Clayton NC Trash Pickup Schedule & Guide (2026)
Last checked: July 8, 2026 — town and provider details can change. Confirm current information with official sources before acting.
Clayton Trash, Recycling & Bulk Pickup at a Glance
The Town of Clayton partners with All Star Waste Services to provide weekly curbside trash, recycling, and yard waste collection for addresses inside town limits. If you live within Clayton town limits, these three services — garbage, recycling, and yard waste — all run on the same day as your regular trash pickup day. Your specific pickup day depends on your street address, not your neighborhood or ZIP code, so you must look it up using the town's online schedule tool.
This guide covers everything a Clayton resident needs: trash collection rules, recycling guidelines, yard waste preparation, bulk item pickup, holiday schedules, and what to do if your address falls outside town limits. Always verify details for your exact address before setting out carts or arranging service.
Critical: Services, providers, and availability differ for addresses inside vs. outside Clayton town limits. If you are outside town limits, the town-contracted All Star Waste service does not apply. See the section on Inside vs. Outside Town Limits below to find your correct path.
Weekly Trash Collection (Green Cart)
What you get: A 95-gallon green rollout cart for household trash and garbage, provided by All Star Waste Services under contract with the Town of Clayton.
Pickup frequency: Once per week, on your street-assigned day.
When to set it out: Place your green cart curbside the night before your scheduled pickup day. All Star starts collection routes at 7:00 a.m., but there are no set arrival times at individual addresses — the route order varies day to day.
Placement rules:
- Keep the cart out of the street to avoid blocking traffic.
- Position it away from mailboxes, utility boxes, trees, parked cars, and other obstructions.
- Face cart openings toward the street with the handle side toward your house.
What to put in: Ordinary household trash and garbage in bags or loose. All Star recommends rolling the cart out only when it is more than half full, which helps crews run more efficiently.
What NOT to put in:
- No hazardous waste, chemicals, or paint
- No electronics (TVs, computers, monitors) — NC law prohibits their collection and disposal through curbside trash
- No construction debris
- No hot ashes or coals
- No liquids or grease in bulk
Missing your pickup: If All Star has already passed your street by the time you set out your cart, they will not return the same week. Place your cart out the night before your next scheduled day.
Find your pickup day: Visit the town's Collection Schedule page and enter your street name or subdivision in the lookup tool. You can also view the All Star Waste Schedule (PDF) for a street-by-street listing.
Recycling Collection
What you get: A 95-gallon tan recycle cart, provided by All Star Waste Services for weekly recycling collection.
Pickup frequency: Once per week, on the same day as your garbage collection.
Accepted materials:
- Paper (newspaper, office paper, junk mail, magazines)
- Cardboard (flattened boxes)
- Plastic bottles and containers (#1 and #2 plastics are most commonly accepted)
- Metal cans (aluminum, steel, tin)
- Glass bottles and jars
Preparation tips:
- Rinse containers to remove food residue.
- Flatten cardboard boxes to save space in your cart.
- Do not bag recyclables — place them loose in the tan cart.
- Do not include plastic bags, styrofoam, food waste, or clothing.
Cart rules: Same placement rules as the green trash cart — curbside the night before, out of the street, away from obstructions.
For the full accepted-items list, check the town's Waste Collection page or download the All Star Waste Services Guide (English & Spanish PDF).
Electronics and hazardous recyclables: Do not place electronics, batteries, or hazardous materials in the recycling cart. Many bulky recyclable items (including electronics) can be taken free of charge to any Johnston County Drop Off Site. Best Buy also operates an electronics recycling program.
Yard Waste Collection
What it covers: Leaves, grass clippings, brush, limbs, and other yard debris generated on your property.
Pickup frequency: Weekly, on the same day as your garbage collection.
Preparation rules:
- Bagged leaves, grass clippings, and small yard debris: use paper yard waste bags (effective September 30, 2026, plastic bags will no longer be accepted).
- Limbs and brush: bundle and tie in manageable lengths.
- Size limit per pickup: Town code limits yard waste collection to one pile of 6' x 6' x 3' per week.
- No rocks, no sticks (separate from debris), and no grass in loose-leaf piles.
Loose Leaf Vacuum Service:
- The seasonal loose leaf vacuum program begins October 1, 2026.
