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

Staying on top of the City of Atlanta trash schedule helps you avoid missed pickups, overflowing carts, and fines. Collection in Atlanta is organized by service day, route, and neighborhood, and is managed by the City of Atlanta Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services.

Below is a clear guide to how trash pickup works in Atlanta, how to find your collection day, what holidays affect your schedule, and what to do when something goes wrong.

How Residential Trash Collection Works in Atlanta

Most single-family homes and many small residential properties in the City of Atlanta limits receive curbside solid waste services that typically include:

• Household trash (garbage)
• Recycling
• Yard trimmings
• Bulk item pickup (by request or set schedule)

These services are usually provided once a week for trash and recycling, with yard trimmings and bulk handled on a different pattern depending on your address.

Who Provides the Service?

Trash collection inside the city is handled by:

City of Atlanta Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services
City Hall
55 Trinity Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main customer service (ATL311): 3-1-1 (inside city limits) or 404-546-0311 (outside)

ATL311 is your main contact for questions, missed pickups, and cart issues.

Finding Your City of Atlanta Trash Pickup Day

Your specific trash day depends on your address and route. The city organizes routes by neighborhood and blocks, not by ZIP code alone.

You can usually find your trash pickup day in one of these ways:

• 🏠 Check your water/sewer/solid waste bill – the service day is often listed.
• 📅 Ask your landlord or property manager – especially in apartments or townhome communities that rely on city collection.
• ☎️ Call ATL311 (404-546-0311) – provide your address and ask for:
  • Your trash pickup day
  • Your recycling day
  • Whether you are eligible for yard trimming and bulk pickup curbside.

When you move into a new home in Atlanta, confirming your trash schedule is a smart first-week task so you don’t miss a pickup.

Typical Weekly Schedule Pattern

While exact days vary by address, many Atlanta residents will see a pattern similar to:

*Collection can begin early in the morning. Carts are generally required to be at the curb by 7:00 a.m., and many residents place them out the night before.

Because program details can change, always verify your exact frequency with ATL311.

Holiday and Weather Delays in Atlanta

Holidays That Commonly Affect Trash Pickup

On major city-observed holidays, collection is often:

• Suspended on the holiday, then
• Shifted one day later for the rest of the week (for example, Monday moves to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, and so on).

Holidays that often impact trash pickup include days like:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

Service patterns can vary by year, so around major holidays it’s best to:

• Check notices on your utility bill,
• Call ATL311, or
• Look for door hangers or mailers from Solid Waste Services.

Severe Weather or Emergency Delays

Atlanta weather (heavy rain, ice, windstorms) or citywide emergencies can cause:

• Service suspensions for safety, or
• Catch-up routes later in the week.

If crews can’t reach your street safely or routes are delayed:

• Keep carts at the curb if instructed by the city.
• If your cart is not collected by the next normal day, call ATL311 to ask about the next scheduled attempt.

Preparing Your Trash for Pickup in Atlanta

Setting out your trash correctly makes pickups smoother and helps avoid citations.

Cart Placement Rules

Most Atlanta households are issued city-branded carts. General expectations include:

• Place carts at the curb or designated collection point by 7:00 a.m. on your pickup day.
• Keep carts:
  • Within a few feet of the curb/road edge
  • With handles facing your house and the lid opening toward the street (if instructed that way in your area)
  • Clear of:
    • Parked cars
    • Mailboxes
    • Fire hydrants
    • Utility poles or low-hanging branches
• Allow several feet of space between your trash and recycling carts so the truck’s lifting arm can grab each one.

Many residents set carts out the evening before collection to avoid missing early-morning pickup.

What Can Go in Regular Trash?

Generally acceptable household garbage includes:

• Bagged kitchen waste
• Non-recyclable packaging
• Broken household items that are not hazardous or electronic
• Small bathroom trash

Common items that do not belong in regular trash in Atlanta include:

• Paint, chemicals, motor oil, or solvents
• Electronics (TVs, computers, certain devices)
• Tires
• Large construction debris (e.g., drywall, bricks, roofing)

These items typically require separate disposal at designated sites or special events. If you’re unsure, contact ATL311 before placing unusual items at the curb.

Atlanta Recycling Schedule and Guidelines

Recycling is a key part of the city’s solid waste program.

Recycling Pickup Frequency

Recycling is usually collected:

• On a set weekday,
• Often on the same day as trash or on a distinct recycling route day, and
• Weekly or every other week, depending on your location.

Confirm your recycling schedule through ATL311 using your home address.

Commonly Accepted Recycling Materials

Many Atlanta routes accept:

• Paper and cardboard (flattened boxes, office paper, newspapers)
• Plastic bottles and containers (check local guidance on which numbers)
• Glass bottles and jars in some areas (rules may vary)
• Metal cans (aluminum, steel, tin)

Typical recycling rules:

• Rinse containers lightly to remove food residue.
• Do not bag recyclables in plastic grocery bags; use the recycling cart loose.
• Keep food waste, plastic bags, Styrofoam, and yard waste out of the recycling cart.

