Gaston County, NC Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

Section 7-3 of the Code of Ordinances places the storage and disposal duty on 'the owner, occupant, tenant, or lessee of any property,' who must remove or cause removal of all solid waste from the property at least once each seven-day period and ensure it is disposed of at a permitted site or facility. Garbage itself must be stored only in a container that is 'durable, rust resistant, nonabsorbent, water resistant, and easily cleaned, with a close-fitting, fly-resistant cover in place, with adequate handles or rails to facilitate handling,' and the number of containers on a property must be adequate to hold a full week's accumulation, kept clean enough that no odor or nuisance condition results.

Bulkier refuse, such as lumber, boxes, tires, old furniture and appliances, must be stored so it will not harbor rodents or vectors and will not create a fire hazard, while recyclables like cans, bottles, paper, cardboard and rags must go in rodent-resistant, water-resistant containers. Subsection (f) sets a hard outdoor time limit: no owner, occupant, tenant or lessee of a building or dwelling may place or leave bulky wastes outside the building for longer than two weeks. Subsection (g) additionally requires that any abandoned icebox, refrigerator or airtight-door receptacle left outside where children can access it must have its door removed or secured with a chain or lock.

S. 1, 153A-136 and 130A-294, and separately bans open burning and open dumping of solid waste. S. 130A-294 and adopt the chapter, so residents should confirm with Gaston County Solid Waste whether their specific address, inside or outside a municipality, falls under this county chapter or a separate town ordinance.