- Service runs weekly, normally on the day after your garbage collection day.
- Depending on volume and weather, service may run a day ahead or a day behind.
- Note: Rocks, sticks, and grass clippings are NOT allowed in loose-leaf piles — loose leaf vacuum service is for leaves only.
Cart: All Star Waste provides a designated yard waste container. Contact All Star if you need a replacement or repair.
Not collected in yard waste: Stumps, large logs, construction debris, dirt, or stone.
Bulk Item & Large Trash Pickup
What qualifies as a bulk item: Large household items such as furniture, appliances (without Freon), mattresses, and large boxes that do not fit in the green cart.
How it works: Bulk items are collected curbside by All Star Waste on your regular collection day. Guidelines from the town:
- Set bulk items at the curb the night before your collection day.
- Separate bulk items from your regular trash cart.
- Do not block sidewalks, driveways, or the street.
Size and quantity limits: Check the town's Solid Waste & Bulk Items page for current size limits and any special scheduling requirements. The source pack notes that specific limits may vary — confirm with the town or All Star before placing an unusually large load at the curb.
Items that are NOT collected curbside:
- Televisions, computers, monitors, and other electronics (NC law prohibits curbside disposal)
- Hazardous waste, chemicals, paint, batteries
- Construction and demolition debris
- Tires
Alternative disposal: Many bulky waste items, large boxes, and recyclables (including electronics) can be taken free of charge to any Johnston County Drop Off Site. This is often the fastest option for items the curbside program cannot accept.
Contact All Star Waste at 919-989-1562 with questions about specific bulk items or to confirm whether a pickup requires advance notice.
Holiday Schedule & Service Delays
All Star Waste's office is closed on observed holidays, but collection crews often work on or around those days. The general rule: put your cart out the night before your normal collection day and leave it curbside — if service is delayed, they will pick it up as soon as possible.
2026 Holiday Schedule (from All Star Waste):
| Holiday | Date | Office | Collection Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Day | July 4, 2026 | Closed | Crews working Friday July 3. Set out night before normal day. |
| Labor Day | September 7, 2026 | Closed | Most trucks working. Monday–Thursday residents: may be collected on normal day OR up to one day later. Friday residents: serviced on Friday, September 11. Set out on normal day and leave curbside. |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26, 2026 | Closed | Some trucks working. Thursday residents: collected Thursday or Friday Nov 27. Friday residents: collected Friday Nov 27. |
| Christmas Eve | December 24, 2026 | Closed at 12pm | — |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2026 | Closed | Some trucks working. Friday residents: collected Friday or Saturday Dec 26. |
| New Year's Day 2027 | January 1, 2027 | Closed | All trucks working. Friday residents collected on Friday Jan 1, 2027. |
Key reminder from All Star Waste: They will not have time to come back if you miss them on a holiday week. Place your containers out the night before your regular day and leave them curbside until collected.
For the most current holiday schedule, check the town's Collection Schedule page and All Star Waste's Holiday Schedule page.
Inside vs. Outside Clayton Town Limits
This is the most important section in this guide. Whether you are served by the town's contracted hauler depends on whether your address falls inside or outside Clayton's municipal boundaries.
Inside Clayton town limits:
- Your trash, recycling, and yard waste collection is provided by All Star Waste Services under contract with the Town of Clayton.
- You pay for this service through your town utility bill (water bill).
- All three services run on the same day — use the Collection Schedule page to find your day.
- For service issues, cart repairs, or replacements, call or text All Star Waste at 919-989-1562.
Outside Clayton town limits (unincorporated Johnston County):
- The town-contracted All Star Waste service does not apply to addresses outside town limits.
- You may need to arrange service with a private provider. Options include:
- Anchor Disposal — offers residential trash and recycling services in the region - Johnston County — the county may provide or coordinate waste services for unincorporated areas - Other private haulers serving your area
- Check with Johnston County government or contact local haulers directly.
How to determine your status: Not sure if your address is inside or outside Clayton town limits?
- Check your property tax bill or deed — if you pay town property taxes, you are likely inside town limits.
- If you pay your water bill to the Town of Clayton, the All Star page confirms you live "in town" and the service applies to your residence.
- Use the town's address verification tools or call Town Hall at 111 East Second Street, Clayton, NC 27520.
