Trash and Recycling Pickup Schedule for Idlewood Neighborhood, Greensboro, NC
Living in the Idlewood neighborhood of Greensboro, NC, means staying on top of your trash and recycling pickup schedule to keep your community clean and sustainable. The City of Greensboro provides a comprehensive tool called GSO Collects to help residents and visitors manage their waste collection. Below, we’ll break down how to find and understand the trash and recycling pickup schedule for Idlewood, based on information from the GSO Collects website.
Finding Your Schedule
To get the exact pickup schedule for your address in Idlewood:
Visit the GSO Collects Tool: Go to the GSO Collects online tool or download the GSO Collects app from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store.
Enter Your Address: Input your Idlewood address to view your personalized collection calendar. This tool provides details on trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulk item pickup days.
Printable Calendars: You can download and print a red or blue recycling calendar, which corresponds to your neighborhood’s recycling pickup schedule (Idlewood falls under one of these based on your specific street).
If you prefer, you can call the City Contact Center at 336-373-CITY (2489) to confirm your schedule or request assistance.
General Pickup Guidelines for Idlewood
Here’s what you need to know about trash and recycling collection in Idlewood:
Trash Collection
Frequency: Trash is collected weekly on your designated pickup day.
Schedule: Most collection crews operate on a four-day week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday), with no collections on Wednesdays unless adjusted for holidays.
Container: Use the City-issued green trash cart. Place it at the curb by 7 AM on your collection day. Extra bags outside the cart are not considered bulk items and won’t be collected unless you purchase an additional cart for a fee.
Prohibited Items: Do not place household hazardous waste (e.g., paint, gasoline, batteries) or electronic waste (e.g., TVs, laptops) in your trash cart. These must be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center at 2750 Patterson Street.
Recycling Collection
Frequency: Recycling is collected every other week on the same day as your bulk item pickup, either on the red or blue calendar schedule.
Container: Use the brown recycling cart. Ensure items are empty, clean, and dry to avoid contamination. Place the cart at the curb by 7 AM.
Accepted Items: Paper, cardboard, metal cans, plastic bottles, and glass are recyclable, but plastic bags are not accepted in the carts. Break down cardboard boxes to save space.
Contamination Rules: Greensboro’s Recycle Right program monitors carts for non-recyclable items. If contamination (e.g., garbage, glass, or dirty items) is found, your cart may be tagged, and you’ll receive a postcard. Three violations within six months may result in cart removal.
Overflow Recycling: If you have excess recycling, drop it off at the Solid Waste Transfer Station (6310 Burnt Poplar Rd) or White Street Landfill (2503 White St) for free as a City resident. Do not bag recyclables at these sites, and dump them loosely in the designated dumpsters.
Yard Waste Collection
Frequency: Collected weekly on your regular trash pickup day.
Container: Use the gray yard waste cart provided by the City. One cart is free, and a second can be purchased for a fee. Place it at the curb by 7 AM with the lid closed.
Rules: Only leaves, branches, and grass clippings are allowed. Long branches must not protrude, and plastic bags are not permitted. From November to February, you can place up to 15 paper bags or bundles (max 50 lbs each) for collection.
Christmas Trees: Considered yard waste and collected on your trash day. Remove all decorations and cut trees over 5 feet in half.
Bulk Item Collection
Frequency: Collected every other week on your recycling pickup day.
Rules: Place items like furniture or mattresses at the curb by 7 AM. Construction debris (e.g., lumber, drywall) is only collected in your green cart or a 32-gallon personal container unless you arrange a paid pickup. Carpets must be rolled and tied (max 5 feet long). Tires and electronics are not collected curbside and must go to designated facilities.
Prohibited Items: Lawn equipment with gas or oil must be drained and taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center.
Holiday Schedule Adjustments
Holiday weeks may shift your pickup days in Idlewood:
Monday Holidays (e.g., Martin Luther King Jr. Day): Monday and Tuesday collections move to Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tuesday Holidays: Tuesday collection moves to Wednesday.
Wednesday Holidays: No change in service.
Thursday Holidays: Thursday collection moves to Wednesday.
Friday Holidays: Thursday and Friday collections move to Wednesday and Thursday.
New Year’s Day 2025 (Wednesday): No change in service.
Check the GSO Collects app or website for specific holiday schedules, as trash collection may occur even when City Hall is closed.
Additional Resources
Report Issues: Missed collection or a broken cart? Use the “Report an Issue” feature in the GSO Collects tool or app to notify the right supervisor quickly.
Waste Wizard: Not sure if an item is recyclable? Use the Waste Wizard feature in the GSO Collects app to search for proper disposal methods.
Reminders: Sign up for email, text, or phone reminders through GSO Collects to stay on top of collection days, especially during holidays or inclement weather.
Education Programs: Request a free educational program or tour of the Solid Waste Transfer Station, White Street Landfill, or recycling center by calling 336-373-CITY (2489).
Why It Matters
Greensboro’s Solid Waste and Recycling Department handles over 30,000 tons of yard waste annually and works to reduce recycling contamination, which is at 26% locally compared to the national average of 10%. By following the correct schedule and guidelines, Idlewood residents can help lower costs (e.g., recycling glass costs $22/ton) and keep the neighborhood environmentally friendly.
For more details, visit the GSO Collects website or download the app. Let’s keep Idlewood clean and green!
Source: City of Greensboro Solid Waste and Recycling - GSO Collects