Trash Pickup in Atlanta, GA: How Garbage Collection Works and What You Need to Know

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia or are moving into the city, understanding how trash pickup works will save you time, stress, and potential fines. Atlanta handles household garbage, recycling, and bulk pickups primarily through the City of Atlanta Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services, with a few key differences depending on whether you live inside the City of Atlanta or just have an Atlanta mailing address in a surrounding county.

This guide walks through how trash pickup works in Atlanta, how to find your collection day, what goes in which cart, how to request special pickups, and who to contact when something goes wrong.

Who Handles Trash Pickup in Atlanta?

Inside the City of Atlanta limits, most residential trash pickup is provided by:

City of Atlanta Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services
55 Trinity Ave SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main line (City information/services): 311 (inside city) or 404-546-0311 (outside city)

If you pay a solid waste fee on your Atlanta city water bill or property tax bill, you’re usually covered by the city’s trash service.

If you are in unincorporated Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Clayton, or Gwinnett County with an Atlanta ZIP code but outside city limits, your trash service may be handled by the county or a private hauler. In that case:

• Check your property tax bill or utility account to see who’s listed for solid waste.
• Ask your HOA or apartment management if trash is privately contracted.

For this article, “trash pickup in Atlanta” focuses on residential service inside the City of Atlanta.

How to Find Your Trash Pickup Day in Atlanta

Your collection day depends on your address and route. Most single-family homes and small residential properties have once-a-week garbage pickup.

You can typically find your pickup information by:

• Looking on your utility bill insert or welcome packet from the city.
• Calling Atlanta 311 (dial 311 in the city or 404-546-0311) and asking for Solid Waste Services.
• Checking any printed route or schedule card that may have been left with your bin.

When you call, be ready to provide:

• Your street address
• Whether you are in a single-family home, duplex, or multi-unit building
• Any special access issues (gated community, alley pickup, etc.)

Typical Weekly Schedule Basics

While routes can change, residents commonly experience:

• Household garbage (black cart) – once per week
• Recycling (blue cart) – every other week or weekly, depending on route
• Yard trimmings (green/brown bags or separate pickup) – usually weekly or biweekly on a set day

Always verify exact details for your specific address, since route maps and schedules can be adjusted by the city.

What Goes in Your Atlanta Trash Cart (and What Doesn’t)

Atlanta uses city-issued carts for standard trash service. Using them correctly helps avoid missed pickups and contamination fees.

Household Garbage (Black Cart)

Your trash cart is for regular household waste that cannot be recycled or composted, such as:

• Food scraps and leftovers (bagged)
• Non-recyclable packaging (chip bags, candy wrappers, foam trays)
• Soiled paper (greasy pizza boxes, used tissues, paper towels)
• Broken items that are not hazardous (small broken toys, non-recyclable plastics)

Do not place the following in your trash cart:

• Construction materials (drywall, bricks, large lumber)
• Tires
• Large appliances (refrigerators, stoves)
• Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors)
• Hazardous waste (paint, solvents, automotive fluids, pesticides)
• Batteries (especially lithium or car batteries)
• Medical sharps (needles, syringes) unless safely contained as required

These items require special handling (more on this below).

Recycling Pickup in Atlanta

Most City of Atlanta households also receive curbside recycling service using a blue cart.

What You Can Generally Recycle

Rules can change, so always check the most current guidelines, but widely accepted recyclables often include:

• Paper & cardboard
  • Newspaper, office paper, mail, cereal boxes, shipping boxes (flattened)
• Metal cans
  • Aluminum cans, steel/tin food cans (rinsed)
• Plastic containers
  • Bottles and jugs with caps (rinsed), usually marked with certain recycling symbols
• Glass
  • Depending on current city policy for your area; check whether glass is still accepted curbside or only at drop-off centers

Recyclables should be placed loose in the cart (not bagged in trash bags). Bags can cause entire loads to be treated as garbage.

What Not to Put in the Recycling Cart

Common items that cause contamination:

• Plastic bags and film wrap
• Styrofoam and foam packaging
• Food waste and liquids
• Tanglers: hoses, wires, cords, clothing
• Diapers, napkins, and any soiled paper products

If your recycling cart is heavily contaminated, it may be tagged and left or collected but treated as garbage.

Yard Waste Pickup in Atlanta

Many homes in Atlanta receive curbside yard trimmings collection. This is separate from trash and recycling.

What Counts as Yard Trimmings

Typically accepted materials include:

• Leaves and pine straw
• Grass clippings
• Small branches and twigs (cut to a certain length and bundled)
• Plant trimmings and shrubs (non-invasive species)

Yard waste usually must be:

• Placed in paper yard waste bags or city-approved containers
• Bundled with twine (for branches), within length and weight limits

Plastic bags are usually not allowed for yard waste, since they interfere with composting or mulching.

If you have large amounts of yard debris (for example, from tree removal), you may need a special pickup or a private hauler—routine yard waste service is not designed for full tree jobs.

Bulk Trash and Large Item Pickup in Atlanta

For large, bulky items that don’t fit in your cart, such as:

• Mattresses and box springs
• Sofas, chairs, tables
• Large appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers)
• Large amounts of non-construction household junk

you will usually need to schedule a bulk pickup with Solid Waste Services.

How Bulk Pickup Typically Works

1. Request a pickup

   • Call Atlanta 311 (or 404-546-0311).
   • Provide your address and describe the items.

2. Get your scheduled date

   • You will be given a pickup date and sometimes instructions on where to place items.

