The Town provides weekly trash collection for residents within Town limits, as well as weekly yardwaste collection. (Orange County Solid Waste provides recycling services, as well as drop-off centers.) Your service is paid through your or your landlord's property taxes, so there are no fees and no accounts to set up or cancel. Your Town trash cart is free and your Town yard waste cart costs $50. There are some special wastes we can pick up for a fee (furniture, extra yard waste, etc.) We rent small dumpsters for yard waste collection only.
The Town provides weekly curbside garbage collection to 11,000 single-family homes and some small businesses. Rear loading vehicles are used to collect garbage from 65-gallon capacity roll-out carts, which are provided to residents at no cost. The University provides refuse and recycling collection on campus. Garbage is to be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. on the collection day, with containers removed before 7 p.m. on the same day. Failure to remove garbage roll-out carts or containers from the curb may result in a $25 per day fine.
Your Collection Schedule
Garbage service is conducted on Monday and Tuesday. What day is your garbage and yard waste collected? Click here for a residential trash collection map searchable by address.
Roll-out Carts
Roll-out cart delivery and repair can be scheduled by calling the Public Works Department. Roll-out carts are the property of the Town and must be left at the residence if the resident moves. Each residence is provided one roll-out cart for household trash at no charge. Additional roll-out carts may be purchased for $60 per cart.
Protocols to Ensure Collection Please help us provide efficient, safe and timely service to all residents by doing the following:
-Put carts or cans where a collector can conveniently get to them.
-Use Town provided roll-out carts or cans no larger than 32-gallons.
-Cans (32-gallon or smaller sizes) must weigh less than 60 pounds when full.
-Load your container to a reasonable leave – and please don’t overfill it.
-Overloading may damage the container as it is being emptied.
-Cans should have tight-fitting lids that are water-tight and fly-proof.
-Put all garbage and household refuse in watertight bags before being placed in refuse receptacles.
-Wash roll-cart with soap and water as needed.
Missed Trash Collection
In the event that your trash collection is missed, please call the Public Works Department at 919-969-5100. If your trash is not curbside by 6:00 am on your collection day, it will be collected the following week on your next routine collection day.
Yard waste includes brush, limbs, leaves, grass clippings and other yard or garden debris.
The Town provides weekly, curbside collection of containerized yard waste and small yard waste piles from residences. Those receiving Monday garbage service, receive Thursday yard waste collection. Residents receiving Tuesday garbage service, receive Friday yard waste collection. Yard waste is taken to Orange County where it is chipped into mulch and offered for sale at the landfill.
Yard Waste Roll-out Carts Residents are encouraged to use Town yard waste roll carts for the collection of yard waste. Yard waste roll-out carts may be purchased for $50 per cart. Free delivery is available. The replacement cost of yard waste carts is the responsibility of the resident.
The Town stopped servicing the old green carts that look like wheelbarrows on October 30, 2015.
Protocols to Ensure Collection Please help us provide efficient, safe and timely service to all residents by doing the following:
-Loose yard waste, such as leaves, grass clippings, and pine needles should be placed in a yard waste roll cart, other rigid container, or paper yard waste bags. -Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected. -All yard waste must be behind the curb or street side.
-For small yard waste projects, brush should be cut to less than 4 feet in length and placed into a pile that does not exceed 3 cubic yards, which is about the size of a small pickup truckload.
-Home composting of yard waste is encouraged by the town and information is available here.
Christmas Tree Removal Christmas trees are collected on the regular yard waste collection schedule. All decorations and tinsel should be removed before placing trees at the curbside. Residents of apartment complexes should place trees in designated areas alongside the dumpsters but not inside them.
For large yard waste projects that exceed 3 cubic yards, the following options are available:
Knuckleboom Truck Collection Contact the Town to arrange a paid collection. $125 per truckload.
Yardwaste Dumpster Rental
Rent a 10 cubic yard waste container. The cost is $35 per day Monday through Friday or $60 on the weekend. You must turn in a contract and make payment the day before you would like it delivered. Download the contract here.
Take to the Landfill Take the yard waste to one of Orange County’s Solid Waste Convenience Centers. They accept up to one pickup truckload of yard waste per day or weekend period at no charge for residents. For more information, call 919-968-2788.
The Town does not collect large logs, stumps, crossties, and clearing debris from lots. It is the responsibility of the contractor or builder to remove such items. If the contractor or builder does not remove the material, it is the responsibility of the property owner.
For disposal of large household items, including electronic equipment, residents may call the Public Works Department at 919-969-5100 to request pickup. The pickup service fee is $15 for up to three items, and $5 for each additional item. You need to pre-pay. Once you pay, you'll put your items on the curb that evening. Then you will wait. Your items are usually collected within 3-5 business days.
*For residents with dumpster collection service provided by the Town, you will place your items near the community dumpster. (Please make sure not to place your items behind, directly in front of, or leaning on the dumpster, as this can block collection.)
The Town of Chapel Hill cannot collect...
-Recycling
-Liquids
-Stumps
-Hazardous waste
-Railroad ties
-Cardboard (except dirty pizza boxes)
-Rock, brick, cinderblocks
-Dirt, mulch
-Building materials
-Pallets
-Tires or car parts
-Car seats
-Batteries
-Pianos
For information on how to dispose of these items, contact Orange County Solid Waste Services Management at (919) 968-2788 or check out their website at orangecountync.gov.
Curbside recycling services are performed weekly by Orange County Solid Waste Management Department. Recycling carts are provided at no charge to each residence. Recycling services are also provided at five 24-hour recycling drop-off sites and five staffed solid waste convenience centers located throughout the County. For more information, call them at 919-968-2788.
Citations issued by the Solid Waste Services Division can be appealed in writing. Complete the appeal form and either mail, fax, or email it as instructed on the form.
The Public Works Department removes dead animals from roads and the right-of-way within Town limits. The Town does not remove dead animals from yards or from the woods near a yard. If a citizen observes a hazardous situation during non-working hours, call 911. For the removal of dead animals on roads outside of the Town, call the NC Department of Transportation at 919-732-4330.
The Town DOES NOT offer collection of Recycling or Cardboard dumpsters.
Dumpster Service The Town offers the collection of front loading dumpsters in the city limits. The town does not sell, maintain, or replace commercial dumpsters.
Compactor Service Downtown Each business in the downtown compactor district is subject to compactor service fees. The fees are based on volume of generation. Examples of high volume generators may include: restaurants and bars with onsite dining, movie theaters, and drug stores. Examples of medium volume generators may include: ice cream and coffee shops. Examples of low volume generators may include: small clothing stores, small retail stores, or small business offices.
Commercial Rollcart Service Entities that do not qualify for front loading commercial collection service due to space restrictions and safety concerns may qualify for commercial service via roll carts.
-To inquire about beginning commercial service, or to inquire about current service issues or schedules, call us at (919) 969-5100.
-To inquire about billing, payments, or fees, contact the Business Management department at (919) 968-2712
