Bin Placement Rules: Apex vs Raleigh
How do bin placement rules rules compare between Apex, NC and Raleigh, NC?
Apex and Raleigh have similar restriction levels.
Apex, NC
Wake County
Apex residential carts are serviced by GFL Environmental using automated side-arm trucks, which means residents must place carts at the curb with adequate clearance. Roll your cart to the curb the night before your scheduled collection day. Carts must be positioned 3-4 feet apart from each other and from any vehicle, mailbox, fire hydrant, pole, or fence to allow the automated arm to operate. All items must fit INSIDE the cart with the lid fully closed — overfilled carts are skipped. Yard waste is placed loose at the curb (no carts currently used) for separate next-day collection by Town Public Works.
View full Apex rules →Raleigh, NC
Wake County
Raleigh requires garbage and recycling carts to be placed at the curb with the handle facing the house and the opening facing the street. Carts must be placed at least 3 feet from mailboxes, vehicles, and other obstacles to allow automated collection. Carts should be placed on a flat surface at the edge of the curb or street. On non-collection days, carts should be stored out of public view.
View full Raleigh rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Apex | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Governing Code | Apex Code Ch. 12 Art. IV & V | - |
| Set-Out Time | Night before collection day | - |
| Cart Clearance | 3-4 ft from vehicles, mailboxes, hydrants, poles | - |
| Cart Spacing | 3-4 ft between carts | - |
| Lid Rule | Must fully close — overfilled carts skipped | - |
| Yard Waste Format | LOOSE at curb (no carts yet) | - |
| Stick/Limb Max | 8 ft long, 8 in diameter | - |
| Prohibited in Trash | Yard waste, C&D, hazardous, electronics, hot ashes | - |
| Orientation | - | Handle toward house, opening toward street |
| Clearance | - | At least 3 feet from obstructions |
| Surface | - | Place on flat surface at curb edge |
| Storage | - | Store out of public view between collections |
| Cart Type | - | City-issued automated collection carts |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Apex FAQ
When do I put my Apex trash and recycling carts at the curb?
Roll your carts to the curb the night before your scheduled collection day. Position them 3-4 feet apart from each other and at least 3-4 feet away from any vehicle, mailbox, fire hydrant, pole, tree, or fence — GFL uses automated side-arm trucks that cannot service blocked or improperly oriented carts. All items must be INSIDE the cart with the lid fully closed; overfilled carts are skipped and 'trash spills onto the street.' Return carts out of the right-of-way the same day after collection or face Code Enforcement citation as a public nuisance.
Can I put yard waste in my Apex trash cart?
No. Yard waste is collected separately by the Town's Public Works crews on the business day FOLLOWING your garbage/recycling day. Apex currently does not use carts for yard waste — set it out LOOSE at the curb (not bagged). Two trucks service yard waste: a chipper truck for sticks/limbs up to 8 feet long and 8 inches in diameter, and a vacuum truck for leaves, grass, and small clippings. PROHIBITED in yard waste: dirt, sod, mulch, and rocks — these damage equipment. Pumpkins go in the trash cart or to Public Works at 105 Upchurch Street.
Raleigh FAQ
How should I place my trash cart in Raleigh?
Place the cart at the curb with the handle facing your house and the opening facing the street. Keep it at least 3 feet from mailboxes, cars, and other carts to allow the automated truck arm to grab it.
Where should I store my trash cart when it's not collection day?
Store your cart out of public view, such as in a garage, behind a fence, or at the side of your house. Leaving carts at the curb between collections may result in a code violation.
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