Charlotte, NC Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Section 10-1 of the Code defines yard waste as "solid waste consisting solely of vegetative matter resulting from landscaping maintenance," with examples including "grass, weeds, leaves, tree trimmings, plants, shrubbery prunings, and such other similar materials," a definition last amended by Ordinance No. 1033 on October 27, 2025. Section 10-32(a) then sets the collection rules: the service reaches single-family detached homes, duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes, and extends to a small multi-family development only if that development already uses small waste containers under Section 10-31(a) for its regular trash service under Section 10-30(a).

Large multi-family developments and standalone business enterprises get no yard waste service under this section at all. " But the container rule is different from garbage: yard waste must go in "personal containers or bags as required by the department head," and critically, any bag containing yard waste "shall not be secured or tied" and any personal container used for yard waste "shall have all lids removed," so crews can visually confirm the contents are vegetative debris before loading. Spacing at curbside matches the rest of the article: containers or bags must sit at ground level, within six feet of the curb and at least three feet from mailboxes, poles, parked cars, trees or other obstacles, avoiding any blockage of sidewalk access.

Natural Christmas trees are collected specifically as yard waste under Section 10-34(d), while artificial trees are routed instead to bulky waste collection under Section 10-33.