Charlotte picks up yard waste every week, on the same day as your garbage. The catch is that it has to be prepared the city’s way, or it stays on the curb. Here’s how to bag leaves and grass, handle brush and limbs, avoid a citation, and haul bigger loads to a Mecklenburg County drop-off center.
Fall is when this matters most. The first big leaf drop in a new house tends to raise a lot of questions at once, so we’ve put the answers in one place. If you’re still setting up carts and accounts, start with our guide to setting up utilities, trash and recycling, and keep our moving-in checklist handy.
Quick answer: how yard waste pickup works in Charlotte
The city collects yard waste from the curb once a week on your scheduled collection day, as long as it’s prepared correctly. According to the City of Charlotte Collection Guidelines, it’s turned into mulch and compost.
Yard waste goes out on the same day as garbage, and it needs to be at the curb by 6 a.m. The city’s Solid Waste Service FAQs say the same.
Not sure which day is yours? The Collection Guidelines page links to My Charlotte Lookup, which shows your collection day and recycling week.
Your set-out checklist
Most missed pickups come down to timing or placement. Get these right and you’re most of the way there.
Timing
Don’t put yard waste out sooner than the day before collection. The Collection Guidelines say a minimum $150 citation may be issued for early set-out.
So the evening before, or early on the morning of, is the window. Just make sure it’s out by 6 a.m.
Placement
- Within 6 feet of the curb.
- At least 3 feet from other items, including other yard waste.
- At least 3 feet from mailboxes, poles, vehicles and other obstacles.
- Not blocking the sidewalk.
- Never blown into the street.
These rules come straight from the city’s Collection Guidelines. The spacing matters because the trucks need room to reach each pile.
Don’t park on the street on collection day
The city’s guidance video on the Collection Guidelines page asks residents not to park on the street on collection day. Materials blocked by a car may not be collected.
Leaves and grass clippings: paper bags or a container, never plastic
This is the rule that catches most newcomers. Leaves and grass clippings go in paper bags or in containers no larger than 32 gallons.
Plastic bags are not accepted, and that includes compostable plastic. The city states this plainly in its Collection Guidelines.
Weight counts too. Bags and containers must weigh no more than 75 pounds when full, according to the city FAQ. Wet leaves get heavy fast, so it’s better to fill more bags partway than to overload a few.
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Since plastic is out, stock up on paper lawn and leaf bags before the big drop. A pair of leaf scoops makes filling them a lot quicker.
Brush, limbs and logs
Brush and limbs are collected with yard waste too, but they have size rules. Here’s where it gets slightly tricky.
The city’s two pages don’t match
The city’s Collection Guidelines and its Solid Waste Service FAQs give different maximum sizes for limbs. Because the two official pages disagree, we’re not printing a number here.
Check both pages before you cut, and if you’re unsure, cut smaller. You can also call 311 and ask which limit applies.
What both pages make clear
- Don’t tie limbs together.
- Limbs may go in containers.
- Pile size and spacing rules apply; see the Collection Guidelines.
- Stumps are not collected.
These points come from the Collection Guidelines. A storm can leave a lot of limbs at once, and our storm and severe weather prep guide covers getting ready before one hits.
Cutting limbs down to size is much easier with a pair of bypass loppers.
Too much for the curb? County drop-off centers
After a big cleanup, the curb isn’t always enough. Mecklenburg County runs full-service centers that take yard waste, according to its Yard Waste Disposal page.
The four full-service centers
- Compost Central: 140 Valleydale Rd, Charlotte 28214
- Foxhole: 17131 Lancaster Hwy, Charlotte 28277
- Hickory Grove: 8007 Pence Rd, Charlotte 28215
- North Mecklenburg: 12300 N. Statesville Rd, Huntersville 28078
We aren’t listing hours. Check the county’s Recycling and Disposal Centers page before you load the car.
Fees for residents
Small loads are free and larger ones are charged. These figures come from the county’s Yard Waste Disposal page.
| Load | Resident fee |
|---|---|
| Fewer than five 32-gallon bags, or 6 kraft paper bags | No charge |
| More than that, loads up to 2 ft high | $8.00 per unit |
| Larger loads, trailers over 8 ft, logs over 4 in | Weighed at $40.00 per ton, $16.00 minimum |
Trees, root balls and plastic bags
The centers take trees up to 24 inches in diameter at Hickory Grove and North Mecklenburg, and up to 48 inches at Compost Central and Foxhole. Root balls must be smaller than a basketball.
Unlike the curb, the centers accept debris brought in plastic bags. You’ll need to empty them and take the bags home with you.
Questions? The county lists 311 or 980-314-3867.
A simple fall routine that works
Leaf season in a new yard can feel endless, but a steady weekly rhythm keeps it manageable. Rake or blow leaves into piles on the weekend, then bag them a few days before your collection day.
Store full paper bags somewhere dry, like a garage or under a covered porch. Rain softens paper and adds weight, which can push a bag past the 75-pound limit.
The night before pickup, carry the bags and any containers to the curb, space them out, and leave room around your mailbox. Then check the street before you park.
Not in city limits? Towns and unincorporated areas
Everything above applies to City of Charlotte service. If you live in Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Pineville, Mint Hill or Matthews, the county’s Solid Waste FAQ says bulky and yard waste collection may be provided through your Town Hall.
Residents of unincorporated Mecklenburg County who want curbside service contact a residential hauler. Still deciding where to live? Our Charlotte neighborhoods guide can help.
Bulky items and Christmas trees
Bulky items aren’t part of weekly yard waste. The Collection Guidelines say they must be scheduled through 311 (704-336-7600), the CLT+ app, or online.
Natural Christmas trees at single-family homes go out with yard waste on your regular day. Remove every decoration first.
FAQ
What day is yard waste pickup in Charlotte?
The same day as your garbage. Use My Charlotte Lookup, linked from the city’s Collection Guidelines, to confirm it.
Can I use plastic bags for leaves?
No. The city accepts paper bags or containers up to 32 gallons. Plastic, including compostable plastic, isn’t accepted at the curb.
How big can branches be?
The city’s Collection Guidelines and FAQ page give different limits, so check both or call 311. Don’t tie limbs, and stumps aren’t collected.
Where can I take extra yard waste?
To one of the four county full-service centers: Compost Central, Foxhole, Hickory Grove or North Mecklenburg.
Is there a fine for putting yard waste out early?
Yes. Putting it out sooner than the day before collection can bring a minimum $150 citation.
Once the leaves are handled, our parks and greenways guide is a good way to enjoy the rest of fall.
Sources
- City of Charlotte: Collection Guidelines
- City of Charlotte: Solid Waste Service FAQs
- Mecklenburg County: Yard Waste Disposal
- Mecklenburg County: Recycling and Disposal Centers
- Mecklenburg County: Solid Waste FAQ
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.