Trash & Recycling in Craven County, NC (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Craven County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Craven County lets residents set out solid waste for pickup four ways: bagged with a paid sticker, in a 33-, 64-, or 90-gallon cart matched to its weight limit and sticker count, or under a direct contract with an area franchisee. Craven County Code § 32-129 lays out each method and the weight caps that go with it.
Craven County Trash Pickup Procedures
Some RestrictionsCraven County Code § 32-129
Residences and hand commercial establishments disposing of solid waste within the county may cause such solid waste to be collected in the following manner: (1)By placing it in a solid waste collection bag and placing one solid waste collection sticker on each bag designated for collection by franchisees authorized to collect solid waste pursuant to this article; ... (3)By placing solid waste w...
Bin Placement Rules
Craven County residents and small businesses set out solid waste in a bag or in a 33, 64 or 90-gallon cart, each capped by weight and each requiring one, two or three purchased collection stickers before a franchised hauler or staffed convenience center will take it. Sec. 32-129 sets the cart-and-sticker system county-wide.
Craven County Sets Cart Sizes for Trash Pickup
Some RestrictionsCraven County Code § 32-129
Residences and hand commercial establishments disposing of solid waste within the county may cause such solid waste to be collected in the following manner: ... (3)By placing solid waste with a weight not to exceed 50 pounds in a 33-gallon cart and placing one solid waste collection sticker thereon for collection by franchisees authorized to collect solid waste pursuant to this article or for d...
Recycling Requirements
Craven County runs curbside recycling through franchisees the Board of Commissioners licenses for designated areas of the unincorporated county. Craven County Code § 32-102(1) authorizes a recycling franchise to collect the materials § 32-27 defines as recyclable, from newspaper and aluminum to PETE and HDPE plastics, glass and cardboard.
Craven County Curbside Recycling Program
Some RestrictionsCraven County Code §§ 32-27, 32-102
Recyclable solid waste material means those materials which are capable of being recycled and which would otherwise be processed or disposed of as solid waste. These items include, but are not necessarily limited to, newspaper (with inserts), aluminum cans and aluminum foil products, PETE and HDPE (#1 and #2) plastic containers including natural and pigmented containers such as blue, white and ...
Illegal Dumping
Craven County Code § 32-164 bans dumping litter, garbage, or solid waste into any drain, gutter, street, lot, or waterway anywhere in the unincorporated county, and makes property owners and vehicle operators presumptively responsible for what turns up on their land or falls from their trucks. Violators face a $500.00 civil penalty under § 1-11 plus lien and restitution remedies.
Craven County Illegal Dumping Ban
Heavy RestrictionsCraven County Code § 32-164
(1)It shall be unlawful for any person to sweep, throw or deposit, or to permit, allow, maintain or contribute to the sweeping, throwing or depositing of, any litter or solid waste into, upon or along a drain, gutter, street, sidewalk, alley, vacant or occupied lot, walk, parking lot, embankment, within or near any public or private lake, pond, creek, river, stream, ditch, swamp, marsh, whether...
Yard Waste Collection
Craven County lets residents keep grass clippings, leaves, and branches on their own property under § 32-164's yard waste exception, and its staffed convenience centers take leaves and limbs for free alongside other authorized materials. Craven County Code § 32-163 defines yard waste as grass, shrubbery and vine cuttings, leaf rakings, and tree branches, limbs, and parts.
Craven County Yard Waste Disposal Rules
Light RestrictionsCraven County Code §§ 32-163, 32-165
Yard waste means any amount of waste accumulation of long grass, or shrubbery, or vine cuttings or clippings, or dry leaf rakings, tree branches, tree limbs, parts of trees, bushes or any other vegetation debris. ... (e)Staffed convenience centers. The county will establish staffed convenience centers for the disposal of certain solid waste and litter. Such services shall include the collection...
Dumpster Rules
Craven County makes it unlawful for anyone not authorized to place, throw, deposit or dump litter, garbage or solid waste into a privately owned commercial dumpster or container. Sec. 32-164(7) protects businesses that pay for their own dumpster or roll-off service from having others fill it for free, and Sec. 32-163 defines what counts as a dumpster.
Dumping in a Private Dumpster Is Illegal in Craven County
Some RestrictionsCraven County Code § 32-163; § 32-164(7); § 32-167
Dumpster means stationary solid waste containers which require mechanical pickup by customized loading vehicles, including roll-off containers which involve the collection of construction debris. ... (7)It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to place, throw, deposit or dump litter, garbage or solid waste into a privately owned commercial dumpster or container. ... Any and all costs in...
Collection Schedule
Craven County requires weekly curbside collection of solid waste and recyclables for every residence and hand commercial establishment in the unincorporated county. Craven County Code § 32-126 puts the duty on each household to use the county's collection system, and § 32-127 sets the floor at a minimum of one curbside pickup per week.
Craven County Weekly Curbside Pickup
Some RestrictionsCraven County Code §§ 32-126, 32-127
Each residence and hand commercial establishment located within the county shall dispose of solid waste and recyclable solid waste materials in the manner provided in this division. ... The county shall provide for the curbside collection of solid waste and recyclable solid waste materials for residences and hand commercial establishments in the county at a minimum of one curbside collection pe...
Recycling Rules
In unincorporated Craven County, recyclables placed in a county recycling container at curbside become the property of Craven County or its recycling franchisee immediately. Craven County Code § 32-30 makes it unlawful to enter any curbside recycling container or convenience center to rummage or remove items, and § 32-32 transfers ownership of the material to the county the moment it is set out.
Craven County Recycling Container Rules
Some RestrictionsCraven County Code §§ 32-30, 32-32
It shall be unlawful for any person to enter any recycling container once placed curbside, or convenience center (except for the purpose of the authorized disposal of solid waste and recyclable solid waste materials) and to rummage through the same for the purpose of scavenging and removing any items therein. ... Recyclable solid waste materials, once deposited in a recycling container and plac...
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