Waste Management in Atlanta: How to Find and Understand Your Pickup Schedule

Staying on top of your waste management pickup schedule in Atlanta is easier when you know who services your address, what’s collected, and how holidays and delays work. This guide walks through how trash, recycling, and yard trimmings pickup typically works in Atlanta, Georgia, and how to quickly find the schedule for your specific home or business.

Who Handles Waste Pickup in Atlanta?

In the Atlanta area, your pickup schedule depends on where you live and who your provider is.

Most residents fall into one of these groups:

1. City of Atlanta residents

   • Serviced by the City of Atlanta Department of Public Works – Solid Waste Services
   • Covers most addresses inside the Atlanta city limits

2. Residents of other cities in metro Atlanta (Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, South Fulton, etc.)

   • Often serviced by that city’s public works department or a contracted hauler

3. Unincorporated county areas (unincorporated Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, etc.)

   • Typically serviced by private haulers approved by the county

4. Apartments, condos, and businesses

   • Frequently use private waste management companies or property-managed contracts
   • Schedules are usually set by the property manager or business owner

If you live within the City of Atlanta, your household trash, recycling, and yard trimmings are usually collected once a week on a set weekday, with bulk pickup by request.

How to Find Your City of Atlanta Pickup Day

If your address is inside city limits, your schedule is based on your service zone/route. To confirm:

1. Use the City’s Online Tools or Call Center

You can:

• Look up your collection day using your street address on the city’s official service lookup tools, or
• Call ATL 311 (the City of Atlanta’s customer service line) and ask for your solid waste pickup day.

Key contact for Atlanta residents

• ATL 311 (City of Atlanta Customer Service)

  • Phone: 311 (inside city limits) or 404-546-0311 (from outside)
  • Common request: “What is my solid waste pickup day?”

• City of Atlanta – Department of Public Works (Solid Waste Services)

  • Main office: Often associated with 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Use ATL 311 to be directed to Solid Waste Services or to file a service request.

Have your full address and ZIP code handy when you call or search.

2. Check Your Cart Labels or Welcome Packet

If you recently moved in:

• Look for a sticker or tag on your trash or recycling cart that lists your pickup day.
• Some landlords or property managers include a welcome sheet with the set collection schedule.

3. Ask Your Neighbors

If you’re still unsure, a quick, practical approach:

• Ask neighbors:
  • “What day is trash pickup on this street?”
  • “Does recycling come the same day as trash?”

This can also help you spot typical pickup times (early morning vs. later in the day).

Typical Pickup Schedule Pattern in Atlanta

While your exact day depends on your address, many City of Atlanta residential customers experience:

• Trash (garbage) – once weekly
• Recycling – once weekly (usually the same day as trash)
• Yard trimmings – weekly or seasonal pickup depending on route and volume
• Bulk items – by appointment or scheduled request, not every week

City crews usually start early in the morning, so it’s smart to:

• Put carts/yard waste at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your service day
• Avoid blocking carts with parked cars, mailboxes, or low-hanging branches

What Goes Out on Which Day?

The City of Atlanta’s system is built around separate streams: trash, recycling, yard trimmings, and bulk.

Trash (Solid Waste)

Collected once per week:

• Use the city-issued trash cart
• Bag all household trash securely
• Keep the lid closed to help reduce litter and pests

📝 Tip: If you consistently overflow your cart, you may be able to request a larger or additional cart from Solid Waste Services through ATL 311 (fees or rules may apply).

Recycling

Also usually once per week, typically the same day as trash:

• Use your blue recycling cart (or other color currently used by the city)
• Place only accepted recyclables (common items: paper, flattened cardboard, metal cans, certain plastics)
• Don’t bag recyclables in black trash bags; loose in the cart is usually recommended

If recycling isn’t set out correctly or contains too many non-recyclable items, your cart may be skipped.

Yard Trimmings

Yard trimmings are typically collected weekly on your regular service day, but rules can vary by season and route.

Common guidelines:

• Place yard debris in paper yard waste bags or approved containers
• Keep piles manageable and neatly stacked at the curb
• Follow size and weight limits for branches and bags (oversized bundles may be left behind)

If you have a large volume of yard waste after tree work or landscaping, you may need:

• Multiple weeks of set-outs, or
• A special pickup arrangement (often with associated fees or rules)

Bulk Waste

Bulk waste can include:

• Old furniture (sofas, mattresses)
• Large appliances (with restrictions)
• Oversized items that don’t fit in your trash cart

This is not normally picked up every week. You usually need to:

1. Request a bulk pickup through ATL 311 or the city’s online service portal.
2. Receive a confirmation with instructions and your pickup date.
3. Place bulk items at the curb only when instructed, to avoid code issues.

Simple Overview: Typical City of Atlanta Residential Service

Always confirm your exact schedule and rules for your specific address, as policies can be updated.

