Trash & Recycling in Burlington, NC (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Burlington, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Burlington's sanitation division runs curbside collection once a week on a day set by the superintendent, with recycling picked up every two weeks. Residents may set solid waste at the curb no more than 24 hours ahead of collection but must have it out by 7:00 a.m. Containers come off the street by 7:00 p.m. after pickup, per Code section 33-31.
Burlington Curbside Trash Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 33-31
Sec. 33-31. - Curbside collection service. City-serviced curbside collection services will be provided under the following conditions:(1)Curbside collections scheduling. City-served curbside collection services will be provided once a week on a day designated for collection by the sanitation superintendent. Solid waste shall not be placed at the curbside more than twenty-four (24) hours precedi...
Bin Placement Rules
Burlington carts go to the curb no earlier than 24 hours before pickup and no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day, then come back off the street by 7:00 p.m. the same day, under Section 33-31 of the City Code. Carts cannot sit on the street at all on Saturday or before dusk on Sunday.
Trash Cart Placement Rules in Burlington, NC
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 33-31(3)-(4)
(3)Placement of containers.a.In order to collect solid waste, the owner or occupant of each business or household shall place all solid waste in approved containers and place such solid waste containers between the curb or traveled portion of the street and the property line closest to the curb of the premises from which the same is placed. Solid waste shall not be placed at the curbside more t...
Bulk Item Disposal
Burlington's sanitation division collects bulk trash from residential units only, curbside by 7:00 a.m. on the designated collection day, separated from regular refuse. Oversized items, glass that isn't taped, gasoline-filled equipment, and improperly prepared carpet get refused. The city charges by the cubic yard for bulk trash and limb removal, and violations of the sanitation chapter carry a $50 civil penalty under Code section 33-71.
Burlington Bulk Trash Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code §§ 33-31(8), 33-51(b)
(8)Bulk trash.a.Bulk trash collection shall be provided only to residential units served by the city. Bulk trash collection shall be provided as designated by the sanitation superintendent or his designee under the following conditions:1.Bulk trash shall be placed to the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the collection day to ensure pickup.2.Bulk trash must be separated from all other refuse prior to collec...
Recycling Requirements
Burlington does not run its own recycling ordinance; Section 33-3 of the City Code ratifies the Alamance County Recycling Ordinance, adopted by reference in 1991, as applicable inside city limits. The city's director of public works enforces it, consistent with the county code's own penalty provisions.
Recycling Requirements in Burlington, NC
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 33-3
(a)Adopted. The Alamance County Recycling Ordinance, adopted by reference on October 15, 1991, is ratified as being applicable within the corporate limits of the City of Burlington.(b)Enforcement. The provisions of the Alamance County Recycling Ordinance shall be enforced by the director of public works or his or her designee as provided by section 33-21 of this chapter to the extent said enfor...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping trash on a Burlington street, sidewalk, or occupied private property is banned outright under Section 33-24 of the City Code, with every day the litter stays left counted as a separate offense. A Chapter 33 violation carries a $50 civil penalty per offense, plus a $25 late fee if unpaid.
Illegal Dumping Penalties in Burlington, NC
Heavy RestrictionsBurlington City Code §§ 33-24, 33-71
(a)Generally. It shall be unlawful for any person to put, place, deposit, or throw any trash, litter, house sweepings, paper, paper cups, garbage, shavings or other rubbish upon any sidewalk or in any public street, public alley or other public place in the city, except in receptacles as the city council shall prescribe or provide. ... The placing or leaving of the articles or matter forbidden ...
Yard Waste Collection
Burlington picks up yard waste weekly on the same day as regular curbside trash, but only from residential units and small businesses on the automated system. Code section 33-31(6) requires grass clippings and leaves in approved containers under 32 gallons and 50 pounds, while limbs must be cut to four-foot lengths under 50 pounds and six inches thick.
Burlington Yard Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 33-31(6)
(6)Yard waste collection service.a.Yard waste collection shall be provided only to residential units and/or small businesses served by the automated collection system. Yard waste collection shall be provided once a week on the same day as curbside collection service designated by the sanitation superintendent.b.Yard waste shall be separated from all other refuse prior to collection. ... 1.Grass...
Dumpster Rules
Businesses in Burlington that generate more than 200 gallons of refuse between collections, or that share a complex of more than four attached units, must provide their own stationary dumpster under Code section 33-32(b). The sanitation superintendent can designate any high-volume generator for containerized service, serviced by the generator, not the city.
Burlington Commercial Dumpster Rules
Significant RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 33-32(b)
(b)Conditions for stationary container collection for nonresidential use.(1)Attached business unit. Where an attached business unit or a group of attached business units in the same complex comprise more than four (4) businesses stationary refuse containers shall be provided by the owner or owners at such complex.(2)Business unit. Where refuse accumulates at any business unit, place or location...
Collection Schedule
The City of Burlington runs mandatory weekly solid waste collection: Section 33-29 of the City Code lets the sanitation superintendent set and change collection routes and schedules, and no owner or occupant may block or prevent the weekly pickup. The director of public works oversees the whole collection program under Section 33-21.
Solid Waste Collection Schedule in Burlington, NC
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code §§ 33-21, 33-29
The city manager may promulgate such rules and regulations not inconsistent with this chapter as the manager deems advisable to safeguard the health and welfare of the citizens of the city in the disposal of garbage, ashes and other refuse. The collection, removal and disposition of all solid waste from within the city shall be under the jurisdiction and enforcement of the director of public wo...
Recycling Rules
Burlington collects recyclables every two weeks on a day its authorized collector sets, separately from weekly garbage pickup, under Section 33-31 of the City Code. Households and single business units must use only city-approved automated containers, and the city supplies one 100-gallon recycling cart per household.
Curbside Recycling Rules in Burlington, NC
Some RestrictionsBurlington City Code § 33-31(1)-(2)
(1)Curbside collections scheduling. City-served curbside collection services will be provided once a week on a day designated for collection by the sanitation superintendent. Solid waste shall not be placed at the curbside more than twenty-four (24) hours preceding the scheduled collection day. Recyclables will be collected every two (2) weeks on a day designated by the city's authorized collec...
Looking for Alamance County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Burlington city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Alamance County →