City of Atlanta Garbage Pickup: How Trash Collection Works and What You Need to Know

Managing household trash in Atlanta, Georgia can feel confusing if you’re new to the city, moved to a different neighborhood, or just need a refresher on rules and schedules. This guide walks through how City of Atlanta garbage pickup works, how to find your pickup day, what you can set out, and who to call when something goes wrong.

Who Handles Garbage Pickup in the City of Atlanta?

Within the City of Atlanta limits, residential garbage pickup is handled by the Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services. This is separate from nearby counties and cities like DeKalb County, Fulton County (unincorporated areas), Sandy Springs, or College Park, which have their own systems.

If your address is in the City of Atlanta, your household garbage, recycling, and yard trimmings are generally managed by this city department.

Key office (general city government):
City of Atlanta – City Hall
55 Trinity Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main information line: (404) 330-6000

For most trash questions, residents typically contact Atlanta Solid Waste Services through the city’s general information line or the city’s non-emergency customer service system.

Basic Overview: How City of Atlanta Garbage Pickup Works

Most single-family homes and smaller residential buildings in Atlanta receive:

• Weekly household garbage pickup
• Weekly recycling pickup (on a set day)
• Weekly or regular yard trimmings pickup (varies by area and schedule)
• On-request bulk item pickup (for large items)

The exact pickup day depends on your address and service route.

How to Find Your Garbage Pickup Day

You typically have three ways to confirm your trash day in Atlanta:

1. Check your city utility or service information
   Many Atlanta residents pay a solid waste service fee as part of their city billing. The service day is often provided with initial setup paperwork or welcome materials.

2. Call for assistance
   You can call the main city number and follow prompts or request the Solid Waste Services department:

   • City information line: (404) 330-6000
     Be ready to give your full address so staff can confirm your route and pickup day.

3. Ask your landlord, property manager, or HOA
   In many Atlanta neighborhoods, property managers or homeowner associations keep a record of collection days for garbage, recycling, and yard waste.

If you’re still unsure, time your observation with your neighbors’ carts—Atlanta routes are relatively consistent, and many residents place their carts at the curb the evening before or early in the morning on collection day.

What the City Collects: Garbage, Recycling, and Yard Waste

1. Household Garbage (Black Cart or Designated Trash Cart)

Household garbage includes regular, bagged trash from your kitchen and bathrooms. It usually goes in a city-issued cart (often black or dark-colored) with a lid.

General rules:

• Bag all loose trash securely.
• Place bags in the city-provided cart, not beside it.
• Close the lid fully so animals and rain stay out.
• Don’t overload the cart so heavily that the truck can’t lift it.

🟢 Good to include:

• Food scraps and kitchen waste (bagged)
• Non-recyclable packaging (styrofoam, some plastics)
• Soiled paper goods (tissues, paper towels, greasy boxes)

🔴 Do NOT put in regular garbage:

• Construction debris (drywall, bricks, roofing)
• Large appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers)
• Tires, batteries, and many electronics
• Hazardous materials (chemicals, paint, motor oil, propane tanks)

These items usually require special handling and should not be at the curb as standard trash.

2. Recycling Pickup in Atlanta

Most single-family homes in Atlanta also receive curbside recycling service.

Residents typically get a separate, city-issued recycling cart (often blue or clearly labeled for recycling). Recycling pickup is usually on the same day as garbage, but always check your specific schedule.

Common recyclables Atlanta often accepts:

• Paper & cardboard
  – Newspapers, office paper, mail, cereal boxes, shipping boxes (flattened)
• Metal
  – Aluminum cans, steel food cans (rinsed)
• Plastic bottles and containers
  – Usually with certain recycling symbols and numbers (rinsed)
• Glass bottles and jars
  – In some periods, Atlanta has adjusted glass rules, so check current guidance if possible.

📝 Recycling tips:

• Rinse containers to remove food residue.
• Flatten cardboard boxes to save space.
• Don’t bag recyclables in plastic; place them loose in the cart.
• Avoid putting non-recyclable plastics, plastic bags, or foam in the recycling cart.

If a load is badly “contaminated” with trash, it may be treated as garbage instead of being recycled.

3. Yard Trimmings and Leaf Collection

Atlanta neighborhoods are full of trees, so yard trimmings collection is especially important.

Yard trimmings may be picked up:

• In a dedicated yard waste cart (if provided), or
• In brown paper yard waste bags or bundled form, depending on city guidance and your area.

Commonly accepted yard waste:

• Grass clippings
• Leaves and pine straw
• Small branches and sticks (often tied in manageable bundles)
• Shrub trimmings

Typical yard waste guidelines:

• Use paper yard waste bags where required; plastic bags are often not accepted.
• Keep branches within a certain length and diameter to be manageable for crews.
• Place yard waste at the curb, separate from your garbage cart, by your collection day.

During peak leaf season in fall, volumes can be high, and Atlanta residents sometimes see delays. Setting yard waste out early on your pickup day gives crews the best chance to collect it that week.

How to Set Out Your Garbage in Atlanta

Proper set-out is key to ensuring your cart is emptied:

Time of Day

• Place your cart(s) at the curb by early morning on your scheduled day.
• Many Atlanta residents put carts out the night before, since trucks may come very early.

Placement

• Put your garbage cart at the curb or street edge with:
  • The cart handle facing your house
  • The lid opening toward the street (so the truck arm can grab it)
• Leave enough space:
  • Keep 2–3 feet of clearance around the cart.
  • Don’t block it with mailboxes, parked cars, or other carts.

