Raleigh trash & bulky-item rules

Raleigh uses three different services for items that do not fit the garbage cart. A Bulky Load is four cubic yards and costs $35 under the rates effective April 1, 2026. A Special Load is also four cubic yards but costs $70 and covers categories such as appliances, exercise equipment, excess yard waste and excess household garbage that are not ordinary bulky material. Eligible E-Waste Collection is free for up to four items per week and is collected on Tuesdays.

You must receive City of Raleigh curbside garbage collection to use these services; they are not for businesses. Schedule before placing material at the curb, because Raleigh warns that unscheduled curbside piles can trigger administrative fines or civil penalties.

Furniture, mattresses, box springs and similar non-electronic household items belong in the Bulky Load category. The city describes one four-cubic-yard load as roughly the size of two couches or three queen mattresses. There is no published annual cap on qualifying paid bulky loads, but each load is charged as a full load increment.

Keep the load within the published dimensions and follow the scheduled placement instructions. A mixed pile can be reclassified if it includes Special Load material or items the City never collects.

Large appliances and exercise equipment are Special Load material rather than ordinary bulky items. Refrigerators, washers and similar white goods should be scheduled under the correct service so the City can send the appropriate collection equipment.

Electronics use the separate E-Waste route. Raleigh currently allows up to four eligible electronic items per week at no charge, with Tuesday collection. Do not put electronics into a paid Bulky Load simply because they are large.

Raleigh states that it does not collect tires, construction/remodeling debris, automotive parts or household hazardous waste through Bulky or Special Load service. Some homeowner-generated construction material can be taken to designated Wake County facilities under separate rules, while contractor and tenant loads may need a private construction-and-demolition facility.

Excess yard waste can qualify for the paid Special Load service, and Raleigh also operates a Yard Waste Center with its own drop-off rules and fees. Match the material to the right program before paying for a pickup.

For Raleigh, start with the local authority links below. Recheck them before a special trip or unusual set-out because programs, prices and facility hours can change.

• Bulky, Special, and E-Waste CollectionEligibility, 2026 fees, load limits and item categories.
• Solid Waste FeesCurrent $35 bulky and $70 special-load fees.
• Construction and Demolition MaterialsC&D routes and homeowner restrictions.
• Yard Waste CenterSelf-haul option for excess yard material.