A public resource guide
Free bi-weekly bulk pickup (same day as recycling, 50-lb limit, 2-2-2 rule), free appliance pickup by appointment at 336-373-CITY (2489), HHW and electronics at 2750 Patterson Street, glass drop-off at White Street Landfill, and the Recycle Right contamination policy.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
Greensboro, North Carolina runs one of the more thoughtful municipal waste systems in the Piedmont. Bulk trash collection is included in the standard service, picked up every other week on the same day as recycling, with no separate fee or appointment for routine items. Appliances are handled separately by appointment. Glass is no longer accepted in curbside recycling and goes to drop-off bins. The Recycle Right contamination program is strict: three contamination tags within six months results in cart removal. This guide covers every disposal option for City of Greensboro residents.
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Greensboro residents have several free disposal pathways. Each has eligibility rules and accepted item lists. Below is each one with what you need to know; deeper details follow in the sections after.
Bi-weekly curbside bulk pickup
Free with serviceGreensboro collects bulk trash every other week on the same day as recycling, no appointment needed for routine items. This covers most furniture, mattresses, and large household goods.
Eligibility: Single-family residential properties within Greensboro city limits.
Schedule: Same day as your recycling pickup, every other week. Find your day in the GSO Collects app or at greensboro-nc.gov/gso-collects, or call 336-373-CITY (2489).
The 2-2-2 rule: Bulk trash should never be 2 big for 2 people 2 carry. Items must weigh under 50 lbs each.
Accepted: Furniture, mattresses, carpet (rolled and tied, max 5 ft per bundle), large household items.
NOT accepted as bulk: Appliances (separate appointment), TVs/computers (HHW Center), tires (Guilford County Tire Facility), construction debris (separate fee), gas/oil-containing items.
Appliance pickup (by appointment)
Free with serviceAppliances are not part of routine bulk pickup but are collected free by appointment through the city. This separation lets crews ensure proper preparation (Freon recovery, door removal) before disposal.
How to schedule: Call 336-373-CITY (2489) to schedule.
What’s accepted: Refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, ovens, stoves.
Prep required: Refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed for child safety. All food and debris must be removed. Gas and oil must be drained from any motorized appliance.
HHW and Electronics Center (Patterson Street)
Free for residentsGreensboro’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center accepts paint, chemicals, batteries, and electronics free for city residents. The right path for items that can’t go in any cart or bulk pickup.
Address: 2750 Patterson Street, Greensboro.
What’s accepted: Paint, chemicals, batteries, motor oil, electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, printers, phones), fluorescent bulbs, antifreeze, gasoline.
Required: Proof of Greensboro residency.
Donation pickup
Free for usable itemsGreensboro and Guilford County have a strong nonprofit network for usable furniture and household goods. The right path for items in good working condition.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro ReStore: Free pickup for furniture, appliances, building materials in good condition.
Salvation Army Greensboro: Schedule at satruck.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina: Multiple Greensboro locations.
Greensboro Urban Ministry: Local nonprofit accepting household goods for families in need.
Freemoval (partner-community pickups)
FreeFreemoval is a social impact program that subsidizes free junk removal pickups in partner communities, typically affordable housing properties. Greensboro partner expansion is in progress for 2026.
Eligibility: Households in active partner communities. Ask your property manager whether your building participates.
Status in Greensboro: Onboarding partner properties throughout 2026.
Greensboro’s bulk trash collection is one of the more accessible municipal programs in the Piedmont: no appointment, no separate fee, just placement at the curb on the right day every two weeks.
Schedule: Bulk is collected on the same day as your recycling pickup, every other week (your "blue week" or "red week" depending on your zone). Use the GSO Collects app or address lookup tool at greensboro-nc.gov, or call 336-373-CITY (2489).
Set-out: Items at curb by 7:00 AM on collection day. Place at least 3 feet from your green trash cart and brown recycling cart so crews can access each.
The 2-2-2 rule: Greensboro’s memorable size guideline: bulk trash should never be 2 big for 2 people 2 carry. No single item over 50 lbs. Items too heavy or large will not be collected by city crews.
Carpet rules: Carpet will only be collected if rolled and tied. Each bundle must be no longer than 5 feet.
What is NOT bulk trash: Extra bags of trash outside your green container are not considered bulk and will not be collected. Cardboard goes in recycling (broken down). Appliances need a separate appointment. TVs and computers go to the HHW Center. Tires go to the Guilford County Tire Facility at 2138 Bishop Road (call 336-294-9431). Construction debris is collected for a fee, requiring a supervisor visit and price quote.
Gas and oil: Items with gas or oil (lawn mowers, gas-powered tools) must have all fuel drained before pickup. Crews will refuse pickup otherwise.
Appliances are excluded from routine bulk pickup but collected free by appointment.
Schedule: Call 336-373-CITY (2489) to set an appointment.
Prep required:
· Refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed (federal child entrapment safety rule)
· All food and debris removed from inside
· Gas and oil drained from motorized appliances (lawn mowers, generators)
Refrigerant note: Greensboro handles Freon recovery as part of the city’s appliance disposal chain. Residents do not need to pay for separate Freon recovery before pickup.
Greensboro provides weekly trash collection in a green roll-out cart and bi-weekly recycling in a brown cart. Carts must be out by 7:00 AM on collection day.
4-day work week: Most Greensboro collection crews work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with no collection activities on Wednesdays. This is unusual and can confuse new residents. Wednesday collection only happens during holiday weeks when the schedule shifts.
