The Complete Guide to Greensboro, NC Trash and Recycling Collection

Knowing when to take out your trash and recycling is key to keeping your home and neighborhood clean in Greensboro, NC. This guide provides everything you need to know about trash and recycling collection days, what items are accepted, special collections, and more for residential service in Greensboro.

Overview of Trash Collection in Greensboro

The City of Greensboro provides trash and recycling collection for residents living within city limits. Service is provided by city crews that work 4 days per week, Monday through Thursday.

Most households receive trash collection 1-2 times per week, while recycling is collected every other week. Collection schedules are determined by your location in the city.

The city provides an online lookup tool called GSO Collects where you can enter your address to view your personalized collection calendar. Calendars can also be downloaded through the GSO Collects mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

Standard Household Trash Collection

• Trash carts must be placed at the curb by 7am on collection days.
• Carts should be 3 feet away from any other objects like mailboxes or cars.
• Trash should be bagged inside carts with lids fully closed.
• Weight limit per cart is 200 lbs.
• Greensboro provides one 96-gallon cart per household included with trash service. Additional carts can be requested for $60 annual fee per cart.

Accepted items include:

• Bagged household garbage
• Food waste
• Paper products
• Unbagged yard waste like leaves and grass (placed beside carts)

Items not accepted:

• Hazardous waste like chemicals, batteries, fluorescents
• Building materials
• Dirt, rocks, concrete
• Automotive products like oil, tires, and parts

Special non-compliant items will be left with a notice explaining why collection was not completed.

Recycling Collection

• Recycling is collected every other week on the same day as your first weekly trash pickup.
• One 96-gallon cart is provided per household.
• All recyclables can be mixed together loose in the cart. No need to separate.

Accepted recycling items:

• Plastic bottles and jugs
• Glass bottles and jars
• Metal food cans
• Paper, cardboard, cartons
• Aluminum cans and foil

Make sure recyclables are clean and empty before placing in curbside bins.

Yard Waste Collection

Yard waste like leaves, grass clippings, and brush is collected weekly along with your first trash pickup day.

For leaves and grass, simply place unbagged waste beside your trash cart on collection day. Brush and branches must be bundled securely in 4 foot sections.

The city also provides seasonal loose leaf collection each fall. Follow your neighborhood’s collection schedule during leaf season.

Bulk Item Collection

Bulk items like furniture and appliances can be collected at the curb for free by calling 336-373-CITY (2489) to schedule a pickup. Available weekly for up to 3 items.

Accepted bulk items:

• Furniture
• Appliances
• Mattresses
• Grills (no propane tank)
• Lawn mowers (drained of oil and gasoline)

Hazardous materials and building waste cannot be collected as bulk items.

Special Collections

• Appliance Collection – Residents can schedule pickup of appliances like washers, dryers, water heaters, and stoves for $25 per appliance by calling 336-373-CITY (2489). Freon-containing appliances are $50.

• Construction & Demolition Debris – For home remodeling projects, you can rent a construction dumpster or schedule a pickup of debris for a fee. Contact 336-373-CITY (2489).

• Electronics/E-waste Recycling – TVs, computers, and other electronics can be recycled for free at the White Street Landfill.

• Household Hazardous Waste – Paint, chemicals, batteries, and other hazardous items have special disposal requirements. Greensboro holds regular HHW drop-off events – check the household hazardous waste schedule for upcoming events.

• Medication Disposal – Unused medications can be safely disposed of in one of the permanent drop boxes located at Greensboro police stations.

• Shredding Service – Paper shredding events are held periodically so residents can have confidential documents destroyed securely.

• Textile Recycling – Unwanted clothing, shoes, blankets, towels, and other household textiles can be recycled at the White Street Landfill or donated to local charities.

Missed Collections

If your trash or recycling was not collected on your scheduled day, first confirm that items were placed properly according to city guidelines. If you still have an issue, contact the City of Greensboro Field Operations Department at 336-373-CITY (2489) to report a missed collection.

Problems can also be reported through the GSO Collects mobile app. Photos are helpful to document any problems.

Holiday Collection Schedules

Greensboro trash and recycling schedules change during holiday weeks when collection days fall on or after the holiday.

View the annual holiday calendar for adjusted collection days around holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, July 4th, Labor Day, etc. Schedules may vary year to year.

If your normal collection day falls AFTER the holiday that week, your pickup will be delayed by one day. For example, if your regular trash day is Thursday, but the holiday is on Monday, Thursday service would shift to Friday that week.

Additional Contacts and Resources

Greensboro Field Operations Department – For customer service, scheduling special pickups, reporting issues: 336-373-CITY (2489)

GSO Collects App – Download for Apple and Android devices to view collection calendar.

Online Lookup Tool – Enter your address to see your collection schedule.

Bulky Item Guidelines – List of accepted bulk items for curbside collection.

Recycling Guidelines – Details on what can be recycled curbside in Greensboro.

Yard Waste Policies – Yard waste collection policies and preparation requirements.

Holiday Schedules – Modified collection day calendars around major holidays.

Following Greensboro’s published trash policies and collection schedules helps keep your neighborhood clean while supporting the City’s waste diversion goals. Consistent recycling and yard waste collection also help the city achieve sustainability targets. Contact Greensboro Field Operations at 336-373-CITY (2489) if you have any other questions about your trash and recycling services.