Pickup Rules & Schedules: Apex vs Cary
How do pickup rules & schedules rules compare between Apex, NC and Cary, NC?
Apex and Cary have similar restriction levels.
Apex, NC
Wake County
Apex residential garbage and recycling collection is provided weekly by GFL Environmental (formerly Waste Industries) under contract with the Town, governed by Chapter 12, Article IV (Solid Waste Disposal) of the Apex Code of Ordinances. Yard waste collection is performed separately by the Town's own Public Works crews on the business day following the garbage/recycling day. Find your color-coded collection day at apexnc.org or via the ApexCollects mobile app, or call Ask Apex at (919) 249-3311. Holiday delays (Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's) push collection one day later for the rest of that week.
View full Apex rules →Cary, NC
Wake County
Wake County Code §50.04 requires every property owner, occupant, or tenant to remove solid waste at least once per week. Wake County does not run curbside pickup itself; service in unincorporated areas is provided by private haulers licensed under §50.05.
View full Cary rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Apex | Cary |
|---|---|---|
| Governing Code | Apex Code Ch. 12 Art. IV & V | - |
| Garbage/Recycling Hauler | GFL Environmental (formerly Waste Industries) | - |
| Yard Waste | Apex Public Works — next business day after trash | - |
| Cart Type | 96-gallon roll cart (trash + recycling) | - |
| Find Your Day | ApexCollects app or apexnc.org/1115 | - |
| Call Center | Ask Apex — (919) 249-3311 | - |
| Holiday Rule | 6 holidays = 1-day delay for the rest of the week | - |
| Illegal Dumping | NCGS 14-399 — misdemeanor to felony | - |
| Minimum pickup | - | Weekly |
| Hauler license | - | Required §50.05 |
| County curbside | - | Not provided |
| Banned items | - | Yard waste, white goods, tires |
| Code | - | Wake County Ch. 50 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Apex FAQ
Who picks up my trash in Apex?
GFL Environmental (formerly Waste Industries) under contract with the Town for weekly curbside garbage and single-stream recycling. Yard waste is collected separately by the Town's own Public Works crews on the business day following your garbage/recycling day (e.g., Tuesday garbage = Wednesday yard waste). Find your color-coded collection day through the address-lookup tool at apexnc.org/1115, the ApexCollects mobile app, or by calling Ask Apex at (919) 249-3311. Six holidays delay collection one day for the rest of that week.
Can I use a different hauler for residential trash in Apex?
No. The Town contracts the residential collection franchise to GFL Environmental under Chapter 12, Article IV of the Apex Code of Ordinances. Yard waste is exclusively collected by Town Public Works crews. Apartments and businesses generally use commercial dumpsters arranged separately with private haulers. Household hazardous waste and electronics are excluded from regular collection — take them to the South Wake Solid Waste Management Facility at 6130 Old Smithfield Road, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
Cary FAQ
Does Wake County pick up my trash?
Not directly. Unincorporated residents hire a licensed private hauler. Inside cities, the city collects (Raleigh, Cary, etc.).
Where do I take old appliances?
Wake County Convenience Centers accept white goods at no charge. The closest one to you can be found at wake.gov/recycling.
Can I burn yard waste instead?
Only under restrictive open-burn rules and not during a county burn ban. See fire/outdoor-burning for details.
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