Holiday Schedule and Weather Delays in Atlanta

Trash and recycling pickup in Atlanta can be affected by:

• City-observed holidays (such as New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and others)
• Severe weather (ice storms, heavy flooding, high winds, or emergency conditions)

Common patterns:

• Service may be delayed by one day for the rest of the week after a major holiday.
• In major weather events, pickups may be suspended and then rescheduled.

How to check for changes:

• Call ATL 311 before or during holiday weeks if you’re uncertain.
• Listen for local news or city announcements, especially during weather emergencies.
• Check posted notices on your cart, mailers, or neighborhood bulletin boards (some neighborhoods share updates through HOAs or community councils).

To avoid missed service during a holiday week:

• Put your carts out according to the revised schedule (for example, Wednesday pickup may move to Thursday).
• Avoid setting carts out too early when collection is delayed several days; this helps prevent litter and cart damage.

If You Live Outside the City of Atlanta (But in Metro Atlanta)

If you live in a metro-area city or unincorporated county, your waste management pickup schedule will usually come from one of these:

• Your city’s public works department
• A county contract hauler
• A private waste company arranged by your HOA, landlord, or by you directly

Examples of where to check:

• DeKalb County Sanitation Division – serves many addresses in DeKalb, including parts of Atlanta that lie in DeKalb County but outside the City of Atlanta’s service limits
• Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, or Clayton County solid waste offices – often list approved haulers and basic schedule information
• Property management offices for apartments and condos

Steps to find your schedule in these areas:

1. Look at your utility or sanitation bill for the provider name.
2. Call the listed customer service number and ask for your pickup day.
3. Check any welcome packet, lease, or HOA information for clear instructions.

Special Cases: Apartments, Condos, and Businesses in Atlanta

Many multi-family properties and commercial buildings in Atlanta do not use the standard city residential carts. Instead, they may have:

• Shared dumpsters for trash and recycling
• Compactors or enclosed waste rooms
• Private companies contracted for pickup

In these situations:

• Pickup schedules are usually set by the property manager or owner, not individually by residents.
• Recycling availability can vary; some complexes offer robust recycling, while others focus primarily on trash.

If you’re a tenant and unsure:

• Ask your leasing office or building manager:
  • “What days are trash and recycling picked up?”
  • “Where should I place my trash and recyclables, and at what times?”
• Follow posted rules to avoid fines or warnings from management.

Businesses in Atlanta typically:

• Arrange contracts directly with a waste management provider
• Set custom schedules based on volume and type of waste generated

What to Do If Your Trash or Recycling Wasn’t Collected

Missed pickups can happen. If you believe your Atlanta pickup was skipped:

1. Double-check the basics

   • Was your cart set out on time (by early morning)?
   • Was it blocked by cars, fences, or other obstacles?
   • Was it overfilled or clearly contaminated (for recycling)?

2. Talk to neighbors

   • Did the whole street get skipped, or just your cart?
   • If the entire block was missed, it may be a route-wide delay.

3. Contact ATL 311

   • Phone: 311 (in Atlanta) or 404-546-0311
   • Request: “Missed trash/recycling/yard waste pickup”
   • Provide your full address, collection day, and details about what was missed.

The city may:

• Send a make-up truck (especially if many homes were skipped), or
• Instruct you to wait until the next scheduled pickup, depending on circumstances.

How to Prepare Your Waste for Pickup in Atlanta

A few practical tips help ensure your trash and recycling are collected smoothly:

• Set carts at the curb correctly

  • Wheels and handles typically face away from the street
  • Leave several feet between trash, recycling, and yard bags
  • Keep carts away from mailboxes, cars, and low-hanging branches

• Follow container rules

  • Use city-issued carts for trash and recycling
  • Do not put loose trash bags or bulky items next to the cart unless rules allow

• Keep lids closed

  • Helps limit litter, animals, and rainwater
  • Some routes may skip carts that are overflowing beyond safe limits

• Learn what’s accepted

  • Trash: typical bagged household waste
  • Recycling: only materials the city accepts in your cart
  • Yard: leaves, grass, small branches, properly bundled

• Time your setout

  • Place carts curbside the night before or very early on pickup day
  • Bring carts back in after service to keep sidewalks and streets clear

When to Call for Help or More Information

If you live, work, or are staying in Atlanta and have questions about waste management or pickup schedules, good first points of contact include:

• ATL 311 – City of Atlanta Customer Service

  • Dial 311 from within Atlanta city limits
  • Or call 404-546-0311 from outside
  • Ask for: “Solid Waste Services” or “Sanitation collection schedule”

• Your City or County Solid Waste Office (for areas outside City of Atlanta)

  • Look on your trash bill for the official department name and number.

• Your landlord, HOA, or property manager

  • Particularly if you live in a multi-family building, condo, or gated community with private service.

Knowing your waste management Atlanta pickup schedule—and how trash, recycling, yard trimmings, and bulk items are handled—helps you keep your home in order, avoid missed collections, and stay on the right side of local rules. Use your address, ATL 311, and your property’s management team as your main guides for the most accurate, up-to-date schedule details.