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

If you live in Atlanta, move into a new neighborhood, or manage a property in the city, understanding City of Atlanta trash pickup is essential. This guide walks you through how garbage collection works inside the City of Atlanta limits, how to find your pickup day, what you can set out, and who to contact when something goes wrong.

Who Handles Trash Pickup in the City of Atlanta?

Within most of the City of Atlanta, residential trash, recycling, and yard trimmings are handled by the:

City of Atlanta Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services Division

Key points:

• Residential service is typically for single-family homes and small multifamily properties that get city carts.
• Many apartment complexes and businesses use private haulers, not the city.
• Service rules differ inside the city limits versus addresses that say “Atlanta” but are in other jurisdictions (DeKalb County, Fulton County, Cobb County, etc.).

If you are unsure who serves you, check your water bill, property records, or ask your building manager. If you receive a City of Atlanta solid waste bill, you are usually covered by City of Atlanta trash pickup.

How to Find Your Atlanta Trash Pickup Day

Your trash pickup day depends on your address. The city assigns you a weekly garbage collection day, usually one day a week, with recycling and yard trimmings on a set schedule.

To find your day:

1. Check your most recent city solid waste or water bill.
   It often lists your collection day or route.
2. Ask a neighbor on your block.
   Most of the street will share the same pickup day.
3. Contact ATL 311 (City of Atlanta):
   • Dial 311 inside the city or (404) 546-0311 from outside.
   • Provide your full address and ask, “What is my solid waste collection day?”

If you recently moved or your street is part of a new development, allow a short lead time for the city to activate your address in their system.

What the City Picks Up: Garbage, Recycling, and Yard Trimmings

Regular Household Trash (Garbage)

Household garbage is the everyday waste from your home that cannot be recycled or composted.

Common examples:

• Food scraps and food-soiled paper
• Non-recyclable plastics and packaging
• Broken household items (that aren’t large/bulky)
• Small bathroom trash (tissues, cotton swabs, etc.)

In most of Atlanta:

• Trash must go into the official City of Atlanta garbage cart (green or otherwise labeled by the city).
• Bags should be tied and placed inside the cart, not stacked on top or beside it.
• Overflow trash may not be collected unless you request and pay for extra service or a larger cart, depending on city policy at the time.

👉 Tip: If you regularly have more trash than fits in your cart, contact Solid Waste Services or ATL 311 to ask about larger cart options or additional services.

Recycling Collection in Atlanta

Most residential addresses that receive city trash service also receive curbside recycling.

Typical recyclables (always confirm current rules with the city):

• Paper & cardboard: newspapers, office paper, cardboard boxes (flattened)
• Metal cans: aluminum and steel food and beverage cans
• Plastic bottles and jugs: usually marked with accepted recycling symbols, rinsed
• Glass: some programs accept glass curbside and others require drop-off; check the most current rule for your area

Items usually not accepted in curbside recycling:

• Plastic bags and film
• Styrofoam
• Food-soiled containers (pizza boxes soaked in grease, etc.)
• Electronics, batteries, and light bulbs
• Yard waste or household trash

Recycling is typically collected in a separate city-issued cart, often a different color than the trash cart.

Yard Trimmings (Yard Waste)

The City of Atlanta also collects yard trimmings from eligible residential properties. This service is for natural outdoor debris, not construction waste.

Common yard trimmings:

• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Small branches and sticks (usually with a size limit)
• Shrub trimmings
• Pine straw and similar material

Typical preparation rules:

• Use paper lawn bags or city-approved containers, not loose piles in the street.
• Bundles of branches should be tied and cut down to a specified length and weight (call ATL 311 for current requirements).
• Do not mix dirt, rocks, or construction debris with yard trimmings.

Yard trimmings are often collected on a different schedule than trash or recycling, so confirm your pickup day.

Atlanta Holiday Trash Pickup and Schedule Changes

Trash pickup in Atlanta may shift around major holidays such as:

• New Year’s Day
• Independence Day (July 4)
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

When your regular pickup day falls on a city-observed holiday, your collection may be:

• Delayed by one day for the rest of the week, or
• Moved to a different day on a posted holiday schedule.

To confirm holiday changes, you can:

• Call ATL 311 at (404) 546-0311
• Listen for recorded announcements on the city’s main phone lines
• Check notices included with your solid waste bill or posted at neighborhood centers

If service is delayed due to severe weather (heavy snow/ice, major storm damage), the city typically resumes as soon as safely possible and may run make-up days.

How to Set Out Your Trash and Carts Correctly

Setting your trash and recycling out correctly matters for safety, efficiency, and avoiding missed pickups.

Placement Rules

Most Atlanta households should:

• Place carts at the curb or at the designated collection point for your property.
• Keep carts at least a few feet apart from each other and away from mailboxes, cars, and utility poles.
• Make sure the lid is closed and facing the correct direction (logo or arrows facing the street, if marked).
• Do not block sidewalks when possible, especially in busy pedestrian areas.

