City of Atlanta Waste Management: How Trash, Recycling, and Yard Waste Work Here

Managing household waste in Atlanta, Georgia can feel confusing if you’re new to the city, moving between neighborhoods, or just trying to recycle correctly. The good news: once you understand how City of Atlanta waste management is set up, it’s fairly straightforward.

This guide walks through how trash, recycling, and yard trimmings are handled in the City of Atlanta (inside city limits)—plus who to call, where to go, and how to deal with bulky items and special waste.

How Residential Waste Service Works in the City of Atlanta

In most residential areas within the City of Atlanta, solid waste services are handled by the City of Atlanta Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services.

Typical residential services include:

• Household garbage (solid waste)
• Single-stream recycling
• Yard trimmings collection
• Bulk item pickup (with limits and rules)
• Special programs for certain items, like tires or appliances, at designated locations

For most single-family homes and some small multi-family properties inside city limits, the city provides:

• A garbage cart (gray or black, depending on area)
• A recycling cart (usually blue)
• In many areas, separate yard trimmings collection (in paper bags or tied bundles)

Larger apartments, condos, and commercial properties often use private waste haulers, even within the city. If you live in a large building, your property manager or HOA is usually your first contact for trash and recycling rules.

Key City of Atlanta Waste Management Contacts

City of Atlanta – Department of Public Works (Solid Waste Services)
68 Mitchell St SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
General information line: often accessed via the city’s main customer service number (frequently listed as 311 from inside city limits or a standard 404 number from outside the city). Check your latest city bill or the city website for the current phone number and service hours.

When you call or submit a request, it helps to have:

• Your service address
• Your account number (from your water/solid waste bill, if available)
• A short description of the issue (missed pickup, damaged cart, bulk item request, etc.)

Most residents request service changes, bulk pickups, or report problems through:

• 311-style customer service (phone)
• Online request forms on the City of Atlanta’s official site
• Occasionally, through the ATL 311-type portal or app (if available and supported)

What Goes in Your Atlanta Garbage Cart

Garbage in the City of Atlanta is for non-recyclable, non-hazardous household waste.

Common items that belong in your trash cart:

• Food scraps and food-soiled paper (greasy pizza boxes, used napkins)
• Broken household items that are not recyclable (ceramics, mirrors in small pieces, some plastic toys)
• Non-recyclable packaging (plastic film, chip bags, styrofoam food containers)
• Bathroom trash (tissues, cotton swabs, disposable razors)

Items that do not belong in your trash cart:

• Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, many electronics)
• Tires
• Large appliances (fridges, stoves, washers/dryers)
• Construction and demolition debris (drywall, lumber from major remodeling)
• Hazardous materials such as chemicals, automotive fluids, pesticides, or some paints

Those items are handled through special programs or private services, not regular curbside trash.

Recycling in Atlanta: What You Can and Can’t Recycle

The City of Atlanta uses single-stream recycling, meaning all accepted recyclables go in the same blue cart. They are later sorted at a materials recovery facility.

Commonly Accepted Recyclables

Most city programs (always confirm for updates) generally allow:

Paper & Cardboard

• Cardboard boxes (flattened)
• Paperboard (cereal boxes, tissue boxes)
• Office paper, mail, newspapers, magazines
• Paper bags (clean and dry)

Plastics

• Most bottles, jugs, and containers labeled with common recycling numbers (often #1 and #2, and sometimes others depending on the city’s current list)
• Examples: water bottles, detergent jugs, milk jugs, some food containers

Metals

• Aluminum cans (soda, beer)
• Steel/tin cans (soup, vegetables)

Glass
In some programs, glass bottles and jars are accepted curbside; in others, glass is accepted only at drop-off centers. Atlanta’s rules around glass can change, so it’s important to verify whether glass is currently allowed in your curbside cart or must be taken to a recycling drop-off site.

Items That Should NOT Go in Your Recycling Cart

To avoid contamination, never place these in your blue cart:

• Plastic bags and film (grocery bags, shrink wrap) 🚫
• Styrofoam (foam cups, takeout containers, packing peanuts)
• Food-contaminated items (greasy paper plates, used takeout boxes)
• Garden hoses, cords, and clothing (they tangle in sorting equipment)
• Batteries and electronics
• Scrap metal and large metal items
• Diapers and medical waste

If you’re unsure whether something is recyclable in Atlanta, a helpful rule is: “When in doubt, throw it out” in the trash, rather than risk contaminating the recycling stream.

Yard Trimmings in the City of Atlanta

Yard trimmings are usually collected separately from regular trash and recycling in many Atlanta neighborhoods.

Typical yard waste includes:

• Leaves
• Grass clippings
• Small branches and twigs
• Plant trimmings

Common guidelines for yard trimmings:

• Use paper lawn bags for leaves and clippings (plastic bags are usually not accepted).
• Bundle branches with twine or string, keeping bundles below a certain length and weight (the city typically sets limits to protect workers and equipment).
• Do not mix trash (cans, plastic, rocks, soil) with yard waste bags or bundles.

