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Cary, NC Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

What's mandated
Yard/leaf waste kept separate
Collection point
Resident's curbside
Scope
Residential customers only
Food scraps
No separate mandate found

Summary

Cary requires residents to keep compostable yard and leaf waste separated from regular garbage for weekly curbside collection: this is a yard-waste mandate, not a food-scrap program.

The town hereby establishes the mandatory separation of compostable yard and leaf waste material from garbage, rubbish and other trash, by the residents of the town, and for the collection of these yard and leaf waste materials at the residents' curbside by the town employees or their agents.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2023 S-87_S-57: Current through local ordinance 2022-Code-05, passed 11-17-2022 and effective 11-17-2022 | LDO: Current through local ordinance 2022-LDO-04, passed 11-17-22 and effective 11-17-22).

Full Breakdown

Article III of the solid waste chapter makes separating yard and leaf material a mandatory duty for town residents, not an option: compostable yard waste has to be kept out of the garbage, rubbish and trash stream so town crews can collect it separately at curbside. The code does not extend a matching mandate to food scraps, no such food-waste organics program appears in this chapter, so residents should not assume kitchen scraps fall under the same rule.

Violations & Fines

Yard or leaf waste mixed into the regular garbage cart, or set out in a way that doesn't meet the town's solid waste collection policy, will not be collected under this article and is left for the resident to correct.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cary require yard waste to be separated from trash?
Yes. Cary Code of Ordinances § 26-76 makes separating compostable yard and leaf waste from garbage mandatory for residents, not optional.
Does Cary mandate composting food scraps?
No: the mandatory-separation rule in § 26-76 covers yard and leaf waste; the code has no matching food-scrap organics requirement.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Cary

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsYard Waste CollectionSome RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsLight RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingSome RestrictionsPickup Rules & SchedulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsHeavy Restrictions

All Cary rules

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