Recycling rules: Single-stream recycling, all items loose and clean. Don’t bag recyclables. No more than two carts at curb on collection day. No glass in carts (drop-off only).
Recycle Right program: Greensboro monitors recycling carts for contamination. If non-accepted items are found in your cart, drivers may tag your address and a postcard is mailed. Three contamination notices within six months results in cart removal for non-compliance. This is one of the strictest contamination policies among major NC cities.
Yard waste: Weekly collection in a 95-gallon gray cart or paper bags. NO PLASTIC BAGS for yard waste. Leaf season (Nov 1–mid-Feb) allows up to 15 bags or bundles per week plus the cart; non-leaf season (mid-Feb–Oct) allows up to 10.
Holiday delays: Collection schedule shifts when holidays fall on weekdays. When a holiday falls on Monday or Friday, collections shift one day; when it falls on Wednesday, no shift occurs. Check greensboro-nc.gov/collection-schedule for current holiday rules.
Glass is not accepted in Greensboro’s curbside recycling. Glass breaks during sorting and contaminates other recyclables. Use one of the drop-off locations:
· White Street Landfill: 2503 White Street. Mon–Fri 7:50 AM–4:50 PM, Sat 7 AM–1 PM.
· Transfer Station: 6310 Burnt Poplar Road. Mon–Fri 6 AM–5 PM, Sat 7 AM–1 PM.
· Neighborhood drop-off bins: First Presbyterian Church on Fisher Avenue (Fisher Park area) and other locations across the city.
All glass must be loose at drop-off (dump from any transport bag). The city’s overflow recycling locations (formerly 20 sites) have been removed due to cost and contamination issues, leaving the landfill, transfer station, and neighborhood bins as the active drop-off network.
The Greensboro Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center is the right destination for items that can’t go in any cart or bulk pickup.
Address: 2750 Patterson Street.
Required: Proof of Greensboro residency.
Hours: Check greensboro-nc.gov for current operating hours.
What’s accepted: Paint (latex and oil-based), gasoline, antifreeze, motor oil, batteries (auto, household, lithium), pesticides and herbicides, pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, electronics (TVs, computers, laptops, printers, monitors, phones).
Tires: NOT accepted at Patterson Street. Take tires to the Guilford County Scrap Tire and White Goods Collection Facility at 2138 Bishop Road. Call 336-294-9431 for hours and accepted quantities.
Donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.
Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don’t work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call the program before scheduling if you’re unsure — pickups that find unacceptable items will leave them behind.
For items that don’t qualify for free programs, items the city won’t take, or households needing same-week service, paid options are available.
Self-haul to White Street Landfill
Tipping fees varyIf you have a truck or can rent one, the White Street Landfill at 2503 White Street accepts most non-hazardous waste. Tipping fees vary by weight and item type.
Hours: Mon–Fri 7:50 AM–4:50 PM, Sat 7 AM–1 PM.
Useful for: Construction debris (residential), large quantities of bulk waste, items not accepted curbside.
LoadUp paid pickup
$80+For Greensboro households that need same-week or in-home pickup, crew labor, or items the city won’t take, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Greensboro area for upfront-priced pickup.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
Other paid services in Greensboro: 1-800-Got-Junk, College Hunks Hauling Junk, Junk King.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. 100% of round-ups fund subsidized pickups at standard market rates.
Book a Greensboro pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Report illegal dumping to the city at 336-373-CITY (2489) or use the Report an Issue feature in the GSO Collects app. Include location (cross streets or address), description of dumped material, and a photo if possible.
For Guilford County environmental violations outside city limits, contact Guilford County Environmental Health. For active dumping in progress, call Greensboro Police non-emergency.
Photos with timestamps and license plate numbers significantly improve enforcement outcomes. See our complete illegal dumping guide for North Carolina state penalty information and reporting best practices.
How does Greensboro’s bulk trash pickup work?
Bulk is collected on the same day as your recycling pickup, every other week, with no appointment or fee for routine items. Items must be at curb by 7 AM, weigh less than 50 lbs each, and follow the 2-2-2 rule (not 2 big for 2 people 2 carry). Carpet must be rolled and tied (max 5 ft per bundle). Find your day at greensboro-nc.gov/gso-collects or call 336-373-CITY (2489).
Why isn’t my refrigerator picked up curbside?
Appliances are not part of routine bulk pickup in Greensboro. They’re collected free by separate appointment to ensure proper preparation: doors removed (federal child safety rule), food removed, gas and oil drained from motorized items. Call 336-373-CITY (2489) to schedule. Greensboro handles refrigerant recovery as part of the disposal chain, so you don’t need to pay for separate Freon recovery.
Why doesn’t Greensboro pick up trash on Wednesdays?
Most Greensboro collection crews work a 4-day week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) with no Wednesday collection. This is unusual and surprises new residents. Wednesday collection only happens during certain holiday weeks when the schedule shifts.
What is the Recycle Right program?
Greensboro monitors recycling carts for contamination (non-accepted items). First contamination: cart tag and postcard. Second: another postcard warning. Third within six months: cart is removed for non-compliance. This is one of the strictest contamination policies among major NC cities. Acceptable items must be empty, clean, dry, and loose — no bagged recyclables.
Where do I take glass?
Glass is not accepted in Greensboro’s curbside recycling. Drop-off locations: White Street Landfill (2503 White Street), Transfer Station (6310 Burnt Poplar Road), and First Presbyterian Church on Fisher Avenue in Fisher Park, plus other neighborhood bins. All glass must be loose at drop-off — dump from any bag used for transport.
Is this page maintained?
Yes. Last updated May 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.