Sanitation Department

Please Note: Montreat is a nationally designated BearWise Community. BearWise is a national program that shares ways to prevent conflicts with black bears, provides resources to resolve problems with black bears, and encourages community initiatives to keep black bears wild. Your participation and compliance in securing your solid waste is critical to a safe and successful program.

The Town of Montreat operates curbside sanitation services for solid waste disposal and recycling. There is no additional charge for curbside services, as it is included in the taxes paid. Pick up is every Monday, the exception being holidays. In such cases, pickup will be the next business day.

Solid waste must be placed in plastic bags with the drawstring tied at the top. Recycling must be placed in either blue or clear bags with the drawstring tied. Bags may be mixed in the same container. Containers should be placed curbside by 8:00am on the day of pickup. Due to wildlife, solid waste and recycle bags must be placed in containers. If placed in advance of pick up day, containers must be bear proof or placed in a bear proof enclosure.

“Back door” sanitation service is available at an additional cost. See Fees for details.

Sanitation Convenience Center

As an additional service, a sanitation Convenience Center is available for Montreat homeowners and renters. The Center is located across the bridge from the Town Hall. Separate dumpsters are available for solid waste and recycling. All solid waste and recycling must be bagged and placed in the appropriate container.

Please Note: The Sanitation Convenience Center is for bagged household trash only - other articles such as furniture, equipment, building materials, and tires are not allowed. Violators will be contacted and possibly fined.

There is no fee for the Convenience Center, which is open Monday - Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Security cameras are in place for safety and to ensure proper use.

Property owners are responsible for informing all renters and guests about the sanitation program and will be held responsible if Town ordinances involving waste disposal are violated. To review Town sanitation ordinances, CLICK HERE.

Brush and Leaf Collection

The Town provides complimentary brush and leaf collection. Brush is collected curbside every Wednesday, while leaves are collected every other Wednesday. For a calendar of collection dates, CLICK HERE.

Brush Pickup Standards:

Cut limbs to 6-foot lengths, not more than 6 inches in diameter
Stack all cut ends in one direction
Limit brush piles to 1 cubic yard in size (about the size of a small pickup truck load)
Do not include debris, boards, metal, invasive species, or other foreign material in with brush

Brush piles containing foreign materials have done significant damage to Town equipment and potential harm to personnel, If foreign material is found in a resident’s brush pile, it will not be collected and the resident will be notified of the infraction. If multiple infractions occur, the resident will lose the privilege of brush pickup. If equipment is damaged due to foreign objects in the brush pile, the resident will be responsible for the cost of repair.

Leaf Pickup

Place leaves in biodegradable paper bags, available at hardware and home supply stores
Like brush collection, leaf collection bags should only contain leaves, small sticks and other organic material. Do not place metal, wood boards, flower pots or other foreign materials in the bags.
Place leaf bags by the curbside, but do not block roads

Contact Information

Town service:

1210 Montreat Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828) 669-8002

Buncombe County Landfill

85 Panther Branch Road
Alexander, NC 28701
(828) 250-5462

Hours of Operation
Mon. - Fri.: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Buncombe County Transfer Station

190 Hominy Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 250-6205

Hours of Operation
Mon. - Fri.: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Trash Pick-Up Information

Garbage Rules and Tips

• Place all garbage in water-tight containers with handles and secure lids.

• Mark all containers with house number.

• Containers may not be larger than 40-gallon capacity, and not to exceed 50 lbs. in weight when full.

• All containers must be at curbside by 8:00 a.m. and removed by the next morning.

• Use bear-proof containers for any garbage left out overnight.

• “Back Door” collection is available at an additional cost. Approval is needed to place containers in public rights-of-way.

• No construction or building materials, tires, or hazardous waste of any kind will be collected.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Recyclables are collected at curbside on the same day as household garbage.

• Use clear or transparent “blue bags” found at any area supermarket, Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club.

• Remove all caps/lids and rinse containers. Place lids and caps in the recycling bag.

• No sorting needed! Household glass, plastic items numbered with Recycling Symbols #1 through #7, metal food cans, cereal boxes, juice containers, newspapers, phone books and mixed paper can all be placed in the same bag.

• Flatten and bundle all corrugated cardboard separately.

Bagged Leaf and Yard Waste Collection

• Cut limbs to 6-foot lengths, not more than 6 inches in diameter.

• Limit brush piles to 3 cubic yards in size (about the size of a small pickup truck load).

• Place leaves in biodegradable paper bags.

• The Town will NOT collect brush or leaves deposited by private contractors, landscapers or tree removal companies but WILL collect brush or leaves deposited by college students and local handymen.

Items and White Goods

• Collection is scheduled in early July and late October of each year (see schedule link for specific dates).

• Acceptable items include furniture, appliances, mattresses, box springs, carpet, rugs, toys, air conditioners, and water heaters.

• Mattresses and box springs carry a $15 per-item disposal fee. All other items are collected free of charge on designated collection days.

Special Collections Services Available

Residents can arrange for additional leaf, yard waste or bulk item collection on unscheduled days. The minimum fee is $25 and increases based on the amount, size or type of items to be collected.

2025 Calendars

Fluorescent Light Bulb Program

Effective December 12, 2015 fluorescent light bulbs will no longer be accepted at participating fire departments. For those wishing to recycle fluorescent light bulbs the following options exist. Lowes and Home Depot will accept small screw-in type bulbs but not the tube type. Fluorescent bulbs may be recycled at the landfill only during Household Hazardous Waste days, the landfill is located at:

81 Panther Branch Rd, Alexander, NC 28701