Rutherford County, NC Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)

Section 15-18 defines "bulky waste" as "large items of solid waste such as household appliances, furniture, automobiles, large auto parts, trees, branches, stumps, and other oversize waste, the large size of which precludes or complicates its handling by normal solid waste collection, processing or disposal methods." The county code does not establish a scheduled curbside bulk pickup service for these items in the unincorporated area; instead, section 15-24(6) directs residents to contract with a licensed solid waste collector or haul waste themselves to the public sanitary landfill or a designated county-owned solid waste and recycling center, where only residential waste is accepted.

Section 15-24(3) separately makes it unlawful to place or leave outside any building, for longer than 30 days, dilapidated furniture, an icebox, refrigerator, stove or other appliance, machinery, equipment or building material that is rusted, wrecked, junked, dismantled or inoperative if the health director finds it a potential public health hazard, though licensed junk dealers are exempt. Before prosecuting under that subsection, the health department must give the owner or occupant written notice and 30 days to remove the item. Scrap tires get their own disposal track under section 15-26, requiring a board-approved site and fee rather than routine collection.