Atlanta Trash Pickup: How Garbage Collection Works in Atlanta, GA

Keeping up with Atlanta trash pickup can feel confusing if you’re new to the city, moving between neighborhoods, or trying to figure out bulk or holiday service. This guide walks through how garbage collection works in Atlanta, Georgia, what you can put at the curb, who to call, and how to deal with special situations.

Who Handles Trash Pickup in Atlanta?

In most of City of Atlanta neighborhoods, weekly trash pickup (along with recycling and yard trimmings) is handled by:

City of Atlanta – Department of Public Works
Office of Solid Waste Services
55 Trinity Ave SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
General information line: (404) 330-6333

If you live in the City of Atlanta limits, you typically receive:

• Household garbage collection
• Recycling pickup
• Yard trimmings pickup
• Bulk item collection (by special request)

If you live in nearby areas like Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, or unincorporated Fulton/DeKalb, your trash service may be handled by the county or a private hauler instead. In those cases, your schedule and rules will be different from the City of Atlanta.

How to Confirm Your Atlanta Trash Pickup Day

Trash pickup days vary by neighborhood and route. To confirm your Atlanta trash pickup schedule, you can:

• Check the utility bill or welcome letter from the City of Atlanta.
• Call Solid Waste Services at (404) 330-6333.
• Look for posted signs in some multi-family communities or HOA neighborhoods.
• Ask your property manager or landlord if you’re in an apartment or condo.

Most single-family homes in the City of Atlanta have once-a-week garbage pickup, usually on a weekday (Monday–Friday). Collection typically happens between early morning and afternoon, so it’s safest to:

• Place carts at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day
• Or roll them out the night before

What You Can Put in Your Atlanta Trash Cart

City of Atlanta residents are usually assigned a city-issued trash cart (often gray or black). Only household garbage should go in this cart.

You can generally place:

• Bagged household trash (kitchen, bathroom waste, etc.)
• Small, non-recyclable packaging
• Broken household items that fit inside the cart (and allow the lid to close)

You should not put the following in your regular trash cart:

• Construction or renovation debris (drywall, concrete, large lumber)
• Tires
• Large electronics and some appliances
• Household hazardous waste (paints, chemicals, oil, pesticides, batteries)
• Hot ashes or coals (fire hazard)
• Loose, unbagged trash that can blow away or scatter

🔑 Key tip: In Atlanta, trash must be bagged before going into the city cart. This helps reduce litter and pests.

Where and How to Place Your Trash Cart

To make sure your Atlanta trash pickup goes smoothly:

• Put your cart at the curb or edge of the street, not blocking sidewalks or mailboxes.
• Leave at least 3 feet of space around the cart (away from cars, mailboxes, trees, and other carts).
• Face the cart opening toward the street, if it has arrows or instructions.
• Make sure the lid closes completely – overflowing carts may be left uncollected.

After collection, the city expects residents to remove carts from the curb the same day and store them on their property (side yard, back yard, or garage), not left permanently on the street.

Trash Pickup vs. Recycling vs. Yard Trimmings

In many parts of Atlanta, you’ll see three types of curbside carts:

• Garbage cart – for regular trash
• Recycling cart – for paper, plastics, cans, cardboard (clean and empty)
• Yard trimmings bags or cart – for leaves, grass clippings, small branches

While this guide focuses on trash pickup, it helps to know that recycling and yard waste often follow the same or a related schedule for your address. When you call Solid Waste Services or check your schedule, ask:

• “What day is garbage pickup for my address?”
• “What day is recycling?”
• “How do you handle yard trimmings in my neighborhood?”

Using the correct cart for each stream can help you avoid missed collections and extra fees.

Bulk Trash Pickup in Atlanta (Big Items, Furniture, Appliances)

If you have large items that don’t fit in your trash cart—like a couch, mattress, or large appliance—you may need bulk item pickup.

In the City of Atlanta, this typically works by requesting a special collection rather than setting it out on your normal trash day without notice.

Common bulk items:

• Mattresses and box springs
• Sofas, chairs, tables
• Large rugs (rolled and secured)
• Non-refrigerant appliances (like some stoves or washers)
• Some metal items

To arrange bulk pickup:

• Call (404) 330-6333 (Solid Waste Services)
• Provide your address, type of items, and approximate size/quantity
• Ask if there are limits or fees for your specific pickup

⚠️ Important:
Do not place bulk items at the curb in Atlanta without confirming the process first. Unscheduled bulk piles can be tagged as illegal dumping or code violations, especially if left out for days.

What About Construction Debris or Contractor Waste?

If you’re remodeling a home in Atlanta, drywall, lumber, tile, and similar debris are not part of regular Atlanta trash pickup.

