Thank you for printing this page from the City of Raleigh's Official Website (www.raleighnc.gov) 04/26/2022 9:42 am

What to recycle and how

The City of Raleigh makes it easy to recycle! We offer bi-weekly curbside recycling to single-family residential customers and offer recycling drop off areas at apartment complexes, condominiums, and townhomes. 

On this page you'll find information on your recycling pick-up day, how to report a missed collection, order an extra cart, set up your service, and where to drop off any items the City can't collect curbside.  

The City of Raleigh's recycling, garbage, yard waste, water, and sewer fees are all charged in one monthly utility bill. 

To open a utility services account, complete a New Account Application or to transfer existing services, complete a Transfer Service Application. Alternatively, you can call a Customer Service Representative at 919-996-3245 for assistance.

Recycling is collected every other week. Find out your recycling day by using our MyRaleigh Services interactive tool. Find your day

Find out what items can be places in your blue cart or bin for recycling, time to put it out and how to prep. 

Items that can be recycled

It's imperative that only materials listed below be placed in recycling carts. You can also check the lid of your blue cart for easy reference. Find out whether your item is recyclable by type. 

Plastics | Metals | Glass | Cardboard | Paper

Don't see your type of items in this list? Check out our unique items recycling information. 

Place accepted recyclables in the blue recycling cart provided by the City and put the cart at the curb by 6 a.m. on your designated collection day. You can help collection crews by preparing the recyclable materials before putting them in your recycling container. 

The City of Raleigh provides all single-family households with a complimentary recycling cart. Residents should call 919-996-3245 to establish City services – water service along with garbage and recycling pick-up. The Solid Waste Services Department will deliver a 95-gallon recycling cart to your residence.

Additional carts may be purchased by calling 919-996-3245. You may request a 95-gallon cart for $50 or a 65-gallon cart for $48. The additional cart will be delivered to your residence and you will be billed in your next City services utility bill.

Here are the dimensions of the two recycling cart options:

Yes. If you do not need a 95-gallon cart as your primary recycling container, you may request a smaller, 65-gallon cart instead. Please call 919-996-3245 to request a smaller cart. The Solid Waste Services Department will pick up your larger cart and replace it with the smaller container.

Before you make the call for a smaller recycling cart, please remember that recycling collection is every other week, not weekly. Also consider that there may be times, such as around the holiday season, that you’ll need the extra room offered by the 95-gallon cart.

To report a missed garbage, recycling, or yard waste collection:

Find out which items qualify as electronic waste, how to get it recycled, and what to do with some unique items. 

You can recycle electronic waste or e-waste! Residents can call 919-996-3245 to schedule a pickup; items should be placed at the curb for collection. Common items that can be collected through our e-waste program include:

There are some items the City can not pick up curbside. In those cases, you will need to either schedule a pick up, take the item to a drop off location or local partner. 

For items like appliances, cars, car parts, motor oil, clothing, baby items, cooking oil, dead animals, household hazardous waste, mail, medicines, paper documents, books and packing materials there are a variety of methods for disposal.

Learn about what to do with each type. 

Have you ever wondered what happens to recyclable materials once crews collect them from your recycling bin or cart? Where do they go? What materials are acceptable to place in your recycling bin? Join us for a virtual tour of a recycling plant to see the journey and learn what can and cannot go in the recycling bin. 

sws@raleighnc.gov 919-996-3245