Trash & Recycling in North Dakota (2026)
17 rules on the books across North Dakota, 2 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Trash and recycling collection days, what time to put bins out, and rules about sorting materials for curbside pickup.
Fargo
Some RestrictionsFargo caps when you can put your city-issued cart at the curb: no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before pickup, off the…
Read full rule →Grand Forks
Some RestrictionsGrand Forks makes garbage and rubbish collection compulsory citywide and runs it through the Department of Sanitation…
Read full rule →Bin Placement Rules
Where to position trash and recycling carts, when they may go to the curb and must come back, and the screening or enclosure rules for where bins live between pickups.
Fargo
Some RestrictionsFargo requires household garbage carts to sit at the curb or alley berm only between 6 p.m. the night before collection…
Read full rule →Grand Forks
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Grand Forks, City Code § 13-0404 requires every property owner or occupant to keep at least one covered…
Read full rule →Bulk Item Disposal
How to dispose of large items like furniture, appliances, and mattresses, including scheduled pickups and drop-off locations.
Recycling Requirements
Mandatory recycling rules including which materials must be separated, contamination penalties, and composting requirements.
North Dakota: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsNorth Dakota bars landfilling four waste streams outright: lead-acid batteries, used motor oil, wind turbine blades…
Read full rule →Fargo
Some RestrictionsFargo's Composting and Recycling Program requires trash and recyclables to go into properly marked containers at city…
Read full rule →Grand Forks
Some RestrictionsGrand Forks City Code § 13-0413 lets the solid waste superintendent, with city council consent, run a recycling and…
Read full rule →Valet Trash Rules
Multi-family building rules around door-to-door (valet) trash and recycling service, including container standards, hallway-storage prohibitions, and fees.
Illegal Dumping
Penalties and enforcement for dumping trash, debris, or hazardous materials on private or public property without authorization.
Grand Forks
Significant RestrictionsGrand Forks City Code § 13-0504 bars dumping earth, debris, or waste along the Red River's bank or dike, or throwing it…
Read full rule →Fargo
Some RestrictionsDumping litter, garbage, furniture, or debris on public or private property you don't own is banned citywide, backed by…
Read full rule →Yard Waste Collection
Rules for separating grass clippings, leaves, branches, and other yard waste from regular trash, including pickup days and bag/bin requirements.
Dumpster Rules
Permits and placement rules for residential or construction dumpsters, including how long they can stay and ROW obstruction limits.
Collection Schedule
Day-of-week pickup schedules by neighborhood, set-out and take-back time windows, and where to find your specific block's schedule.
Fargo
Significant RestrictionsFargo residents and businesses cannot opt out of city trash service: the code bars refusing collection, and containers…
Read full rule →Grand Forks
Significant RestrictionsGrand Forks City Code § 13-0406 makes the city, not a private hauler, responsible for collecting all garbage and…
Read full rule →Recycling Rules
Which items can and cannot go in residential single-stream recycling bins, contamination penalties, and rules for hazardous-waste drop-off.
Grand Forks
Significant RestrictionsGrand Forks City Code § 13-0407 requires any private collector of recyclable materials, defined to include paper…
Read full rule →Fargo
Some RestrictionsFargo's composting and recycling program requires trash and recyclable materials to go into the correctly marked…
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