For construction or renovation debris, you typically need to:

• Rent a temporary dumpster from a private company, or
• Have your contractor haul away debris as part of their service

Putting construction debris in or beside your city trash cart can lead to missed collections and possible citations.

Holiday Schedule Changes for Atlanta Trash Pickup

On or around major holidays, Atlanta trash pickup may be:

• Delayed by a day
• Shifted later in the week
• Occasionally suspended for the holiday itself

Commonly affected holidays include:

• New Year’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

Because exact adjustments can change from year to year, the safest options are to:

• Call (404) 330-6333 for the current holiday schedule
• Watch for notices on your bill or mailers from the City of Atlanta
• Ask neighbors if you’re unsure whether pickup is delayed

When in doubt, set your cart out on the normal day, and if it is not collected, leave it for the next day unless instructed otherwise.

Missed or Partial Trash Pickup: What to Do

If your trash in Atlanta wasn’t collected on your normal day and neighboring houses were serviced:

1. Check cart placement

   • Is your cart blocked by a car, tree, or mailbox?
   • Was it set out by 7:00 a.m.?
   • Is the cart overfilled or too heavy?

2. Look for tags or stickers

   • Collectors may leave a notice explaining why they skipped the cart (overfilled, wrong materials, blocked access, etc.).

3. Call the City

   • Contact Solid Waste Services at (404) 330-6333
   • Provide your address, pickup day, and what was missed (trash, recycling, yard waste)
   • Ask if they can return to collect or if it will be picked up on the next cycle

If the whole street appears missed, it’s often a route delay. In that case, carts usually get serviced later the same day or the next day without you needing to call, but you can still report it if you want to confirm.

Atlanta Trash Pickup for Apartments, Condos, and Businesses

Trash service works differently if you’re in a multi-family or commercial property.

Apartments and Condos

Many Atlanta apartments and condos use:

• Shared dumpsters in parking areas
• Compactors in or near the building
• Private haulers contracted by the property, not the city

In those cases:

• Follow the property’s rules and pickup schedule
• Use designated trash rooms, chutes, or dumpster areas
• Ask your leasing office or HOA who handles trash and how often it’s collected

Some condo and townhouse communities inside city limits may still use City of Atlanta carts; your HOA or property manager should tell you which system you’re on.

Businesses and Commercial Properties

Most Atlanta businesses use private waste companies. For commercial customers:

• Service frequency (daily, several days per week, weekly) depends on the contract
• You may have separate containers for trash, recycling, and sometimes cardboard

If you’re starting a business in Atlanta, you’ll usually need to arrange private trash service in addition to any city utility accounts.

Dealing With Yard Waste and Leaf Season in Atlanta

While not “trash” in the strict sense, many residents lump yard waste in with trash questions, especially during fall leaf season.

In many City of Atlanta neighborhoods, you can set out yard trimmings such as:

• Bagged leaves and grass clippings
• Small branches (bundled and tied)
• Shrub trimmings

Typical guidelines (verify for your address):

• Use paper yard bags or a designated yard trimmings cart if provided
• Keep branches within a certain length and diameter (often around 3–4 feet long and a few inches thick)
• Place yard waste separate from your trash cart

If you mix yard waste in with regular trash, your cart might be partially or fully skipped, and you may be asked to re-sort it.

Special Waste: Hazardous Materials, Electronics, and Tires

Some items are too hazardous or bulky for normal Atlanta trash pickup. These often include:

• Paints, solvents, and chemicals
• Motor oil and automotive fluids
• Car batteries and many household batteries
• Electronics (TVs, computer monitors, some large devices)
• Tires

Atlanta residents typically need to use special drop-off events or permanent collection sites for these items. Because details change over time, the best approach is to:

• Call (404) 330-6333 and ask where to take household hazardous waste
• Ask about electronics recycling options and city-sponsored events
• Check with your county’s environmental or solid waste division if you live near but not in the City of Atlanta

Never pour chemicals down drains or place leaking containers in your trash cart. This can be dangerous for sanitation workers and harmful to local waterways.

Quick Reference: Atlanta Trash Pickup Basics

Who to Contact for Atlanta Trash Pickup Questions

If you’re unsure about any part of your Atlanta trash pickup, start with:

City of Atlanta – Department of Public Works
Office of Solid Waste Services
55 Trinity Ave SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 330-6333

You can ask them to:

• Confirm your trash pickup day
• Explain what belongs in each cart
• Help schedule bulk item pickup
• Report missed or partial service
• Direct you to hazardous waste or electronics disposal options

Having these basics in place will help you keep your Atlanta home, street, or business area cleaner and avoid surprise issues with waste collection.