Trash and recycling pickup in Huntersville: schedule, holidays, bulk

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Town of Huntersville’s garbage, recycling and yard waste page, its bulk item and brush pile page and the Mecklenburg County FY 2026-2027 tax rate chart (PDF).

Curbside garbage, recycling and yard waste in Huntersville are collected by Waste Connections under contract with the town. Garbage and yard waste go weekly. Recycling goes every other week. Call Waste Connections at 704-596-9428 to start service, order a cart or report a missed pickup.

There is no separate trash bill. The town’s residential solid waste fee, $270 a year for a single-family home, is on your Mecklenburg County property tax bill, along with the county’s own $61.50 solid waste fee, according to the county’s rate chart.

Who to call

• Missed pickup, new or broken cart, extra carts: Waste Connections, 704-596-9428, or email customerservice6111@wasteconnections.com
• Bulk item and brush pickup, ongoing service problems: Huntersville Public Works, 704-875-7007, 14704 N. Old Statesville Road
• County drop-off centers: Mecklenburg County Solid Waste, 980-314-3867
• Official page: Garbage, Recycling and Yard Waste

What day is my pickup?

Enter your address in the Waste Connections pickup schedule. It shows your garbage, recycling and yard waste day. The town’s rules for every pickup:

• Carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day.
• Three feet between carts, and four feet from mailboxes, poles, hydrants, trees and cars.
• Lid fully closed, hinge facing away from the road. An open lid means an overfilled cart.
• Bag your trash. Do not bag recyclables.
• Nothing on top of or beside the cart. It will not be collected.

A cart that breaks the rules is tagged and left. Fix it and it goes at the next regular pickup; do not leave it at the curb until then, or a fee may be issued.

Holiday schedule

Waste Connections observes only three holidays: New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If your pickup falls on the holiday or any weekday after it, it moves back one day. A holiday on a Friday pushes Friday pickup to Saturday. Holidays on a weekend do not change anything.

Veterans Day and other federal holidays do not change pickup.

Bulk items and brush piles

Bulky trash is not part of weekly service. Huntersville Public Works runs a separate, paid pickup every Monday from 7 a.m. Book and pay through the Bulk Item and Brush Pile Pick-Up Request form by midnight Sunday. When a holiday falls on a Monday, pickup moves to Tuesday.

• Price: the minimum is $40, which covers two standard items; each additional item is $25. Pay online by card, or with cash or check at Huntersville Town Hall.
• Taken: furniture, mattresses and box springs, appliances (chest freezers up to 8.7 cubic feet), flat-screen TVs, grills, push mowers, exercise equipment, bicycles, toilets, water heaters, flattened moving boxes (40 boxes count as one item) and up to four bags of trash as one item.
• Brush: one neat pile no larger than 10 feet wide, 10 feet long and 5 feet high, with limbs no more than 4 inches thick and 4 feet long, 5 to 6 feet clear of overhead wires.
• Not taken: construction and demolition debris, carpet, flooring, shingles, brick, concrete, dirt, rocks, tires, paint cans, gas cans, hazardous materials, treated wood, pallets, tree stumps and logs.

Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a refund. The service is for houses inside town limits only; apartment complexes and businesses are not served. It is meant for a few large items, not a full move-out.

Yard waste and fall leaves

The green cart takes leaves, grass clippings, shrub trimmings, pine cones and limbs under 4 inches thick cut to fit with the lid closed, according to the town’s yard waste page.

Leaf season runs Oct. 15 to Jan. 15. During those weeks you can set out up to 10 brown paper leaf bags (25 to 35 gallons, no more than 75 pounds each) beside the cart. The rest of the year the limit is five. Leaves in plastic bags, “burrito” bags or trash cans are not collected.

Live Christmas trees, wreaths and garland are picked up at the curb from Dec. 26 to Jan. 15 with all lights, wire and ornaments removed.

Recycling

Recycling goes in loose, never bagged. Plastic grocery bags, zip-top bags and plastic wrap do not belong in the cart. Break boxes into 3-foot squares so the lid closes. New residents can ask Waste Connections for a one-time pickup of up to 25 flattened moving boxes on their next recycling day. For any item you are unsure about, check Mecklenburg County’s Wipe Out Waste guide.

Hazardous waste, electronics and drop-off centers

The town does not collect paint, oil, pesticides or other hazardous materials. Those go to one of Mecklenburg County’s full-service drop-off centers, open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday, the town says. The nearest is the North Mecklenburg Recycling Center, 12300 N. Statesville Road in Huntersville. The centers also take electronics, bulky waste and extra yard waste; a fee may apply, so call 980-314-3867 first.

What this means for you

• Garbage and yard waste weekly, recycling every other week, carts out by 7 a.m.
• Only three holidays move pickup, and each one moves it back a day.
• Bulk and brush pickup costs money and must be booked by Sunday night.
• Leaves go in brown paper bags only, up to 10 a week until Jan. 15.

More: Mecklenburg County property taxes and who to call in town government.

Frequently asked questions

What day is trash pickup in Huntersville?

It depends on your street. Waste Connections collects garbage and yard waste once a week and recycling every other week; type your address into the Waste Connections pickup schedule to see your day.

Who picks up trash in Huntersville?

Waste Connections collects residential garbage, recycling and yard waste carts under contract with the Town of Huntersville. Call 704-596-9428 to start service or report a missed cart.

How do I get bulk pickup in Huntersville?

Book and pay online through the town’s Bulk Item and Brush Pile Pick-Up form by midnight Sunday. Pickup is Monday from 7 a.m. The minimum charge is $40 for two items, plus $25 for each additional item.

Is trash pickup delayed for Thanksgiving in Huntersville?

Yes. Waste Connections observes Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Pickup on the holiday and every weekday after it moves back one day, and Friday routes are collected Saturday.

How many bags of leaves will Huntersville take?

From Oct. 15 to Jan. 15, up to 10 brown paper leaf bags a week go out beside the yard waste cart. The rest of the year the limit is five bags. Plastic bags are not collected.