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Collection Guidelines

Bulk Waste Collection by the City of New Bern

Acceptable:
  • Appliances such as freezers, refrigerators, washers, dryers, water heaters: remove doors or secure doors in a manner that ensures no access to the item.  We do accept furniture such as sofas, tables, and mattresses and small appliances such as microwaves, toasters, and vacuums. Paint cans that are empty and have lids removed (paint must be dried out) are also acceptable.  Tires that have been separated from rim are acceptable as well as clothing that has been bagged (no trash sticker is required for bagged clothing).  Check with local charities regarding donation of clothing.
  • Small amounts (4 linear feet total) of clean wood that is not treated, painted, or stained. No nails, screws, hardware, or other material can be attached. Pallets, wood shipping containers, and fence materials that have not been treated, painted, or stained are accepted;  wood shipping containers and fence material must be cut or knocked down to a size no larger than 48 inches by 48 inches, and stacked neatly to allow route truck to collect.  Call (252)639-7521 three days before scheduled route day to schedule collection of pallets, shipping containers and fencing.
Unacceptable:
  • No electronics (computers, televisions, printers, etc...) will not be collected.  Tires on rim, partially filled paint cans, propane tanks, and other hazardous material is unacceptable.
  • Any demolition or construction debris: large amounts of lumber; carpet, carpet padding, or other flooring materials are unacceptable.  Treated, painted, or stained wood;  treated lumber used in gardens; mirrors, glass, cement, concrete or brick items, roofing shingles, sheet rock, window frames or doors and railroad ties are also unacceptable.  Demolition, remodeling or construction debris should be removed by the contractor or homeowner.  It can be taken to one of Craven County's convenience centers (252-636-6659).
  • Bulk waste from commercial businesses or contractors will not be collected.
  • Bulk or yard waste having any unacceptable items mixed in will not be collected.

Place bulk waste out by 6 a.m. on your scheduled day in one neat pile away from your residential trash cart, recycling container, car, guide wires, trees, fences and away from power or utility sources (in ground or overhead).  Do not place in the street or on the sidewalk. 

Residential Yard Waste Collected by the City of New Bern

Acceptable:
  • Limbs shorter than 5 feet and smaller than 5 inches in diameter are accepted. Leaves, pine straw and grass clippings must be bagged. Small twigs and hedge clippings must be bagged. Hedges/bushes must have excess dirt or sand removed from roots.
Unacceptable:
  • Loose piles of leaves, clippings, and pine straw (except during loose leaf season). Any debris resulting from contracted services (including hired labor, landscapers and tree services: this debris must be hauled off by the contractor or homeowner), sand or dirt piles. Plastic planters or flower pots need to be emptied of dirt and placed in your recycling container. 
  • Large piles of yard waste need to be called in ahead of scheduled pick up.  Yard waste piles up to six cubic yards will be collected on your scheduled route day.  For larger piles, the route truck will pick up six cubic yards and if possible, return later to collect more after that day’s route has been finished.  Or, they will return to pick up what's leftover on the next scheduled route day. 
  • Yard waste with any unacceptable waste mixed in will not be collected. 
Place yard waste out by 6 a.m. on your scheduled day in one neat pile away from GDS cart, recycling container, car, guide wires, trees, fences, and away from power or utility sources (in ground or overhead).  Do not place in the street or on the sidewalk. 
Loose leaves and pine straw are accepted curbside from November 1st through the last day of February.  Separate loose leaves from any other yard waste or bulk items to allow for collection.  Yard waste generated by a contractor (including hired labor, landscapers and tree service companies) will not be collected. 

Loose Leaves Collected by the City of New Bern

Acceptable:
  • Loose Leaves and pine straw are accepted curbside from November 1st through the last day of February ONLY.  Loose leaves should be placed in a pile behind the curb line so as not to block the flow of stormwater runoff and must be separated from other yard waste or other bulk items.  At all other times during the year leaves and pine straw must be bagged.
Unacceptable:
    • Loose piles of leaves, clippings, and pine straw (except during loose leaf season). Any debris resulting from contracted services (including hired labor, landscapers and tree service companies must be hauled off by the contractor or homeowner), sand or dirt piles. Plastic planters or flower pots need to be emptied of dirt and placed in your recycling container. 

Placement of Bulk Waste and Yard Waste

  • All yard and bulk waste, recycling containers, and rollout sanitation containers should be out by 6 a.m. on the day of your collection. 
  • All loose items should be secured, so that they cannot get carried away by the wind.
  • Do not place any material or containers in the roadway or on the sidewalks - it impedes traffic flow and pedestrian movement.
  • Keep containers separated from yard and bulk waste.
  • Yard waste and bulk items should be kept away from cars, guide wires, trees, and fences. 
  • Do not place items for collection on or near utility poles, guide wires, utility boxes and meters.
  • Yard waste and bulk items should be placed in a neat pile away from recycling and sanitation containers.  
  • Loose piles of leaves need to be separate from other waste to be collected.
  • Large piles of yard waste (over six cubic yards) need to be called in ahead of your scheduled pick up day.  Yard waste piles up to four cubic yards will be collected on your scheduled route day.  For larger piles, the route truck will pick up six cubic yards and, if possible, return later that day after total route pickup to collect the rest.  Or, the route truck will return on the next scheduled route day to collect the rest.
  • Yard waste generated by a contracted services (including hired labor, landscapers and tree service) will not be collected.