Trash & Recycling in Atlanta, GA (2026)

City of Atlanta DPW — Office of Solid Waste Services, Household/Garbage (Code of Ordinances Sec. 130-37(6b))

Household/Garbage Household waste, also known as domestic waste or residential waste, is disposable materials generated by households. Collected once a week (collection day can be found on the Solid Waste Services page in the SWS Operations Tool . SWS provides residential properties with a 96-gallon roll cart for solid waste collection. Place in green cart(s) curbside no later than 7 a.m. on co...

Atlanta Code of Ordinances § 130-37(b)(6)

Collection containers provided to residences ... shall be placed in the area between the sidewalk and curb or in an accessible place approved by the commissioner, which shall be no more than ten feet from the curb. Containers not located within this area will be considered as "not set out" and the city will not be required to collect. ... Containers shall not be placed at the curbside before 7:...

City of Atlanta DPW — Office of Solid Waste Services, Bulk Collection (Special Operations)

Bulk Collection Effective February 16, 2026, bulk collections will be scheduled on your regular weekly collection day. Bulk collections still must be scheduled. Please place garbage/recycling carts and yard trimmings (on yard trimming collection weeks) at least six (6) feet away from bulk items at curbside. Carts, yard trimmings and bulk placed too close together may result in one or both being...

City of Atlanta Department of Public Works — Office of Solid Waste Services, Recycling

Recycling Recyclables will be collected at the curb in containers provided by the City or other containers which are clearly marked recyclables and have a lid to secure the contents. For more information, visit the Recycling page. Collected once a week on the same day as garbage collection (collection day can be found on the SWS Operations Tool Place in blue cart curbside no later than 7 a.m. c...

Atlanta Code of Ordinances § 130-7(b)

Improper dumping or disposal. It shall be unlawful for any person to dump, deposit or otherwise place, or allow to be dumped, deposited or otherwise placed on any public or private property within the city, with or without the consent of the owner, any solid waste that is not prepared and placed according to the provisions of this Code, unless otherwise permitted according to the provisions of ...

Atlanta Code of Ordinances § 130-36(b), (d)

Yard trimmings shall be placed in proper, separate yard trimmings bags, the adequacy of which for identification of contents and the facilitation of removal by city personnel must be approved by the commissioner. The department of public works may collect up to 20-yard trimmings paper bags per collection period placed for yard trimmings collection, when full, are not to exceed 35 pounds in weig...

Atlanta Code of Ordinances § 138-61

It shall be prohibited and it shall be unlawful for any person to place or maintain a dumpster in the public right-of-way unless such person shall first obtain a dumpster permit from the department of transportation. ... No dumpster shall be permitted for a location that is: (1)Within 40 feet of any bus stop. (2)Within 20 feet of any parking space designated for persons with disabilities. (3)Wi...

Atlanta Code of Ordinances § 130-37(b)(1), (7)

Recyclable materials shall be placed only in containers designated for recycling loose and not bagged. Inspectors will be looking inside the recyclable material containers for contaminates that will limit the ability to market recyclables, such as food, diapers, and household trash, that are not acceptable inside the container...After a container has been "tagged" three times, the property owne...