Catawba County, NC Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)

Chapter 32, Solid Waste Management, sets up a franchise system rather than direct county pickup: the board of commissioners grants exclusive collection licenses to private haulers for specific geographic areas under § 32-3(a), and it is unlawful for anyone else to collect, transport, or dispose of solid waste for compensation in that licensee's assigned area. Section 32-4(c) requires the licensee to collect roadside solid waste and separately collected recycling from each customer's premises 'at least once a week' for a monthly fee that must first be approved by the board of commissioners; § 32-4(f) requires any rate change, whether residential, commercial, or special-hauling, to be justified to and approved by the board before it takes effect.

Section 32-4(g) obligates the licensee to serve every customer who requests service in the unincorporated county, and allows the licensee to suspend service only after a customer falls two months behind on fees, resuming once the arrears plus an advance payment are received. Licensees must maintain enough staff and equipment to serve their assigned area and actively work toward 100 percent collection coverage under § 32-5(e). Collection vehicles must be covered, leak-proof and display the hauler's name, address and cubic yardage in three-inch letters under § 32-5(b), and any spillage during collection must be recovered immediately and the area cleaned under § 32-5(c).