Yard trimmings are often turned into mulch or compost through regional processing, rather than landfilled. Rules may vary slightly by neighborhood or change over time, so it’s wise to verify current requirements through the City of Atlanta’s Solid Waste Services.

Bulk Trash and Large Item Pickup in Atlanta

If you have large items that do not fit into your regular cart, the City of Atlanta usually offers some type of bulk item collection.

Common bulk items:

• Mattresses and box springs
• Furniture (couches, chairs, dressers)
• Large household items (carpet rolls, non-construction remodeling debris in limited amounts)

Key points about bulk pickup in Atlanta:

• You often need to schedule bulk collection in advance through the city’s service request system or 311-style line.
• There may be limits per pickup (such as number of items or total size).
• Certain bulk materials, like refrigerators, freezers, or air conditioners, may require special handling due to refrigerants.
• Major construction or renovation debris is generally not covered and may need a private hauler or roll-off dumpster.

Putting bulk items out without following Atlanta’s rules can sometimes lead to code enforcement warnings or citations, especially if items block sidewalks or stay at the curb for an extended period.

Special Waste: Electronics, Batteries, Tires, and More

Some items are not allowed in normal trash or recycling because they contain hazardous or valuable materials. In Atlanta, these usually go through special collection days, drop-off events, or private recyclers.

Electronics (E‑Waste)

Examples:

• TVs and monitors
• Computers and laptops
• Printers and scanners
• Small electronics and AV equipment

These items are often accepted at:

• Periodic e‑waste recycling events sponsored by the City of Atlanta or Fulton/DeKalb County partners
• Private electronics recyclers in the metro area

Before dropping off electronics, check:

• Accepted items and any fees
• Whether data-wiping is available or if you should wipe devices yourself

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Household hazardous waste includes:

• Oil-based paints and solvents
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Automotive fluids (motor oil, antifreeze)
• Cleaners and chemicals

HHW is typically not accepted in regular curbside service. In the Atlanta area, these materials are usually handled through:

• Scheduled collection events
• County-run HHW facilities (where available)
• Retail take-back programs for certain products (like motor oil or some paints)

Always confirm where and how to dispose of hazardous items before you transport them.

Tires

Used tires are not generally allowed in your household garbage. They are typically handled by:

• Dedicated tire disposal or recycling facilities
• Auto shops and tire retailers, sometimes with a disposal fee
• Occasional tire amnesty or collection events hosted in the Atlanta region

City of Atlanta Waste Management: Typical Weekly Schedule

Many Atlanta residents have once-per-week collection for trash and recycling, with yard trimmings on a set schedule.

A normal residential week often looks like:

• 1 day per week: Garbage collection
• 1 day per week: Recycling collection (often the same day as trash or a set weekly schedule)
• Yard trimmings: Weekly or biweekly, depending on neighborhood and city resources

Holidays can shift pickup days. If your usual pickup falls on a city-recognized holiday, it’s common for collection to be delayed by one day for the rest of that week. Residents can check the city’s official waste management calendar to confirm.

Simple Summary: What Goes Where in Atlanta

Below is a simplified overview. Always verify with current City of Atlanta guidelines if something is unclear.

If You Live in Metro Atlanta but Not in the City of Atlanta

Many people have a “Atlanta, GA” mailing address but do not live within the City of Atlanta limits. In that case, your trash and recycling are usually managed by:

• County services (Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Clayton, etc.), or
• A private hauler contracted by your county, city, HOA, or building

If your property tax bill or utility bill does not list the City of Atlanta as your solid waste provider, you should check:

• Your county solid waste division
• Your local city or town hall (e.g., Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, South Fulton)
• Your property manager or HOA

Rules for carts, recycling, and bulk items can be very different outside City of Atlanta limits, even if your ZIP code is the same.

Tips for Smooth Waste Management in Atlanta

A few practical habits can make waste service more reliable and help avoid issues:

• Set carts out on time: Typically the evening before or early morning of your pickup day.
• Face carts correctly: With the lid closed and cart handle facing your house, if specified by city guidelines.
• Leave space: Keep carts a few feet apart and away from mailboxes, parked cars, and poles so trucks can grab them.
• Don’t overload: Keep lids able to close; excess trash may not be collected.
• Label your carts: If several neighbors store carts together, putting your address on yours can prevent mix-ups.
• Stay updated: Collection rules, accepted recyclables, and holiday schedules can change, so check city communications periodically.

For residents, visitors staying in houses or short-term rentals, and anyone trying to understand how waste management works in the City of Atlanta, the key is to know which services the city provides at your address, follow the cart and sorting rules, and use special programs or drop-off options for items that can’t go in regular trash or recycling.