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

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Yard waste status
Classified as "excluded waste"
Trash pickup
Once weekly, franchised haulers
Bulky waste pickup
Once monthly, franchised haulers
Governing section
Sec. 14-84, Code Ch. 14
Alternative
Self-haul or private hauler needed

Summary

Rockingham County's franchised curbside program leaves yard waste off the list: brush, limbs, and yard debris are officially "excluded waste," so residents must arrange their own disposal instead of relying on trash day.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Rockingham County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Excluded waste means construction and demolition waste, dead animals larger than ten pounds, hazardous waste, medical waste, special waste, yard waste, toxic substances, storm debris, trees, earth, body wastes, abandoned vehicles, vehicle parts, large equipment or any other type of waste that is not included in the definitions of solid waste or bulky waste material hereunder.

Full Breakdown

County ordinance Sec. 14-84, part of the Chapter 14 franchise rules for solid waste and recyclable collection, defines "excluded waste" to include yard waste along with trees, storm debris, and construction debris. Under Sec. 14-90, franchised haulers must give every residence one trash pickup a week, recycling every other week, and bulky-item pickup once a month, but that guarantee stops short of yard waste. Nothing in the ordinance requires a collector to haul away grass clippings, limbs, or leaf piles, so households in the franchised areas need a private hauler, self-haul trip to the county's solid waste facility, or an optional enhanced-service arrangement for that material.

Violations & Fines

No fine applies for setting out yard waste, but franchised haulers can leave it at the curb uncollected since the ordinance doesn't require them to take it as part of trash or bulky-waste service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Rockingham County collect yard waste at the curb?
No. County ordinance Sec. 14-84 classifies yard waste as "excluded waste," so franchised trash haulers aren't required to pick it up with weekly trash or monthly bulky-item service.
How do I get rid of brush and limbs in Rockingham County?
Residents self-haul to the county's solid waste facility, hire a private hauler, or ask their franchised collector about optional enhanced service, since curbside pickup doesn't cover yard waste.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Rockingham County

All Rockingham County rules

Compare Rockingham County to another location·View the North Carolina trash & recycling overview

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