Do not assume that having a Clayton mailing address (zip codes including 27520, 27527, 27528) means you are inside town limits. Many unincorporated areas use Clayton addresses. Always verify your exact address with the town or county before making decisions about service.
How to Start, Change, or Cancel Service
New Residents (Inside Town Limits)
If you are moving to a home inside Clayton town limits:
- Verify your address is inside town limits (see section above).
- Contact the Town of Clayton Waste Collection department to set up service. The quickest way is to visit the official Waste Collection page.
- The town will confirm your address, assign your pickup day, and explain how billing works through your utility account.
- Your 95-gallon green trash cart and 95-gallon tan recycling cart will be provided by All Star Waste.
- Place carts curbside the night before your first collection day.
Service Issues, Repairs, and Replacements
For existing service problems — missed pickup, damaged cart, missing container — contact All Star Waste Services directly:
- Call or text: 919-989-1562
- All Star's Clayton service page has contact details and payment/signup options.
Changing or Canceling Service
Contact the Town of Clayton Department of Public Works or the Waste Collection department. Because service is tied to your property through the town utility billing system, changes or cancellations must go through the town rather than the hauler directly.
Outside Town Limits
If your address is outside town limits, contact:
- Anchor Disposal at anchordisposal.com for residential service options
- Johnston County for county-coordinated waste services
- Other private haulers serving your area
This guide does not include specific rates or billing amounts because those are set by the town and provider and can change. Contact the town or provider directly for current pricing.
Sources & Official Links
- Collection Schedule — Town of Clayton — primary schedule lookup, holiday changes, pickup day by street
- Waste Collection — Town of Clayton — service overview, cart info, guidelines, contact
- Solid Waste & Bulk Items — Town of Clayton — bulk item pickup rules
- All Star Waste — Clayton Service — contract hauler info, cart specs, holiday schedule
- Anchor Disposal — Residential Services — alternative private provider (outside town limits option)
Frequently Asked Questions — Clayton Trash Pickup
What day is my trash pickup in Clayton NC?
Pickup day varies by street. Use the town's online Collection Schedule page and enter your street name or subdivision to find your specific day.
What time should I put my trash cart out?
Place your 95-gallon green rollout cart curbside the night before your scheduled pickup day. Keep it out of the street and away from mailboxes or other obstructions. Crews start at 7:00 a.m., but arrival times vary.
Does Clayton NC pick up bulk items like furniture or appliances?
Yes. Clayton offers curbside bulk item pickup on your regular collection day. Check the town's Solid Waste & Bulk Items page for size limits, preparation rules, and any scheduling requirements. Electronics (TVs, computers) cannot be collected curbside under NC law.
What goes in the recycling cart in Clayton?
Clayton provides weekly recycling collection using a 95-gallon tan cart. Accepted materials include paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, metal cans, and glass. Check the town's Waste Collection page for the full list. Place items loose — do not bag recyclables.
How does yard waste collection work in Clayton?
Yard waste (bagged leaves, brush, grass clippings, limbs) is collected weekly on the same day as your garbage. Town code limits pickup to one 6' x 6' x 3' pile per week. Plastic bags will no longer be accepted after September 30, 2026 — use paper yard waste bags. Seasonal loose leaf vacuum service begins October 1st.
What if a holiday falls on my pickup day?
Holiday weeks may shift pickup by one day or follow a modified schedule. All Star Waste runs most trucks on holidays, but delays are possible. Set your cart out the night before your normal day and leave it curbside. Check the town's Collection Schedule page for the current year's holiday schedule.
Do I need separate service if I live outside Clayton town limits?
Yes. The town-contracted service (All Star Waste) covers addresses inside town limits only. Outside town limits, you need to arrange service with Johnston County or a private provider such as Anchor Disposal. Do not assume a Clayton mailing address means you are inside town limits — verify your address first.
How do I set up trash service as a new Clayton resident?
Contact the Town of Clayton's Waste Collection department through their official Waste Collection page. They will confirm your address, set up service, and explain billing through your utility account. For service issues after setup, call All Star Waste at 919-989-1562.
*This guide was last checked on July 8, 2026. Service details, rates, schedules, and providers can change. Always confirm with the official town, county, or provider sources listed above before acting.*