Garbage and Recycling Collection

Garbage

Sidearm Garbage Truck

The city's garbage collection is performed on a routing system whereas certain sections of the city are collected on specified days.  Residential garbage, bulk items, and yard waste is schedule to be collected on your weekly scheduled garbage collection day. Because of the schedule routing, it is disruptive to the established route and expensive for the crew and equipment to return to service properties that didn't place carts at the street prior to 7:00 AM.

Please be sure to place carts at the street no later than 7:00 AM on your scheduled collection day and remove your empty cart from the street by midnight on the day of collection. Containers should not be left on the curb during weekends. Your cooperation in abiding by this requirement helps keep the City of Mebane beautiful.

 

 

Recycling the Right Way

The City of Mebane contracts recycling services with GFL Environmental. The GFL collects the recyclables that are in their issued cart every other week. A map and schedule showing the GFL collection routing is provided below and an interactive map is provided above.

Place recyclables at the curb the night before your collection day. Place carts at least 5 feet from garbage containers. Put recyclables in your recycle cart only. GFL will not collect any extra recyclable material outside the recyclable container.

If you are not sure what can be recycled, please do not guess. Review the provided informational guide below or click this link to the GFL webpage.

Residents may take their e-waste (old computers, televisions, e-games, and old cell phones) to the Alamance County Landfill located at 2701 Austin Quarter Rd. in Graham, NC.

 

Cardboard Convenience Center

Location: 633 Corregidor St. (parking lot of the Mebane Arts & Community Center)

The City of Mebane provides a drop-off site for residential overflow cardboard. If city residents have more cardboard than their recycling cart can contain, then this site is available for the additional cardboard material.  Boxes must be emptied of any plastic and styrofoam,  and must be collapsed  to fit into the slotted container openings as this allows for more material to be placed in the container.  Please do not bring trash to this site as we are attempting to keep the material clean so it may be recycled. Should the container become contaminated with non-recyclable material, GFL may need to dispose of the material at the landfill.

Yard Waste

Yard waste will be collected on your normal garbage collection day. You do not need to call in for a special collection unless you are requesting a large quantity of yard waste to be disposed of and want city staff to review the amount to assure city collection of material.

Yard waste is described as vegetative matter resulting from normal landscaping maintenance performed by the homeowner only, including but not limited to leaves, twigs, grass, limbs, shrub clippings, hay/pine straw, pine cones and small logs. City staff requires that these items be placed in a permanent, reusable can or other receptacle to be provided by the customer. Please attempt to refrain from using brown or plastic bags as the disposal sites are reluctant to accept bags. Disposable plastic bags or other disposable containers will be serviced, however, this option is not environment friendly.

State law requires yard waste to be separated from trash and recycling.

  • Brush items must be cut to a length not exceeding 5 feet and tied in bundles that do not to exceed 50 pounds.
  • Yard waste should be placed at the back of curb (or edge of street) but not in the street.
  • Separate yard waste from other household garbage and recycling.
  • Large quantities of brush will be collected at the earliest convenience.
  • Grass must be placed in a container to prevent clogging of storm drains.

Composting

Residents are encouraged to recycle their leaves by composting or shredding them and using them as fertilizer for lawns and gardens. You can also use leaves as mulch to protect plants and shrubs.

Contracted Yard or House Work

The City will not pick up yard debris from contracted work. It is the responsibility of the contractor to remove all yard waste and construction debris from the property, Right-of-Way, or public easement.

When hiring contractors to perform any yard or construction work, they are responsible for removing any waste or debris. Contractors cutting and trimming trees and shrubs are responsible for removing all tree trunks, stumps and limbs. Be sure to have this debris removal included in the price quote for the job.  Please review the City’s guides and policies for more information.

Loose Leaf Collection

Seasonally, the City offers a leaf vacuum service throughout Mebane. The Sanitation Department collects loose leaves beginning in October and continuesLeaf vacuum truck collecting leaves through early March each year. The program provides residents with the opportunity to have loose leaves collected at roadside without the need for bagging during this collection schedule.

Participation and Routing

The program operates on a city-wide routing system that is based on city staff completing one leaf collection route of the entire city. Once the city route is completed, staff then returns to the beginning of the same planned route and begins again. A typical loose leaf collection route around the entire city takes about three to four weeks depending on the amount of leaves placed out for collection. This equates to about six complete loose leaf collection routes around the city.

  • All sticks, rocks, trash, gravel, glass, or other solid matter are to be removed from leaves so as not to damage city equipment. If staff encounters debris in the leaf pile, they will discontinue collection at the property.
  • Leaves are to be placed on the edge of the street in rows parallel to the street. Leaves should be carefully placed so as not to disrupt pedestrian safety on the sidewalk and are not to be placed in ditches or in the street such that the leaves will clog storm drains during rain events.
  • Vehicles are to be parked away from the leaf pile to ensure the leaves are not obstructed in a manner that blocks the City vehicle access to safely collect the leaves.
  • All leaves are to be kept away from storm drains, fences, water meters, and sewer cleanouts.

Despite all advanced preparation, adherence to these schedules depends on weather and equipment functioning properly.

In addition to the collection program, residents are encouraged to recycle their leaves by composting or shredding them and using them as fertilizer for lawns and gardens. You can also use leaves as mulch to protect plants and shrubs.

Mebane residents can also use the City's year-round yard waste collection service. Simply put your leaves in clear plastic bags and set them at the curb on your normal garbage collection day.

Interested in Receiving Leaves?

If you are interested in receiving collected leaves, contact Public Works at 919-563-3401. In order to receive leaves, you must:

  • Have a clear dump site for the leaves;
  • Have clear access for the leaf truck;
  • Be able to receive 25 cubic yards (approximately 3 to 4 tons) of wet or dry leaves;
  • Understand the leaves are collected from city streets and the leaf loads may contain impurities;
  • Accept the loads at no charge.

Bulk Items

Bulk items, such as mattresses, appliances, and furniture,  will be collected on your normal garbage collection day. You do not need to call in for a special collection unless you are requesting a large quantity of items to be disposed of and want city staff to review the amount to assure city collection of material. Please separate bulk items from your regular garbage as these items will be collected using a knuckle boom or rear loaded truck.

Non-Collection Notice

In the event that  Sanitation crews do not collect your trash or yard waste, a non-collection notice will be left explaining the problem. You may contact the Public Works Department with questions regarding the non-collection notice. It is our desire to educate the public about household refuse and yard waste collection requirements.

A State ban on wooden pallets in landfills went into effect on October 1, 2009. Therefore, the City can no longer pickup pallets. Pallets must be disposed of by contractors or vendors. More information can be found on the  N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance website.

The City does not collect debris from building or contract work, which includes tires, shingles, concrete, masonry, rocks, dirt, stumps, logs, hazardous chemicals, paint, or sealed containers.  These items should be disposed of in a compliant and appropriate manner by contacting the Alamance County landfill at (336)376-8902.

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