Zone A, west of I-540, goes first the week of Oct. 19; Zone B the week of Oct. 26. Leaves still go loose at the curb, and grass clippings are still collected.

Apex yard waste pickup moves to every other week starting Monday, Oct. 19. Homes are split into two zones, and each zone is collected in alternate weeks.

Updated Oct. 24: The town’s yard waste page now links a zone lookup map that it says shows your peak leaf season zone and your regular-season collection assignment. The page still gives Feb. 5 as the last day of peak leaf season, while the FAQ gives Feb. 6.

The change comes just as the leaves start to fall. The town’s Public Works Department says the new schedule will mean fewer missed pickups and more time to maintain its trucks. “As the town grows and equipment ages, it has become challenging to meet service demand on our current schedule,” the department says on its yard waste collection page.

Trash and recycling are not changing. GFL still picks those up weekly under contract with the town. Yard waste is collected by the town’s own crews.

Which zone you are in

  • Zone A: areas west of I-540.
  • Zone B: areas east of I-540, plus Sunset Hills.

Your collection weeks through January

The town calls Oct. 19 to early February “peak leaf season.” In these weeks there is no set day for your street. Crews can come any day of your zone’s week.

Zone A (west of I-540) Zone B (east of I-540 and Sunset Hills)
Week of Oct. 19 Week of Oct. 26
Week of Nov. 2 Week of Nov. 9
Week of Nov. 16 Week of Nov. 23
Week of Nov. 30 Week of Dec. 7
Week of Dec. 14 Week of Jan. 4
Week of Jan. 11 Week of Jan. 18
Week of Jan. 25 Week of Feb. 1

The town’s list has no collection week for either zone in the weeks of Dec. 21 and Dec. 28.

From Monday, Feb. 8, 2027, collection stays every other week, but each home gets an assigned collection day.

When to put it out

  • Have it at the curb by 6 a.m. Monday of your zone’s week.
  • Not more than 48 hours before that. The town’s yard waste FAQ sets the window as the 48 hours before 6 a.m. on the Monday of your zone’s week.
  • Not in your off week. Yard waste may not sit at the curb or in the town right of way when your zone is not being collected.

The town suggests keeping weekend clippings on your own property, or in a tote, until your window opens.

What stays the same

  • Leaves still go out loose. Do not bag yard waste. Keep leaves apart from sticks and limbs, which go on a separate truck.
  • Grass clippings are still collected. The FAQ says grass “currently remains an accepted yard waste material.” The town says it is still discussing grass and yard waste containers with staff and outside providers, with no ordinance change so far. It encourages “grasscycling,” leaving clippings on the lawn.
  • The program is not ending. “No, there are no plans to end the yard waste program,” the FAQ says.

The pile rules

The town’s approved yard waste ordinances include:

  • Up to 2 cubic yards a cycle, about a pile 6 feet long, 3 feet deep and 3 feet high, or a full pickup truck bed. More than that is subject to a fee.
  • Limbs less than 6 feet long and less than 6 inches across, with cut ends together.
  • Piles within 3 feet of the curb, at least 10 feet upstream of a storm drain and 10 feet from side property lines, and 6 feet from mailboxes, cars and fire hydrants.
  • Yard waste from a landscaper or contractor must be hauled away by them, including crews hired by an HOA.
  • No dirt, sod, mulch, root balls, lumber, rocks, pallets, trash or pet waste.

The full text is in the approved ordinances. Crews leave a door hanger on a pile that breaks the rules, saying what to fix and by when.

The council discussed the program at its February retreat and at meetings on April 14, May 28, Sept. 15 and Sept. 22. The town links the video of each discussion from its yard waste page.

What it means for you

  • Find your side of I-540, or look up your address on the town’s zone lookup map, and note your first week: Oct. 19 for Zone A, Oct. 26 for Zone B.
  • Rake little and often. The town says households that set leaves out every cycle are unlikely to pay excess fees, and a big pile all at once could draw one.
  • Debris from Sunday’s storms goes out on your zone’s schedule. See our storm story.
  • Missed pickup or an extra-pile request: use the town’s service request form or call Ask Apex at 919-249-3311.
  • Tight curb space or a placement question: email Solid Waste Manager Brandon Roberson at brandon.roberson@apexnc.org to set up a site visit.
  • Alerts: the town’s solid waste collection app sends service notices.

Our trash and recycling guide has the full schedule for trash, recycling, bulk pickup and household hazardous waste.