Atlanta Garbage Pickup Schedule: How Trash Collection Works in the City

Managing your Atlanta garbage pickup schedule is much easier when you understand how the City sets routes, holidays, and special services. Whether you just moved into a neighborhood, changed apartments, or are trying to figure out when to roll your cart to the curb, this guide walks you through what to expect in Atlanta, Georgia.

Who Handles Garbage Pickup in Atlanta?

In most of the City of Atlanta, residential garbage service is managed by:

City of Atlanta Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services
55 Trinity Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Customer Service (ATL 311): 3-1-1 (inside city limits) or 404-546-0311

If you live inside Atlanta city limits, your trash pickup day is set by the City based on your address and route.
If you live in nearby areas like Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, College Park, or unincorporated Fulton/DeKalb, your garbage pickup is handled by those cities or the county, not the City of Atlanta.

How to Find Your Atlanta Garbage Pickup Day

Your garbage day depends on your exact address. The simplest ways to confirm:

• 🕑 Call ATL 311 (3-1-1 or 404-546-0311) and ask for your solid waste collection schedule
• Check any welcome packet or utility bill from the City of Atlanta (new residents often receive a trash day notice)
• Ask your property manager, landlord, or HOA (common for apartments, condos, and townhomes)

When you call, be ready to provide:

• Your full street address, including apartment or unit number
• Your ZIP code (for Atlanta, typically 30303, 30308, 30309, 30310, etc.)

Most single-family homes and small multifamily properties inside the city have one regular collection day per week for household garbage, with recycling and yard trimmings usually tied to that same day.

Typical Weekly Garbage Pickup Pattern in Atlanta

While the exact day varies by neighborhood, the pattern is generally:

• Once a week garbage pickup
• City-issued roll carts (usually 60- or 90-gallon)
• Pickup window: morning to afternoon (trucks usually start early, so set carts out the night before or very early)

Basic Weekly Service Often Includes

• Household garbage (bagged, inside the City cart)
• Recycling (if your address is eligible and you have a blue recycling cart)
• Yard trimmings (if provided in your area, often same day as trash)

Service type can vary by address (especially for multi-unit buildings), so confirm with ATL 311 or your property manager.

Holiday Garbage Pickup Schedule in Atlanta

City of Atlanta garbage pickup may shift around major holidays. On some holidays, collection is suspended, and routes are pushed back by a day.

Common City-observed holidays that can affect trash pickup may include:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day (July 4)
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

When collection is delayed:

• Routes usually slide forward by one day for the rest of that week.
  • Example: If your normal pickup is Monday and the holiday is Monday, you’re collected Tuesday instead; Tuesday routes move to Wednesday, and so on.

Because specific holiday plans can change:

• Call ATL 311 close to the holiday for the current year’s schedule
• Check notices from your landlord or HOA if you live in a managed property

Quick Reference: Typical Atlanta Trash Collection Rhythm

Where to Place Your Garbage Cart and When

To avoid missed pickups in Atlanta, follow these basics:

When to Set Out Your Cart

• Place your cart at the curb the night before your scheduled pickup
• Or no later than 7:00 a.m. on your collection day
• Remove it from the curb by the end of the day once it’s been emptied

Where to Put It

• Place the cart at the curb or edge of the street, wheels toward your house, lid closed
• Leave 2–3 feet of space around it so the truck’s mechanical arm can grab it
• Keep carts away from:
  • Parked cars
  • Mailboxes
  • Poles, trees, fences
  • Fire hydrants

Improper placement is one of the most common reasons for missed garbage pickups in Atlanta neighborhoods.

What You Can and Cannot Put in Your Atlanta Garbage Cart

Generally Accepted in Household Garbage Carts

• Regular bagged household trash
• Food waste and kitchen scraps (bagged)
• Small, non-recyclable packaging
• Disposable diapers, bathroom trash (bagged)

Typically Not Allowed in Regular Trash

These usually cannot go in your regular City of Atlanta garbage cart:

• Construction debris (drywall, lumber, brick, tile)
• Dirt, rocks, concrete
• Tires
• Large appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers)
• Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, oil, batteries, propane tanks)
• Large tree trunks or oversized yard debris

For these items, Atlanta residents typically use special collection, private haulers, or county collection centers. If you’re unsure, ATL 311 can direct you to the correct option.

