Winston-Salem trash & recycling schedule
Trash is picked up weekly; your day depends on your ZIP.
At a glance
| Trash | City Solid Waste Collections — weekly garbage for single-family households. Verified 2026-10-15 · cityofws.org |
|---|---|
| Curbside | 6 a.m. collection day per CityLink FAQ; carts at curb by then. Checklist Verified 2026-10-15 · cityofws.org |
| Recycling | Biweekly curbside — red week or blue week zones; 96-gal blue rollout cart, single-stream. Verified 2026-10-15 · cityofws.org |
| Bulk | Bulky Item Collection begins March 2, 2026 (city announcement on collections page). Bulky household trash defined (appliances, sofas, carpet, etc.). Bulk page Source: Not yet confirmed |
| Hauler | City of Winston-Salem Solid Waste Collections. |
| Contacts | CityLink 311; 336-727-8000. Verified 2026-10-15 · cityofws.org |
Curbside
Curbside checklist
City rules before collection day. Confirm with the city if anything looks off.
When
6 a.m. collection day per CityLink FAQ; carts at curb by then.
Limits
One 96-gal recycling cart per household; second trash cart $65/year per FAQ.
Not allowed
Hazardous materials page linked from recycling FAQ.
Bags
Recyclables loose, do not bag; garbage bagged in cart.
Brush
Yard trash definitions on collections page — leaves/grass trimmings; brush collection routes via Service Finder.
Not yet confirmed: Where.
Verified 2026-10-15 · cityofws.org
Add curbside reminder to Google CalendarFind your pickup day
Verified 2026-10-15 · cityofws.org
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Shift |
|---|---|---|
| MLK Day | 2026-01-19 | — |
| Memorial Day | 2026-05-25 | — |
| Independence Day | 2026-07-03 | — |
| Labor Day | 2026-09-07 | — |
| Thanksgiving | 2026-11-26 | — |
| Christmas | 2026-12-24 | — |
28 and New Year’s 2027 Jan 1 Friday routes often Sat. Garbage often “normal schedule” on many city holidays.
Private junk pickup
Same-week haul for furniture or a cleanout in Winston-Salem. Not affiliated with Town Rulebook or your city — you book directly.
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Full details for Winston-Salem: every rule, with sources
- Trash
- City Solid Waste Collections — weekly garbage for single-family households. Service Finder / Winston-Salem Collects app for garbage, recycling (red/blue week), leaf, brush, yard-waste days. CityLink 311 or 336-727-8000 for schedules. 2026 Holiday Collection Calendar on Solid Waste Collections page. Inclement weather: 336-727-2638; announcements on WSTV, WXII-12, Journal.
- Recycling
- Biweekly curbside — red week or blue week zones; 96-gal blue rollout cart, single-stream (paper, magazines, flattened cardboard, plastic bottles, glass jars, steel/aluminum cans). No plastic bags or non-recyclables. Drop-offs: recycling centers + Hanes Mill Road Landfill (325 W Hanes Mill Rd). NC law bans landfill disposal of plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Extras beside cart not collected (automated).
- Bulk pickup
- Bulky Item Collection begins March 2, 2026 (city announcement on collections page). Bulky household trash defined (appliances, sofas, carpet, etc.). Brush/yard waste separate programs; Fall Leaf Collection from November 2, 2026.
- Curbside: when
- 6 a.m. collection day per CityLink FAQ; carts at curb by then.
- Curbside: where
- Not yet confirmed
- Curbside: limits
- One 96-gal recycling cart per household; second trash cart $65/year per FAQ.
- Curbside: brush
- Yard trash definitions on collections page — leaves/grass trimmings; brush collection routes via Service Finder.
- Curbside: not allowed
- Hazardous materials page linked from recycling FAQ.
- Curbside: bags
- Recyclables loose, do not bag; garbage bagged in cart.
- Curbside: fees and fines
- Litter ordinances — not dollar amounts on main collections page.
- Holidays
- MLK Day (2026-01-19): shift not yet confirmed
- Memorial Day (2026-05-25): shift not yet confirmed
- Independence Day (2026-07-03): shift not yet confirmed
- Labor Day (2026-09-07): shift not yet confirmed
- Thanksgiving (2026-11-26): shift not yet confirmed
- Christmas (2026-12-24): shift not yet confirmed
2026 calendar on cityofws.org/568 — e.g. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan 19 yard waste +1 day; Memorial Day May 25 recycling red week +1 day (Fri→Sat May 30), yard +1 day; Thanksgiving Nov 26–27 staggered garbage/recycling; Christmas Dec 24–28 and New Year’s 2027 Jan 1 Friday routes often Sat. Garbage often “normal schedule” on many city holidays — follow printed calendar by zone.
- Hauler
- City of Winston-Salem Solid Waste Collections
- Contacts
- CityLink 311; 336-727-8000
- Find your day
- Service Finder / Winston-Salem Collects
- Sources
- Trash and recycling: cityofws.org
Bulk: Not yet confirmed
Holidays: Not yet confirmed
Curbside: cityofws.org - Verified
- 2026-10-15
Town Rulebook is independent and not affiliated with any city or hauler. Schedules change — always confirm with your city. About & disclaimer