Trash & Recycling in Alpharetta, GA (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Alpharetta, Georgia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Alpharetta issues every residential unit a 95-gallon plastic rollaway cart for garbage under section 38-10, and owners or lessees must keep it clean and pay to replace it if it is lost, destroyed or damaged. Section 38-9 requires occupants to notify the city or its contractor before collection is needed, including how often service should run.
Alpharetta Garbage Can and Notification Rules
Some RestrictionsAlpharetta Code of Ordinances §§ 38-9, 38-10
Sec. 38-9. - Notification for collection. (a)All occupants or persons in possession, charge or control of premises and places in or upon which garbage is created, accumulated or produced shall notify the city or its contractor that collection of garbage from such places is required. ... ... Sec. 38-10. - Approved garbage cans—Regulations. (a)Each residential unit shall be provided a 95-gallon p...
Bin Placement Rules
In the City of Alpharetta, residential garbage containers cannot sit in a street or alley right-of-way and cannot be kept more than 100 feet from that right-of-way, except when the city or its contractor authorizes curbside placement for pickup. Commercial and industrial containers must stay on the premises near the street where collection trucks can reach them.
Alpharetta Garbage Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsAlpharetta Code of Ordinances § 38-13
(a)Residential premises. With respect to residential premises, no garbage containers or other containers for refuse, other than those of the city, shall be placed, kept, stored or located within the right-of-way of a street or alley or at a distance exceeding 100 feet from the street right-of-way; provided, however, that the city or its contractor may authorize the location of such containers w...
Bulk Item Disposal
The City of Alpharetta does not pick up furniture, appliances, swings and other inert trash on the regular garbage day. Section 38-6 of the city code requires residents to call the public works department directly and schedule a pickup, and the item must sit at the curb no earlier than the day before that scheduled date.
Alpharetta Bulk and Inert Trash Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsAlpharetta Code of Ordinances § 38-6
Occupiers of land within the city shall call the city public works department and request pick-up of inert trash. Such materials shall be placed at the curb side no sooner than the day before the pick-up date established by the city. Inert trash shall not be commingled with yard waste.
Recycling Requirements
Section 38-11 of the Alpharetta Code of Ordinances gives the city discretion, not a mandate, to provide recycling collection bins directly or through its contractor. Once a resident receives a bin, they must keep it clean and sanitary, and reimburse the city for a replacement if it is lost, destroyed or damaged.
Alpharetta Curbside Recycling Bin Requirements
Some RestrictionsAlpharetta Code of Ordinances § 38-11
The city may from time to time provide, or cause to be provided through an independent contractor, collection bins for collection of recyclable material. Upon receipt of a collection bin, each owner/lessee shall keep such collection bin in a clean, neat and sanitary condition at all times. In the event any collection bin becomes lost, destroyed or damaged, or otherwise unusable for the collecti...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping litter on public or private property in Alpharetta without authorization is unlawful, and a conviction brings a fine of $200 to $1,200 plus reimbursement of the city's cleanup costs. Courts can also order violators to personally pick up litter along roads or right-of-way.
Illegal Dumping Penalties in Alpharetta
Some RestrictionsAlpharetta Code of Ordinances §§ 26-87, 26-88
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to dump, deposit, place, throw or leave or to cause or permit the dumping, depositing, placing, throwing or leaving of litter on any public or private property in the city limits or any waters in the city unless: ... (b)Any person who violates this article shall be guilty of a violation and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as follows:(1)By a fin...
Yard Waste Collection
Alpharetta requires every occupier of land to separate grass, leaves, pine straw, thatch, pine cones and hedge clippings into an approved yard waste container under section 38-5 of the city code. The city currently collects yard waste every two weeks on the same day as garbage and recyclables, and no more than ten containers go out per pickup.
Alpharetta Yard Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsAlpharetta Code of Ordinances § 38-5
... it shall be mandatory for each occupier of land in the city to separate all yard waste from other refuse in accordance with the provisions of this section. Grass, leaves, pine straw and thatch shall be segregated from other yard waste and shall be placed together in an approved yard waste container. ... Tree limbs of proper size shall be stacked at curb side.(b)Each residential or business ...
Dumpster Rules
In the City of Alpharetta, commercial and industrial customers get roll-off dumpsters and compactor service from the city's contracted hauler under Chapter 38, with rates negotiated directly between the contractor and the building owner rather than set by council resolution. Special handling for oversized or heavy loads is priced separately, and containers must sit near the street where collection trucks can reach them.
Alpharetta Roll-Off Dumpster and Container Rules
Some RestrictionsAlpharetta Code of Ordinances § 38-3
provided, however, that the independent contractor shall have the right to offer specific services to all commercial or industrial customers which may involve specialized trucks, compactors, machinery or handling. Under such circumstances, all commercial or industrial customers using such services commonly referred to as roll-off services shall be subject to rates negotiated between the contrac...
Collection Schedule
Alpharetta requires every occupant who generates garbage to use the city's collection service, either run directly by the city or through its contracted hauler, under section 38-2. Section 38-8 sets the minimum pickup frequency at once a week for private residences, with other places collected as often as the city or contractor orders.
Alpharetta Garbage Collection Schedule Rules
Some RestrictionsAlpharetta Code of Ordinances §§ 38-2, 38-8
... it shall be mandatory for all occupants or persons in possession, charge or control of places and premises in the city in or from which garbage is created, accumulated or produced to use the collection service provided for by the city or its contractor; provided, however, that there may be joint or multiple use of garbage containers by outside collection services, subject to securing a perm...
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