Nash County, NC Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Nash County has no county-run curbside garbage truck route for the unincorporated county; pickup instead runs through licensed private solid waste collectors and through the county's own convenience centers and containers. Code § 20-29(a) puts the removal duty on the property itself: the owner, occupant, tenant or lessee of any premises where garbage is stored must remove it, or have it removed, at least once weekly, defined in the code as seven days. Anyone who collects for pay is separately regulated under § 20-29(b): a solid waste collector must pick up all solid waste from a paying customer's premises at least once a week, do the work in a clean and orderly manner without damaging the container, and, if anything spills during collection, pick it up immediately and leave the premises sanitary.

Collectors themselves need a written permit from the county health director before they may collect, transport or dispose of refuse, garbage or solid waste for pay, § 20-29(c), and the director can suspend or refuse a permit after inspection finds noncompliant facilities, equipment or methods, § 20-29(d)-(e). Loaded collection vehicles and containers must be covered and secured so nothing falls, leaks or blows out, and any spillage during loading has to be picked up immediately, § 20-29(f). Collector permits run on an annual basis, § 20-29(g), while a suspended or denied permit can be appealed to the county board of health under § 20-35.