Bulky Item Pickup in Atlanta

If you have something too big for your cart—like a couch, mattress, or large broken furniture—you’ll usually need a special or bulk pickup.

Common rules for bulk pickup in Atlanta:

• Often by appointment only
• You may need to place items at the curb on a specific scheduled date
• Some items may carry fees or restrictions
• Certain materials (appliances with refrigerants, tires, construction rubble) often require separate handling

To schedule:

• Call ATL 311 (3-1-1 or 404-546-0311)
• Provide your address and describe the items (size, type, approximate quantity)

What If Your Atlanta Garbage Pickup Is Missed?

If your trash was set out correctly and wasn’t collected on your scheduled day:

1. Wait until later in the day – trucks may still be running your route.
2. Check:
   • Is your cart blocked by a car or object?
   • Is the lid fully closed and cart not overloaded?
3. If it’s clearly missed, report it:
   • Call ATL 311 and request a missed pickup service ticket
   • Be prepared with:
     • Your name
     • Service address
     • Type of cart (trash, recycling, yard waste)
     • Approximate time you set the cart out

The City may send a truck back out within a set timeframe or collect everything on the next scheduled day, depending on the situation and workload.

Atlanta Apartments, Condos, and Private Haulers

If you live in:

• A large apartment complex
• A mid- or high-rise building
• A gated condominium community
• A building with a dumpster

…your garbage pickup might not be provided directly by the City of Atlanta, even if you’re inside city limits.

Instead:

• The property owner or management company usually contracts with a private waste hauler.
• Pickup days and times are set by the property, not ATL 311.

To find your schedule:

• Check posted signs near your dumpster or trash room
• Ask your leasing office, building manager, or HOA

Yard Trimmings and Leaf Pickup in Atlanta

Many single-family homes in Atlanta have yard trimmings collection along with regular garbage service.

Typical Yard Trimmings Rules

• Collected curbside, often on the same day as your trash
• Leaves, grass, and small clippings should usually be:
  • Placed in paper yard bags or
  • Loose in approved containers, depending on local rules
• Branches and limbs may need to be:
  • Bundled and tied
  • Kept under a certain length and weight

Large piles or major tree work may require special pickup or a private service.

Because yard waste rules vary between neighborhoods and can change over time, verify current guidelines with ATL 311 or your neighborhood association.

Recycling and Garbage Schedules Together

Many Atlanta residents have both garbage and recycling carts:

• Green or gray cart – household trash
• Blue cart – recycling (paper, cardboard, cans, certain plastics, depending on current rules)

Key points:

• Recycling is usually collected on the same day as your regular trash
• If there’s a holiday delay, both garbage and recycling are often shifted together
• Contaminated recycling (trash thrown in, plastic bags, incorrect materials) may be left at the curb

To keep your recycling collected on schedule, only place acceptable materials in your blue cart and keep lids closed.

Special Situations: Moving, New Construction, and Short-Term Rentals

New Residents or New Construction

If you recently:

• Moved into a newly built home
• Changed addresses within Atlanta
• Never received a City garbage cart

You may need to:

• Request a cart from the City of Atlanta
• Verify that your sanitation service account is active

Call ATL 311 and provide:

• Your name
• Service address
• Whether it’s new construction or an existing home

Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)

If you manage or stay in a short-term rental in Atlanta:

• Ask the host or property manager:
  • What is the trash pickup day?
  • Where is the cart stored?
  • Where and when should guests roll it to the curb?

Proper use of the city’s cart and schedule helps avoid overflow, odors, and fines.

Helpful Atlanta Contacts for Garbage Pickup Questions

If you live or stay inside the City of Atlanta and have questions about your garbage pickup schedule, the most direct contacts are:

• ATL 311 (City of Atlanta Customer Service)
  • Dial 3-1-1 inside city limits
  • Or 404-546-0311 from outside
  • Ask for Solid Waste Services
• Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services
  • 55 Trinity Avenue SW
  • Atlanta, GA 30303

For those in surrounding cities or counties (e.g., Sandy Springs, East Point, Decatur, unincorporated Fulton/DeKalb), contact your local city hall or county sanitation department to get your specific garbage pickup schedule.

By using your address-specific pickup day, setting carts out properly, and knowing how holidays and bulk items work, you can stay on top of your Atlanta garbage pickup schedule and avoid missed collections or surprises at the curb.