Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Roanoke
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Thursday by quadrant: Northwest on Mondays, Northeast on Tuesdays, Southeast on Wednesdays, and Southwest on Thursdays.
Recycling
Collected every other week (alternating A-Week and B-Week schedules) on the same day as your regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Brush and tree limbs are collected weekly on your regular collection day; seasonal bagged leaf pickup runs on designated weeks in late fall and early winter.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (and no earlier than 7:00 PM the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
The residential solid waste fee is billed twice per year as a separate charge on your real estate tax bill (due in spring and fall) and is often paid through your mortgage escrow account.
Billing Cycle
Semi-Annually
Accepted Methods
Online, Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Eligible seniors (65+) and permanently disabled homeowners qualifying for the City's tax freeze program can receive a discounted solid waste rate of $60 per year.
Blue Cart ('Big Blue') Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the blue can with the lid closed. Place at the curb (within 5 feet of the street) after 7:00 p.m. the night before and before 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics (#3-#7)
- ✓Food waste and wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam
Green Bin / Blue Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loosely in the recycling bin. Never bag recyclables. Collection happens every other week based on your assigned A or B week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 only (empty, with caps replaced)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans (rinsed)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (rinsed)
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7 (yogurt tubs, clamshells)
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wires)
- ✕Styrofoam and wet waste
- ✕Electronics and metal scraps
Yard Waste Bin
Brush piles must be kept separate from bulk household items at the curb. Do not place brush in the alley. Leaves are collected as bulk during Nov/Dec, capped at 6 bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Brush
- ✓Tree limbs
- ✓Bagged leaves (during specific seasonal periods)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Bi-weekly, alternating weeks
Placement
Place items at the front street curb (never the alley) no earlier than 7:00 p.m. the night before and no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and furniture
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Bagged household items not appropriate for the trash can
- ✓ Up to two (2) automobile tires (must be off the rim)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Building materials from renovations (drywall, fencing, lumber)
- ✕ Concrete, dirt, rocks, or asphalt
- ✕ Hazardous waste or explosives
- ✕ Car parts
The first six items are collected for free. Exceeding the limit requires removing the excess within 24 hours, or the City will collect it and charge a penalty fee to the resident's utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
For most Monday holidays, all collection days for the week slide forward one day (Monday collected Tuesday, Thursday collected Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Bulk and brush follow the exact same holiday shift as regular trash and recycling.
Thanksgiving week uses an accelerated schedule. Monday/Tuesday routes are collected Monday, Wednesday routes on Tuesday, and Thursday routes on Wednesday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Recycling
Plastic bags and film are the number one contaminant in Roanoke. They jam the gears at the processing facility. Instead of putting them in your curbside bin, return them to local grocery store drop-offs.
Beware of 'Tanglers'
Never place garden hoses, extension cords, wire fencing, or ropes in the recycling bin. These items wrap around the sorting screens, causing costly facility shutdowns and creating hazards for workers.
Check Your Plastic Numbers
Roanoke only accepts plastics stamped with a #1 or #2 (typically beverage bottles and milk jugs). Plastics #3 through #7, such as yogurt cups, takeout containers, and berry clamshells, must go in your 'Big Blue' trash can.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
November to DecemberDuring the seasonal leaf program, bagged leaves are picked up as part of your bulk collection. However, you are strictly limited to six bags total if other bulk items are also placed out.
Winter
JanuaryChristmas trees are collected as part of your normal brush pickup following the holiday. Ensure all lights, ornaments, and stands are completely removed before setting the tree at the street edge.
Year-Round
January to DecemberResidents must remember that even if they have standard alleyway collection for their 'Big Blue' trash can, all seasonal brush and bulk items must be carried to the front street edge.
About Roanoke Waste Management
The 'Big Blue' Automated Trash System
The City of Roanoke relies on automated trucks equipped with mechanical arms to service residential trash. Because of this, residents must use the official 'Big Blue' trash can. It is critical that the can is placed within five feet of the street. Any loose bags or trash placed outside of 'Big Blue' will be left behind.
A/B Week Schedule for Curbside Recycling
Roanoke utilizes an alternating 'A Week' and 'B Week' schedule for curbside recycling, collected on the same day as your household trash. Residents must follow strict guidelines—only Plastics #1 and #2 are accepted, alongside glass, aluminum, and paper. The city is heavily penalized with contamination fees when unaccepted items enter the single-stream system.
Strict Six-Item Limit for Bulk Trash
To manage heavy waste volumes and keep routes efficient, Roanoke enforces a strict six-item limit for bulk trash collection. A crucial rule for homes with alleyway trash service is that bulk and brush items must never be placed in the alley. All bulk items must be carried to the front street edge for safe mechanical collection.
Unique Thanksgiving Week Schedule Compression
While most holidays simply push trash collection back by one day, Thanksgiving in Roanoke features a unique compressed schedule. Instead of a delay, collections are shifted earlier in the week: Monday and Tuesday routes are combined on Monday, Wednesday routes are collected Tuesday, and Thursday routes are collected on Wednesday, giving crews the holiday off without weekend delays.
Drop-off Facilities
Tinker Creek Transfer Station
1020 Hollins Road NE, Roanoke, VA 24012
Materials Accepted
Gerdau Metal Recycling
2580 Broadway Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24014
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bulk items can I put out for collection in Roanoke?
The City of Roanoke strictly limits bulk collection to six (6) items per residence per cycle. If you place more than six items at the curb, the excess will either be left behind as a code violation or collected with an additional penalty fee charged to your account.
Can I put my bulk trash and brush in the alley?
No. Even if your 'Big Blue' trash cart and recycling bin are normally serviced in an alleyway, all bulk and brush items must be brought to the front street edge for collection. The city's grapple trucks cannot safely navigate narrow alleys.
How does the Thanksgiving trash schedule work?
Unlike other holidays where collections are delayed by a day, Roanoke's Thanksgiving schedule is compressed and shifted earlier. Monday and Tuesday routes are collected on Monday, Wednesday routes on Tuesday, and Thursday routes on Wednesday.
Can I recycle yogurt cups and takeout containers?
No. Roanoke's curbside recycling program only accepts Plastics #1 and #2 (such as water bottles, soda bottles, and milk jugs). Plastics #3 through #7, which include yogurt cups, berry clamshells, and takeout containers, must be thrown in the trash.