Search Search Toggle
Slider Accent

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 (limit 4 tires) as well as clothing that has been bagged (no trash sticker is required for bagged clothing).  Check with local charities regarding donation of clothing.
Unacceptable:
  • No electronics (computers, televisions, printers, etc...) will be collected.  Tires on rim, fencing, 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; fencing, 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 / cravencountync.gov).
  • 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 6:00 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, bagged and placed in your trash cart. 
  • 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 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled day in one neat pile away from trash and recycle carts, vehicles, 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 and must be hauled away by contractor or property owner.

Loose Leaf Collection 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.  You may bag your leaves and pine straw at any time during the year.
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 bagged and placed in your trash cart. 

This service is available November through February. To find out which zone you're in, click here.  For a calendar of pickup days for your area, click here or call Public Works at (252)639-7501.

Placement of Bulk Waste and Yard Waste

  • All yard and bulk waste and rollout trash & recycle carts should be out by 6:00 a.m. on the day of your collection. 
  • All loose items should be secured, so that it 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. pedestrian movement and may block stormwater drainage.
  • Keep service carts separated from yard and bulk waste.
  • Yard waste and bulk items should be kept away from vehicles, guide wires, trees, and fences, etc... 
  • 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 neat sorted piles away from trash and recycle carts.  
  • 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 to assist with collection.  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, and may 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 remaining yard waste.
  • Yard waste generated by a contracted services (including hired labor, landscapers and tree service) will not be collected.