City of Atlanta Sanitation: Trash, Recycling, and Bulk Pickup Explained

Keeping Atlanta clean is a joint effort between residents, businesses, and the City of Atlanta Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services. If you live in the city, are moving into a new neighborhood, or are managing a short-term rental or business, understanding how Atlanta sanitation services work will save you time, fines, and frustration.

Below is a clear guide to trash pickup, recycling, yard trimmings, bulk and special collections, holiday schedules, and contact information specifically for the City of Atlanta, Georgia.

How Sanitation Works in the City of Atlanta

The City of Atlanta provides most residential properties within city limits with:

• Garbage (solid waste) collection
• Recycling collection
• Yard trimmings collection
• Bulk item pickup (by request)
• Special collections for certain items (e.g., appliances)

Commercial properties and some multifamily buildings may have private haulers instead of city service. If you are unsure, you can usually tell by:

• Whether your carts are green/blue city-branded carts
• Whether your landlord or HOA lists sanitation as part of community fees
• Your water/sewer bill, which commonly includes solid waste charges

If you pay a City of Atlanta solid waste fee, you are generally covered by Solid Waste Services.

City of Atlanta Sanitation – Key Contacts

These contacts are helpful for missed pickups, cart issues, or bulk service questions.

City of Atlanta – Department of Public Works (Solid Waste Services)
Main customer service (commonly used): Atlanta 311

• Phone: 3-1-1 (inside city limits) or (404) 546-0311 (outside city limits)
• Typical assistance: route questions, reporting missed pickups, requesting carts, bulk trash appointments, reporting illegal dumping.

For in-person assistance or general city business, residents often visit:

City of Atlanta City Hall
55 Trinity Ave SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

Always check current hours or service availability before visiting, as many requests can be handled by phone.

Your Weekly Trash (Garbage) Pickup in Atlanta

Who gets city trash collection?

Most single-family homes and many small multifamily properties within Atlanta city limits receive city trash service. Properties in unincorporated Fulton, DeKalb, or other nearby cities (such as Sandy Springs or Decatur) follow different sanitation systems, so always confirm you are under City of Atlanta service.

Typical garbage rules

While specific details can vary by route and district, residential customers in Atlanta generally should:

• Place household garbage in the city-issued cart
• Set carts at the curb or designated pickup location by the assigned collection day (often early morning)
• Keep carts at least a few feet away from mailboxes, cars, and other carts for truck access
• Put garbage in tied bags inside the cart to help with odor and litter
• Avoid overfilling the cart so the lid can close

Common items allowed in regular garbage:

• Food scraps and food-soiled items
• Non-recyclable packaging (e.g., certain plastics, foam)
• Broken household items that do not qualify for bulk pickup and fit in the cart
• Bathroom waste (bagged)

Items that typically cannot go in regular trash include:

• Construction and demolition debris from major renovations
• Hazardous materials (oil, paint, chemicals)
• Tires
• Large electronics and certain appliances (handled through special programs)

If you routinely have more trash than your cart can handle, you can ask the city about additional carts or service options through 311.

Recycling in the City of Atlanta

How recycling service works

Most residences with city trash service also receive a blue recycling cart. Recycling is collected on a regular schedule, often on the same day as trash or on an alternating schedule, depending on your route.

Recycling is single-stream, meaning you place all accepted recyclables in the same cart (loose, not bagged), and they are sorted later at a facility.

Commonly accepted recyclables

Rules can change, but in many parts of Atlanta, the following are typically accepted:

• Paper & cardboard
  • Office paper, newspapers, magazines
  • Cardboard boxes (flattened)
• Metal cans
  • Aluminum cans
  • Steel/tin food cans
• Certain plastic bottles and containers
  • Often plastics labeled with certain resin codes (commonly #1 and #2, sometimes more depending on current guidelines)
• Glass
  • Some neighborhoods/programs accept glass; others do not. This can change, so verify for your specific address.

⚠️ Avoid “wish-cycling” (putting questionable items in the bin hoping they’re recyclable). Contamination can cause entire loads to be landfilled.

Common items that should not go in Atlanta recycling carts:

• Plastic bags and film
• Styrofoam food containers
• Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes heavily covered in oil, for example)
• Garden hoses, extension cords, or wires
• Batteries and electronics

When in doubt, contact Atlanta 311 and ask about currently accepted materials; guidelines can be updated as processing contracts and facilities change.

Yard Trimmings Collection in Atlanta

If you do yard work at your Atlanta home, the City’s yard trimmings service helps keep branches and leaves off the curb and out of landfills (when possible).

Typical yard waste rules

Yard trimmings are generally collected separately from garbage. Common guidelines include:

• Use paper yard waste bags or city-approved containers
• Bundle sticks and branches with string or twine
• Keep bundles and bags below size and weight limits commonly used by city crews (for example, limiting bundle length and making sure one person can lift them)

Accepted yard trimmings often include:

• Leaves
• Grass clippings
• Small branches and twigs
• Shrub and hedge trimmings

Do not mix:

• Dirt, rocks, or concrete
• Lumber or construction wood
• Household garbage or recyclables

If you use a private landscaper, they may be responsible for hauling away large volumes of debris, especially after big tree work.

Bulk Item Pickup in Atlanta

What counts as bulk trash?

