Business Recycling

Solid Waste Services (SWS) offers curbside recycling service within it's Central Business District (CBD).

The CBD is a an area bounded by Peace Street to the north, Blount Street to the east, Cabarrus Street to the south, and West Street to the west.

Most participants in the recycling program also use the City curbside garbage collection. Companies that do not receive City garbage service may still be eligible for recycling collection and should contact SWS for more information.

Want to Sign up for Recycling Service?

1. Contact Solid Waste Services to see if your business is eligible to participate in recycling.
2. If it is, then recycling containers will be delivered to your business.

Most busineses use blue, 64-gallon roll carts. The carts provide ample capacity, have lids to protect materials from wind and rain, and allow crews to safely empty materials into the recycling truck. Smaller containers may be provided to businesses that don't have room for carts.

Want to Renew or Enroll in the Recycling Program?

Download this form, then complete and send it in.

Customers in the Central Business District outside of Glenwood South may continue to set out waste between 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm for collection.

In addition, they may also set out containers between 2:00 am and 5:30 am. All empty carts, along with any uncollected waste, must be removed from the curb by 9:30 am the day after collection.

Glenwood South Service

The City of Raleigh Solid Waste Services Department has curbside service to Glenwood South.

Garbage and recycling collection will be offered Monday through Saturday from 2:00 am until 5:30 am.

City employees will empty only City-issued carts, which can be purchased by calling 919-996-6890.

Monthly fees are:

• Six days (Mon – Sat) garbage and recycling: $65.00
• Six days recycling only: $50.00
• Seven days garbage and recycling: $76.00
• Seven days recycling only: $58.00

More than 150 business are recycling in and around Downtown Raleigh, including restaurants, nightclubs, shops, law firms and coffeehouses. Download to view the list

Each business owner receives a "We Recycle" window decal to show their patrons they care about the environment.

Participants are encouraged to subscribe to the quarterly electronic newsletter, "The View from the Cab."

The following information explains how solid waste is to be handled properly in the Central Business District. This information serves as a reminder and a warning of the civil penalty for continued violations.

• Garbage and recycling are collected Monday through Saturday.
• All refuse and recycling must be placed on the curb for collection no earlier than 3 pm but no later than 5:30 pm.
• All refuse must be put in the green City-issued bags or trash containers.
• Any refuse not put in the green City of Raleigh containers or bags will be considered improperly prepared for collection.
• All restaurants and bars must use City carts to prevent leakage on sidewalks.
• Blue carts are for recycling only.
• Corrugated cardboard is a recyclable item.
• Corrugated cardboard must be broken down into pieces no larger than 3ft x 3ft, stacked, and secured.
• All trash carts, recycling carts, and uncollected waste must be removed from the curb by 9:30 am the day after collection.
• Yard waste and building materials will NOT be collected.
• Refuse put out before 3 pm, after 5:30 pm, or on Sundays is a violation of Raleigh Municipal Code.
• Violation of these regulations is subject up to a $500.00 civil penalty.

While there is not a formal recycling program for businesses or other non-residential locations outside the central business district, opportunities exist for some locations to receive recycling services from the city for a fee.

The first criteria that we look at is that the they must be in a primarily residential area. There are several other factors that must be physically looked at by a Solid Waste Services (SWS) Representative. Once approved by the SWS Representative the entity is required to purchase recycling cart(s) and pays a monthly fee for the recycling service. The service would be provided once per week and the fee would be based on the number of containers serviced.