Disposal & donation guidelines

Raleigh & Wake County

Donate and recycle first — dispose last. Where to take furniture, appliances, mattresses, electronics, metal, and renovation debris around the Triangle.

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Wake County's convenience centers & recycling facilities are residents-only and turn away contractors/haulers — so your commercial disposal runs through the South Wake Landfill / East Wake Transfer Station (a credit account) and private C&D sites. You also need a Wake County Hauler's Privilege License. These are general guidelines about where to go and what they take, not exact prices. Divert to donation and scrap first.

02 By what you're hauling
Where each load goes
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Appliances & metal

Fridges, washers, AC, scrap — pays cash
  • Raleigh Metal Recycling
    2310 Garner Rd, Raleigh · buys appliances + scrap; reportedly free pickup for 2+ large appliances.
    CashRemove freon first
  • TT&E Iron & Metal
    Garner · ferrous/non-ferrous scrap.
    Cash
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Furniture & mixed junk (MSW)

Full cleanouts — commercial-hauler sites (credit account)
  • South Wake Landfill
    6300 Old Smithfield Rd, Apex · county MSW landfill, takes commercial loads by weight (waste must originate in Wake County). Set up a landfill credit account.
    Credit account
  • East Wake Transfer Station
    820 Corporation Pkwy, Raleigh · licensed haulers only, MSW.
    Licensed haulers
  • Not for commercial loads
    The county's 11 convenience centers & the Multi-Material Recycling Facilities are residents-only (a free Trash Pass gates out contractors).
    Residents only
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Renovation / C&D debris

Private sites — the county won't take contractor C&D
  • Capital / Meridian Waste
    424 Warehouse Dr, Raleigh · C&D transfer.
  • GFL — Brownfield Rd
    2600 Brownfield Rd, Raleigh · C&D landfill (plus Raleigh Processing, 421 Raleigh View Rd).
  • Also
    Durant Rd Transfer (9220 Durant Rd) · Greenway Apex (5940 Old Smithfield Rd) · Red Rock (Holly Springs) · Republic (5565 Thornton Rd) · Shotwell (Wendell).
🛌

Mattresses

No NC program
  • By weight
    North Carolina has no mattress-recycling program — they go to the South Wake Landfill (shredded) as a separate bulky-item stream. Neither ReStore nor Green Chair takes mattresses.
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Electronics / e-waste

Landfill-BANNED in NC
  • Recyclers & take-back
    Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, printers) have been banned from NC landfills since 2011. County residents use the MMRFs; Best Buy takes electronics; use a certified e-waste recycler for commercial loads.
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Freon, tires & hazmat

Special handling
  • Freon appliances / white goods
    Landfill-banned; refrigerant must be recovered (EPA §608) and there's a state white-goods disposal tax. County MMRFs handle recovery for residents; scrap yards for commercial (with proof).
  • Tires
    Banned from NC landfills — take to a scrap-tire site; >5 tires needs a state certification form.
03 Rules worth knowing
Staying legal in Wake County
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Wake County Hauler's Privilege License — required

Anyone collecting garbage, solid waste, or recyclables in Wake County for hire must hold it — about $100/year, with a certificate of liability insurance. Renewal window is May–July.

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Set up a landfill credit account

Dumping at South Wake Landfill or East Wake Transfer Station needs a credit account, and the waste must originate within Wake County.

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North Carolina landfill bans

Electronics (since 2011), whole tires, white goods, yard waste, pallets, and lead-acid batteries are all banned from NC landfills — divert them. (Lithium-ion batteries & solar panels join the ban Dec 2026.)

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Recover refrigerant before scrapping a fridge or AC

EPA Section 608 requires refrigerant recovery before disposal; keep documentation. Venting is illegal.

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Tarp your load

NC law requires loads to be secured and covered so nothing falls, blows, or leaks — littering from a vehicle carries steep fines.

For informational purposes only. These are general guidelines to help you plan a run — not an official disposal guide or legal advice. Hours, accepted materials, fees, and rules change often and vary by load, so always confirm directly with the facility and follow all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.