3. Prepare your items correctly

   • Place them at the curb or designated collection point the night before.
   • Ensure any doors on appliances are removed or secured for safety.
   • Separate metal items if requested.

Some bulk pickups may be included in your service fee while others may have a per-item or per-visit charge, depending on city policy at the time. Always confirm potential fees when you schedule.

Trash Pickup for Apartments, Condos, and Townhomes

If you live in a multi-family building in Atlanta, your trash may be handled differently from single-family homes.

Common setups include:

• Shared dumpsters (trash and recycling) behind or underneath the building
• Compactors where residents drop bagged trash
• Private haulers contracted by the property

To understand your trash pickup:

• Ask your leasing office, property manager, or HOA who the provider is.
• Confirm which bins are for trash vs. recycling.
• Check posted signs for pickup days and rules (e.g., hours, bulky item policies).

Bulk items left near a dumpster without permission can lead to fines for the property and, in some cases, for occupants.

What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Picked Up

Missed pickups happen occasionally due to weather, blocked access, or route issues.

If your trash, recycling, or yard waste in Atlanta was not collected:

1. Check for obvious issues

   • Was your cart out by the time required (often by 7:00 a.m.)?
   • Is the cart overfilled or blocked by cars, fences, or landscaping?
   • Did you place unaccepted items or over the weight limit?

2. Look for a tag

   • Sometimes crews leave a door hanger or cart tag explaining why collection was skipped.

3. Contact Atlanta 311

   • Dial 311 (in-city) or 404-546-0311.
   • Ask for Solid Waste Services and report a missed pickup.
   • Provide your address, type of service (trash, recycling, yard waste), and the usual pickup day.

They may arrange a make-up collection or advise you to hold items until the next scheduled day, depending on circumstances.

Holidays and Weather Delays in Atlanta

Collection schedules in Atlanta can change around:

• Major holidays (for example, New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas)
• Severe weather (ice storms, flooding, high-wind events)

During these times, it’s common for:

• Trash days to be shifted later in the week (e.g., Monday routes collected Tuesday, and so on).
• Limited services for yard waste or bulk items during the affected week.

To stay informed:

• Listen for city announcements through 311 or local news.
• Check any notices on your bill or mailed flyers.
• Watch for door tags or printed notices in affected neighborhoods.

If you’re unsure, put your cart out on your usual day and follow with a quick 311 call for confirmation.

Special and Hazardous Waste: Where to Take It in Atlanta

Some items are not allowed in regular trash, recycling, or curbside pickup because they are hazardous, bulky, or require special handling.

Common examples include:

• Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, printers)
• Household chemicals (pesticides, solvents, pool chemicals)
• Paint and stains
• Car batteries and motor oil
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Tires

Atlanta-area residents typically have options such as:

• Special collection events sponsored by the City of Atlanta or nearby counties
• Permanent drop-off facilities operated by local governments or widely recognized regional centers
• Retail take-back programs for things like electronics, batteries, and light bulbs

To find the most appropriate option for your specific item:

• Call Atlanta 311 and ask about household hazardous waste and electronics recycling options.
• If you are in a surrounding county but have an Atlanta address, call your county solid waste office and ask about drop-off sites and event schedules.

Never pour hazardous materials down drains or storm sewers—many Atlanta neighborhoods drain into creeks that feed the Chattahoochee River and other local waterways.

Illegal Dumping and Overflowing Trash in Atlanta

If you notice illegal dumping, abandoned piles of trash, or overflowing public cans in Atlanta:

• Report it through Atlanta 311
  • Dial 311 or 404-546-0311
  • Provide the location, nearest intersection, and describe the problem (e.g., “Large pile of furniture on the sidewalk,” “Dumped tires in alley,” etc.)

Reporting helps keep neighborhoods cleaner and allows the city to schedule cleanup or enforcement if necessary.

Trash Pickup Fees and Billing

In the City of Atlanta, residential trash service is usually funded through a solid waste fee, often appearing:

• On your water/sewer bill (for some properties), or
• On your property tax bill (for owners)

This fee typically covers:

• Weekly trash pickup
• Recycling service
• Yard waste pickup (where available)
• Operation of city waste facilities and programs

If you are renting:

• Ask your landlord or property manager whether solid waste fees are included in your rent or paid separately.
• If your residence doesn’t appear to have city carts or collection, your landlord may have hired a private trash company.

For billing questions:

• Call Atlanta 311 and ask to be directed to Utility Billing or the appropriate office handling solid waste charges.

Simple Quick-Reference Guide: Trash Pickup in Atlanta

Practical Tips to Make Trash Pickup Go Smoothly in Atlanta

A few simple habits can prevent most issues with trash collection:

• Set carts out early

  • Place at the curb the night before or by early morning on collection day.

• Face carts correctly

  • Wheels and handle usually go toward your house; lid opening faces the street.

• Keep access clear

  • Leave 3 feet of clearance around each cart: away from mailboxes, cars, walls, and poles.

• Don’t overfill

  • Keep the lid fully closed. Overfilled carts are more likely to spill or be skipped.

• Use the right cart

  • Trash in the black, recyclables in the blue, and yard waste in the approved bags or containers.

• Bag trash securely

  • Helps control pests and odors, especially in Atlanta’s warm, humid weather.

If you’re ever unsure whether something belongs in your trash, recycling, or at a special facility, calling Atlanta 311 is the most direct way to get an answer tailored to your specific neighborhood and the city’s current rules.