Concord, NC Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Bag limit
- 35 lbs, paper biodegradable bags only
- Personal containers
- Up to 44 gal., labeled 'yard waste only'
- Limb size
- Under 12 in. diameter, cut to 6 ft
- Large limb piles
- Fee over 6 cubic yards
- Prohibited
- Plastic bags, tree stumps, trunks
Summary
Concord collects grass, trimmings and leaves in biodegradable paper bags weighing no more than 35 pounds, or in labeled personal containers up to 44 gallons, on the weekly garbage day, while limbs under 12 inches in diameter and six feet long are stacked curbside for collection under Sec. 46-33(a)(15) through (17).
(15)Yard waste—Grass, trimmings, and leaves. Grass, trimmings less than 12 inches in length, and leaves shall be placed in untied paper biodegradable bags weighing no more than 35 pounds each ... Bagged materials are collected weekly on the scheduled waste collection day. Unbagged loose leaves are collected according to the published loose-leaf collection schedule. (16)Yard waste—Use of personal containers. Grass, trimmings and leaves may also be placed in personal containers with handles and not to exceed 44 gallons in capacity or weigh more than 35 pounds each. Personal containers must be clearly labeled "yard waste only." (17)Yard waste—Limbs. Limbs must be less than 12 inches in diameter, cut to a length of six feet or less, and stacked neatly at the curb ... Limb piles in excess of six cubic yards in volume will be collected for a fee as indicated in the city's adopted Schedule of Fees and Charges.
Full Breakdown
Concord's yard-waste rules split into three tiers under Sec. 46-33(a)(15) through (17), Chapter 46, Solid Waste. Grass clippings, trimmings under 12 inches long, and leaves must go into untied paper biodegradable bags weighing no more than 35 pounds each, collected weekly on the regular trash day, or unbagged during the published loose-leaf season described in Sec. 46-32(5), when city leaf machines run neighborhood by neighborhood each fall. Residents can also use personal containers instead of paper bags: containers with handles, up to 44 gallons and no more than 35 pounds when full, clearly labeled "yard waste only," placed curbside at the owner's own risk.
Tree limbs get separate handling: they must be less than 12 inches in diameter, cut to a length of six feet or less, and stacked neatly at the curb. A limb pile larger than six cubic yards draws a fee from the adopted schedule of fees and charges, though that fee can be waived for storm or tree-debris cleanup with department approval; limb piles left unpaid at the curb bring penalties under Sec. 46-2. Sec. 46-34(a)(9) bars yard waste in plastic bags, non-biodegradable paper, or any bag over 35 pounds, and Sec.
46-34(a)(6) excludes tree trunks, stumps and any limb over six feet or 12 inches in diameter from collection entirely, meaning oversized wood has to be hauled away privately or by a paid tree service.
Violations & Fines
Yard waste bagged in plastic, packed in bags over 35 pounds, or mixed with non-biodegradable materials is a prohibited item under Sec. 46-34(a)(9) and will not be collected. A limb pile over six cubic yards left at the curb without paying the posted fee is subject to penalties under Sec. 46-2 once the solid waste services department issues notice and the correction period passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of bag does Concord require for leaves and grass?
How big can tree limbs be for curbside pickup in Concord?
Is there a fee for a big brush pile in Concord?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Concord
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