In some Atlanta neighborhoods (especially tight streets or alleys), pick-up locations might be:

• In an alley behind your house
• At a shared collection point for townhomes or multifamily units

If you are unsure where to place your cart, you can ask your driver when you see the truck, contact your homeowners’ association or property manager, or call ATL 311.

Time of Day to Set Out and Bring In Carts

General guidance in Atlanta:

• Set carts out the night before your scheduled pickup, or very early the morning of collection.
• Trucks often begin routes early in the morning, so waiting too late may mean you miss the truck.
• Once your trash has been collected, you are usually expected to bring carts back from the curb the same day to keep streets and sidewalks clear.

Bulky Item Pickup in the City of Atlanta

Many households eventually need to dispose of large items that don’t fit in the cart. Bulky items can include:

• Mattresses and box springs
• Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
• Large appliances (stoves, refrigerators, washers/dryers)
• Large amounts of household junk or debris

Key points about bulky pickup:

• The City of Atlanta generally requires a special request for bulky item collection. It is usually not part of the regular weekly pickup.
• There may be limits on how many bulky items you can set out at once.
• Certain items, especially refrigerators or appliances with coolant, may require special handling.

To arrange bulky pickup:

• Call ATL 311 or (404) 546-0311
• Provide your address and describe the items
• Ask about any fees, preparation requirements, and your collection date

If city bulky pickup is not available for the items you have, you may need to:

• Hire a private junk removal service, or
• Take items to an approved landfill or transfer station in the metro Atlanta area

What the City of Atlanta Will NOT Pick Up at the Curb

Some items are not accepted in regular trash, recycling, or yard trimmings in Atlanta and need special handling.

Common examples:

• Construction and demolition debris: drywall, bricks, concrete, roofing materials, major renovation waste
• Household hazardous waste: paints, solvents, pesticides, pool chemicals, motor oil, gasoline
• Tires
• Car parts
• Large quantities of dirt or rocks
• Electronics (TVs, large computer monitors, some appliances) in some programs

For these materials, Atlanta-area residents often need to:

• Use special drop-off events or facilities authorized for hazardous waste or electronics.
• Arrange private hauling during home renovation projects.
• Confirm local rules before setting these items out, as leaving them at the curb could lead to non-collection or violations.

Missed Pickup: What to Do if Your Trash Wasn’t Collected

Sometimes collection is missed or delayed. If your neighbors’ carts were emptied and yours was not, or the truck never came down your street, you can:

1. Double-check your cart placement and time.
   Make sure you set it out on time, with the lid closed and cart facing the street.
2. Look for tags or notices left on your cart.
   Drivers sometimes leave a notice if there was a problem (blocked, overweight, unacceptable material).
3. Wait until the end of the day.
   Routes can run later than usual on busy days or during staff or equipment shortages.
4. Report a missed pickup:
   • Call ATL 311 or (404) 546-0311
   • Provide your address, type of cart (trash, recycling, yard trimmings), and the scheduled collection day.
   • Ask if a return collection will be scheduled or if you should wait until next week.

If there is a widespread service disruption due to weather, road closures, or equipment issues, ATL 311 or city recordings often include updated service messages.

Trash Pickup for Multi-Unit Buildings and Businesses

Not every property in Atlanta is on the city’s residential trash pickup system.

Apartments, Condos, and Townhomes

• Many large apartment buildings and condo complexes use private waste haulers.
• If you live in a building with a shared dumpster or compactor, your building management usually arranges service and sets the rules.
• Contact your leasing office, property manager, or HOA to learn:
  • What you can throw away
  • Where to take large or bulky items
  • How recycling works in your building

Businesses and Commercial Properties

• Most businesses in Atlanta contract with private commercial trash and recycling companies.
• Business owners should:
  • Keep dumpsters accessible on pickup day
  • Follow any recycling or waste separation rules listed in their contract
  • Ensure customers and employees know what is allowed in each container

Special Situations: Moving, Renovations, and Large Cleanouts

Atlanta residents often need extra waste services during moves, cleanouts, or home improvement projects.

Options typically include:

• Extra carts or extra pickup from the city (when available)
• Bulk pickup requests for large furniture and appliances
• Hiring a private roll-off dumpster for construction or major cleanouts
• Taking loads directly to an approved landfill or transfer station

Before you start a large project:

• Confirm what the City of Atlanta will pick up and what it will not.
• Ask ATL 311 whether any permits or special arrangements are needed for placing a temporary dumpster on the street or in the right-of-way.

Simple Reference: City of Atlanta Trash Pickup Basics

Key Contacts for City of Atlanta Trash Pickup

ATL 311 – City of Atlanta Information & Services

• Dial 311 within city limits
• Or call (404) 546-0311
• Can help with:
  • Finding your trash pickup day
  • Reporting missed collections
  • Requesting bulky item pickup
  • Cart repair or replacement requests
  • Questions about recycling and yard trimmings

City of Atlanta Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services Division

• Generally reached through ATL 311 for most residential inquiries.

If you live, work, or stay within the City of Atlanta, using these contacts and guidelines will help you keep up with trash pickup, avoid missed service, and handle special waste the right way.