After Collection

• Bring carts back from the curb the same day after pickup, whenever possible.
• Long-term storage on the sidewalk or street is generally discouraged and may violate local codes or HOA rules.

Bulk Trash and Large Item Pickup in Atlanta

If you live in the City of Atlanta and need to get rid of large household items that don’t fit in your cart, such as:

• Old furniture (couches, mattresses, dressers)
• Large appliances (stoves, refrigerators)
• Large quantities of bulky junk

…you usually need to schedule a bulk pickup or use a designated drop-off option.

Scheduling Bulk Pickup

Bulk pickup rules can vary by neighborhood and current city policies, but in general:

• You must request a pickup rather than just putting bulky items at the curb.
• There may be limits on:
  • How many items per pickup
  • What items are accepted
  • How often you can schedule bulk collection

To check current rules or schedule:

• Call the main city information line: (404) 330-6000
• Ask to be directed to Solid Waste Services for bulk pickup.

Always confirm what’s allowed before placing bulk items at the curb. Unapproved items left on the street can be treated as illegal dumping, and property owners may receive notices or fines.

When Your Garbage Isn’t Picked Up

Missed pickups can happen for several reasons:

• Truck breakdowns or staffing shortages
• Heavy volume (especially after holidays or storms)
• Blocked access (cars in front of carts, construction, etc.)
• Cart overloaded or containing unaccepted items
• Changes due to holidays

What to Do if Your Trash Was Missed

1. Check neighbors’ carts
   If the entire street is full, your route may be delayed, not missed. Crews sometimes return the next day.

2. Verify it wasn’t a holiday shift
   After major holidays, collection days may move later in the week.

3. Report a missed pickup
   Use the city service line:

   • (404) 330-6000
     Provide:
   • Your name and address
   • Type of service missed (garbage, recycling, yard waste)
   • The usual day it is picked up

If service is delayed citywide, Atlanta often prioritizes garbage, then follows with recycling and yard trimmings as capacity allows.

Holiday Garbage Pickup in Atlanta

On major holidays, regular garbage and recycling schedules in Atlanta may shift. Common patterns include:

• No collection on the holiday itself
• Routes moved one day later for the rest of the week
• Modified or limited yard waste collection during that week

Because holiday schedules can change from year to year, the safest approach is to:

• Check announcements from the City of Atlanta
• Call the general information line: (404) 330-6000 a few days before major holidays if you’re unsure

If in doubt, many residents place carts out on the normal day; if not serviced, they leave them for the following day.

City of Atlanta Garbage Pickup for Apartments, Condos, and Businesses

Not everyone in Atlanta uses city-operated garbage service.

Multi-Unit Residential Buildings

• Many apartment complexes and condos in Atlanta contract with private haulers.
• Pickup days and recycling options are set by:
  • Your property manager
  • Your homeowners’ association (HOA) or condo association

If you live in a multi-unit building:

• Ask your leasing office or HOA:
  • What day is garbage pickup?
  • Where should I take my trash? (Chute, dumpster, cart area)
  • Is there recycling, and what are the rules?

Commercial and Business Properties

Businesses in the City of Atlanta often use private trash and recycling services. If you’re running a business, restaurant, or office within city limits, your waste contract may specify:

• Container size (dumpster, compactor, carts)
• Pickup frequency
• Accepted materials and recycling options

Business owners typically coordinate directly with their waste company rather than city Solid Waste Services.

Hazardous Waste, Electronics, and Special Items

Certain materials are not suitable for curbside pickup in Atlanta and require special handling. This includes:

• Household chemicals (pesticides, solvents, many cleaning agents)
• Paint and automotive fluids (motor oil, antifreeze)
• Batteries and fluorescent bulbs
• Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, some printers)
• Tires and car parts

These items can cause environmental and safety issues if thrown in regular garbage.

Atlanta-area residents often have access to:

• Special drop-off days or events for household hazardous waste
• Designated local centers or partner facilities that accept electronics, tires, or chemicals

To find current options:

• Call the City of Atlanta information line: (404) 330-6000
• Ask about household hazardous waste or electronics disposal within or near Atlanta.

Fees and Cart Issues

Most Atlanta households that receive city garbage pickup pay a solid waste or sanitation fee, often:

• As a line item on city utility or property tax bills, or
• Through an account associated with the property.

Damaged or Missing Carts

If your trash or recycling cart is:

• Cracked or broken
• Missing a lid or wheels
• Stolen or disappears

You can usually request repair or replacement from the city.

Common steps:

1. Contact the City of Atlanta (information line (404) 330-6000).
2. Provide your name, address, and describe the problem (e.g., “trash cart broken wheel”).
3. Follow any instructions about:
   • Placing the damaged cart at a specific location
   • Waiting for delivery of a replacement cart

Do not purchase your own non-city cart and expect it to be serviced; crews are set up to work with official city-issued carts.

Helpful Quick-Reference Summary

Below is a simple overview of typical City of Atlanta garbage pickup basics. Always confirm details for your specific address.

If you live, work, or stay within the City of Atlanta, understanding how garbage pickup is organized helps you avoid missed collections, keep your street cleaner, and handle special items correctly. When in doubt about your particular situation or address, the most direct step is to call the city’s main information line at (404) 330-6000 and ask for Solid Waste Services or sanitation assistance.