Trash & Recycling in Winston-Salem, NC

If you live in Winston-Salem or are thinking about moving there, trash & recycling are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Winston-Salem has 8 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of trash & recycling, and some of them might surprise you.

Recycling Requirements

Winston-Salem gives each household a city recycling roll-out cart that may be used only for recycling, and putting non-recyclable items in it can cost you the cart after three notices in a year.

Key details: Cart use: City-provided roll-out containers may be used only for recycling. Collection: Year round, placed at the curbline. Extra cart: $30.00 per year for one additional recycling container. Contamination: Non-recyclable items in the cart are unlawful under § 26-10(n). Three-strike rule: City may remove the cart after three notices of violation in 12 months.

Placing non-recyclable items in the recycling cart violates section 26-10(n), and after three notices of violation within 12 months the city may remove the cart and discontinue recycling service to that address. Taking recyclable materials out of a curbside bin or a drop-off container carries a separate $100.00 civil penalty under section 26-10(k), payable within 15 days and collectible by civil action rather than as a misdemeanor. Other violations of section 26-10 are a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4 with a fine of up to $500.00.

Collection Schedule

Winston-Salem residents may set trash carts at the curb starting 5:00 p.m. the day before pickup, no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day, and must pull them back in by 8:00 a.m. the next morning.

Key details: Cart limit: Three 96-gallon carts (288 gal). Earliest set-out: 5:00 p.m. day before pickup. Latest set-out: 6:00 a.m. collection day. Removal deadline: 8:00 a.m. next morning. Extra cart fee: $65.00 per year.

Violating the cart limit or set-out window is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Illegal Dumping

Winston-Salem bans depositing litter anywhere in the city where wind or water could carry it onto streets, sidewalks, waterways, or public and private property, treating any accumulation as a public nuisance subject to civil penalties and criminal prosecution.

Key details: Prohibition: Depositing litter citywide banned. Civil penalty: $165.00 or 10% abatement cost. Criminal penalty: Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500. Enforcement: Public Works abates as nuisance.

Violating § 26-10(g) draws a $165.00 civil penalty (or 10% of abatement cost) against the property owner, plus prosecution as a class 3 misdemeanor with fines up to $500.00 under G.S. 14-4.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Winston-Salem actively enforces its illegal dumping requirements.

Dumpster Rules

Winston-Salem requires bulk dumpster-style containers, not individual carts, for businesses generating over three 32-gallon receptacles weekly, apartments over ten units, mobile home parks over ten lots, and residential developments denser than eight units per acre.

Key details: Business trigger: >3 32-gal bins per week. Apartment trigger: developments over 10 units. Density trigger: over 8 units per acre. Container size: 4-8 cubic yards, metal, leakproof. Civil penalty: $50.00 per violation (Sec. 26-3(f)).

Failing to place, maintain or empty a required bulk container violates Sec. 26-3(f), drawing a $50.00 civil penalty plus abatement costs; most other Section 26-3 violations are a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, fined up to $500.00.

Bin Placement Rules

Winston-Salem residents may put garbage carts at the curb starting 5:00 p.m. the evening before pickup and must remove them by 8:00 a.m. the next morning; carts must stay covered and can't be hidden in a garage or an enclosure without gate access.

Key details: Earliest set-out: 5:00 p.m. day before pickup. Latest set-out: 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Removal deadline: 8:00 a.m. next day (Mon. after Fri.). Cart cap: three 96-gal. carts / 288 gallons. Max fine: $500.00, class 3 misdemeanor.

Violating any part of Sec. 26-6, including the set-out and removal window, is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, punishable by a fine of up to $500.00.

Holiday Pickup Schedule

Winston-Salem's Sanitation Division publishes a separate rule for garbage, curbside recycling and yard waste carts on each holiday. For Thanksgiving 2026, Thursday garbage moves to Friday and Friday garbage moves to Saturday, November 28. Christmas and New Year's Day 2027 each push only Friday collection to Saturday.

Key details: Thanksgiving 2026 garbage: Thursday collected Friday; Friday collected Saturday, November 28. Thanksgiving 2026 recycling: RED WEEK Thursday on Friday; Friday on Saturday, November 28. Thanksgiving 2026 yard waste: Thursday collected Saturday, November 28. Christmas 2026: Friday garbage and recycling collected Saturday, December 26. New Year's Day 2027: Friday garbage and recycling collected Saturday, January 2.

Holiday shifts do not suspend the cart rules in § 26-6. A violation of § 26-6, or any part of it, is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, with a fine of not more than $500.00, except bulky household waste violations under § 26-6(h)(2), which carry a civil penalty of not less than $50.00 and not more than $500.00. Carts left out past the posted removal time are the resident's responsibility. Questions go to CityLink at 336-727-8000 (311).

Winston-Salem is more permissive than most cities when it comes to holiday pickup schedule. That said, there are still limits.

Yard Waste Collection

Winston-Salem's fall leaf collection begins Monday, November 2, 2026, and the city says it runs through January or as long as it takes to make (3) passes through each quadrant. Rake leaves loose to the edge of your yard, behind the curb and out of the street, with no tarps. Leaves also go in a 96-gallon yard waste cart all year.

Key details: Leaf season start: Monday, November 2, 2026; code window is November 1 to January 15. Leaf season end: Through January, or as long as (3) passes take. Collection order: Quadrants 1 and 2 first, then 3 and 4, clockwise. Set-out: Loose leaves behind the curb, no tarps, not in the street. Street penalty: $165.00 or ten percent of abatement cost, whichever is greater.

Leaves on a public street, sidewalk or grass strip are a nuisance under Sec. 26-10(a), with five days from the date of the notice to correct under Sec. 62-3(d). Uncorrected, the owner is assessed a civil penalty of $165.00 or ten percent of the cost of abatement, whichever is greater, plus abatement costs. Sec. 62-3(e)(2) prices curbside abatement of leaves at $100.00 to $800.00 depending on volume removed. Sec. 26-10(o) also makes a violation a class 3 misdemeanor with a fine of not more than $500.00.

Bulk Item Disposal

Winston-Salem hauls one truckload of brush free at the curb but charges $100.00 for each additional load, while furniture, appliances and other bulky household items are picked up only during the city's annual bulky item collection.

Key details: Free brush: one load, up to 10 cu yd. Extra brush load fee: $100.00 per load. Brush size limit: 6 in. diameter, 6 ft length. Bulky items (appliances, furniture): annual pickup only. Excess brush deadline: cleared from ROW in 5 days.

Placing bulky household items like appliances, mattresses or furniture out for regular collection, or improperly prepared, draws a civil penalty of $50.00 to $500.00 under § 26-6(h)(2); leaving excess brush on the right-of-way past five days violates § 26-9(l)/26-10(l).

The Bottom Line

Winston-Salem's trash & recycling rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Winston-Salem is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Winston-Salem can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, which shows when its source was last checked.