Because local rules evolve, especially regarding glass and certain plastics, verify current accepted items with ATL311.

Yard Trimmings and Leaf Pickup in Atlanta

Atlanta’s tree canopy means yard waste and leaf collection matter a lot, especially in fall.

What Counts as Yard Trimmings?

Yard trimmings generally include:

• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Small branches and sticks (often within length/diameter limits)
• Small plant material from regular yard maintenance

Typical expectations:

• Place leaves and grass in paper yard waste bags or containers approved by the city.
• Bundle branches with twine or string, keeping bundles within set size/weight limits so crews can lift them.
• Set yard trimmings at the curbside, separate from your trash cart.

Yard Trimming Schedule

Yard trimmings are often collected:

• Weekly or on a specific yard route day, sometimes the same day as trash or recycling.
• During leaf-heavy seasons, the city may announce special leaf collection periods.

Because schedules can vary by neighborhood and season, check your exact yard pickup schedule with ATL311.

Bulk Trash Pickup in the City of Atlanta

Bulk trash includes large household items that don’t fit in your regular cart, such as:

• Mattresses and box springs
• Couches, chairs, and sofas
• Large appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers – sometimes with special rules)
• Large furniture (dressers, tables, bed frames)

How Bulk Pickup Works

In many parts of Atlanta:

• Bulk pickup is not weekly.
• You may need to schedule an appointment or wait for a designated bulk pickup day (monthly or quarterly, depending on policy).

Before placing bulky items at the curb:

1. Call ATL311 or your solid waste bill contact.
2. Provide:
   • Your address
   • Type and number of bulk items
3. Ask:
   • If a booking is required
   • Which day to place them out
   • Any limits or fees that may apply

Putting bulky items out too early or without authorization can sometimes lead to code enforcement notices.

What if Your Trash Wasn’t Collected?

Missed pickups happen occasionally due to:

• Blocked access (cars, construction)
• Overfilled or incorrectly placed carts
• Weather or route delays
• Mechanical or staffing issues

If your neighbors’ trash was picked up and yours was not:

1. Make sure your cart:
   • Was set out on time,
   • Is not blocked, and
   • Is not contaminated with prohibited items.
2. If everything looks fine and it’s still not emptied by the end of the day, contact ATL311 with:
   • Your address
   • The type of service missed (trash, recycling, yard waste, or bulk)
   • The scheduled pickup day

City staff can usually tell you whether:

• There were known delays on your route, or
• A special return trip will be scheduled.

Trash and Recycling for Apartments, Condos, and Businesses

Not every property in Atlanta uses city collection.

Multi-Family Housing

Some apartment complexes, condos, and townhome communities:

• Use private waste haulers instead of city crews.
• May offer dumpsters or shared carts with their own internal pickup schedule.

In those cases:

• Contact your property manager, leasing office, or HOA for:
  • The trash and recycling schedule
  • Rules for bulk items and moving-out trash
  • Locations of dumpsters or compactors

Commercial and Business Properties

Most businesses and commercial buildings in Atlanta:

• Arrange trash and recycling with private providers, not city collection.
• Have separate service days and container requirements.

If you are opening or managing a business, you can:

• Call ATL311 for general guidance on solid waste requirements, then
• Coordinate with a licensed private hauler for containers and schedules.

Common Problems and How to Handle Them

My Cart Is Damaged or Missing

If your city-issued trash or recycling cart is:

• Cracked, broken, missing a lid, or
• Stolen or missing,

contact ATL311 and request:

• Repair (for wheels, lids, or minor damage), or
• Replacement (if it can’t be fixed).

Have your address and a brief description of the issue ready.

I Have More Trash Than My Cart Can Hold

If you regularly have more trash than your cart allows:

• Ask ATL311 whether:
  • You can receive a larger or additional cart (if the city offers this), or
  • Extra bagged trash may be collected on particular days or for extra fees.

Avoid consistently overfilling carts or leaving unapproved extra bags at the curb, as this can lead to non-collection or notification letters.

Key Contacts for the City of Atlanta Trash Schedule

For all questions related to the City of Atlanta trash schedule, these contacts are your primary resources:

ATL311 – City of Atlanta Customer Service

• Dial: 3-1-1 within city limits
• From outside city limits: 404-546-0311
• Typical help topics:
  • Find your trash, recycling, and yard waste day
  • Report missed pickups
  • Ask about holiday changes
  • Schedule or inquire about bulk item pickup
  • Request cart repair or replacement

City of Atlanta Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services
City Hall
55 Trinity Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

When you call, have this ready:

• Your full street address
• The specific service you’re asking about (trash, recycling, yard, bulk)
• The day you believe your pickup is scheduled
• Any photos of issues (overflow, illegal dumping) if directed to provide them

By understanding how the City of Atlanta trash schedule works—weekly collections, holiday shifts, yard and bulk rules—you can keep your home running smoothly and avoid surprises on pickup day. If anything is unclear for your particular block or building, ATL311 is the most direct way to confirm the schedule that applies to you.