Bulk items are larger household items that do not fit in your regular garbage cart, such as:

• Furniture (sofas, mattresses, dressers)
• Large household items (carpet rolls of limited size, sections of fencing in some cases)
• Large amounts of scrap that can’t fit in the cart

Bulk pickup policies can change by area and budget year, so don’t assume everything will be taken without a request.

How to request bulk pickup

For most Atlanta residents using city service, bulk pickup is by appointment. To schedule:

1. Call Atlanta 311 at 3-1-1 or (404) 546-0311.
2. Provide your address and describe the bulk items.
3. Confirm the scheduled pickup date and any preparation instructions (e.g., how to place items, how many pieces allowed).

Common rules often include:

• Limit on number of items per pickup
• Requirements to place bulk items at the curb on a certain day
• Restrictions on certain materials (like construction debris or hazardous items)

If you are doing a major clean-out, move, or renovation, you may need:

• A private junk removal service
• A temporary dumpster (often from a private hauler)

The city typically does not handle large-scale debris from home improvement contractors.

Special Collections: Appliances, Electronics, and Hazardous Waste

Atlanta residents often ask what to do with:

• Old refrigerators, freezers, or air conditioners
• Televisions and monitors
• Paint, chemicals, or automotive fluids
• Batteries and fluorescent bulbs

The City of Atlanta and surrounding counties periodically support special collection events or partner with programs for:

• Appliances (sometimes with a separate fee or special arrangement)
• Electronics recycling
• Household hazardous waste drop-offs

Because these programs can change from year to year, the most reliable first step is to:

• Call Atlanta 311 to ask about current options and upcoming events.
• Ask whether your neighborhood is eligible for specific drop-off days or partner programs.

Never place liquid paint, chemicals, or pressurized tanks in your regular garbage or recycling carts. These can create safety hazards for sanitation workers and facilities.

Finding Your Pickup Schedule in Atlanta

Collection days in the City of Atlanta vary by neighborhood. Two homes only a few streets apart can have different pickup patterns, especially near city boundaries.

To find or confirm your schedule:

• Contact Atlanta 311 and provide your address.
• Ask specifically about:
  • Garbage collection day
  • Recycling collection schedule
  • Yard trimming schedule

Many residents choose to place carts at the curb the evening before collection to avoid early-morning misses.

Holiday and Weather Delays

Holiday collection changes

On major holidays, City of Atlanta sanitation services sometimes:

• Operate on a modified schedule
• Shift collection days later in the week
• Delay certain services like bulk pickup

Around holidays (especially New Year’s, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and December holidays), you may see:

• Short-term backlogs of trash or recycling
• Temporary overflow at the curb

Check close to the holiday by:

• Calling Atlanta 311
• Listening for recorded announcements about holiday schedules

Weather-related disruptions

Atlanta occasionally experiences:

• Heavy rain and flooding
• Ice storms or snow events
• High winds leading to downed trees

These can delay garbage, recycling, and yard trimmings collection. During major weather events, the city may prioritize:

• Clearing roads
• Removing downed trees and debris blocking access

If your pickup is missed during bad weather:

• Leave your cart out if safe and allowed, or
• Call 311 to learn when crews expect to resume service

Common Sanitation Issues and How to Handle Them

1. Missed Trash, Recycling, or Yard Waste Pickup

Steps to take:

1. Make sure your cart was at the curb on time and properly positioned.
2. Check whether neighbors were also missed (may indicate route issues).
3. Contact Atlanta 311 and report the missed pickup. Provide:
   • Your address
   • Type of service missed (trash, recycling, yard trimmings)
   • How long carts have been at the curb

The city may schedule a make-up collection or advise you to wait until the next regular service day.

2. Damaged or Missing Carts

Carts can be:

• Damaged by trucks
• Broken from long use
• Stolen or lost during moves or construction

You can usually request:

• Repair or replacement of damaged carts
• New carts if you are a new resident at a property with city service

Call Atlanta 311 to submit a cart service request. Be ready to confirm your account or address details.

3. Illegal Dumping or Overflowing Community Carts

If you notice:

• Trash piles on vacant lots
• Dumping in alleys or near abandoned buildings
• Overflowing or misused community dumpsters

You can report it through:

• Atlanta 311 (phone)

Provide as much detail as you safely can:

• Location (intersection, nearby address, landmark)
• Type of debris (household trash, construction debris, tires, etc.)

City staff can route the complaint to the appropriate inspection or clean-up team.

Quick Reference: City of Atlanta Sanitation At a Glance

Tips for Atlanta Residents and Visitors Managing Waste

Whether you’re a long-time Atlantan or here for a few months, a few habits make sanitation smoother:

• Know your jurisdiction: Being “Atlanta” by mailing address isn’t always the same as being inside City of Atlanta limits. Your sanitation provider depends on that boundary.
• Keep lids closed: Atlanta’s storms and wildlife can spread loose trash fast; closed carts help keep streets clean.
• Plan ahead for moves: If you’re moving or doing a big clean-out, schedule bulk pickup or arrange private hauling rather than piling items at the curb.
• Ask before you toss: If you’re not sure how to dispose of a tricky item in Atlanta, Atlanta 311 is your best first call.

By understanding how the City of Atlanta sanitation system operates—garbage, recycling, yard trimmings, and bulk pickup—you can keep your home in compliance, your neighborhood cleaner, and your interactions with city crews much smoother.