waste collection.
Is recycling every week in Cary?
No. Cary collects recycling every other week on the same day as your garbage and yard waste pickup day.
Is yard waste collected weekly in Cary?
Yes. Yard waste is collected each week at the curb on your regular garbage collection day when prepared properly.
What time should I put my carts out in Cary?
Place your cart at the curb no earlier than dusk the night before collection and no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
When do I need to remove my cart?
Cary says emptied carts should be removed from the curb before 6:00 a.m. the next day.
Can I use plastic bags for yard waste?
No. Cary says yard waste contained in plastic bags will not be collected.
How much does Cary bulky pickup cost?
The fee is $15 for the first bulky item and $8 for each additional item collected during the same trip.
Can I drop off extra recycling in Cary?
Yes. Excess recycling can be taken to the Citizen’s Convenience Center at 313 N. Dixon Ave. through December 31, 2026, at no charge.
Is the Citizen’s Convenience Center closing?
Yes. Public access to the facility is scheduled to permanently close after December 30, 2026, though curbside services are not affected at this time.
Official Cary Trash Collection Resources
Cary Collects
Official personalized collection schedule and disposal search tool
Garbage, Recycling & Yard Waste
Main town page for curbside solid waste services
Curbside Collection Rules
Official rollout cart setup, spacing, and curb placement instructions
Yard Waste
Weekly yard waste rules, bag limits, bundle limits, and loose leaf information
Citizen’s Convenience Center
Official drop-off center page with hours, fees, and 2026 closure notice
Cary 311
Service requests, missed pickup help, and town contact options
Reminder: Cary Collects is the source of truth for your exact address, your recycling week, and your holiday-adjusted schedule.