Trash & Recycling in Cherokee County, GA (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Cherokee County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Bin Placement Rules
Cherokee County's Code of Ordinances requires every dwelling's garbage cans to be rat-proofed, insect-proofed, watertight and fitted with tight-fitting covers under § 14-98, and any bulk storage container must sit on a concrete platform built to keep spillage off adjacent areas. The code ties responsibility to the size of the building.
Cherokee County Garbage Container Standards
Some RestrictionsCherokee County Code of Ordinances § 14-98
Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall store and dispose of all his/her garbage, refuse, and any other organic waste which might provide food for insects and/or rodents in a clean, sanitary and safe manner. All garbage cans and refuse containers shall be rat-proofed, insect-proofed, watertight, structurally strong to withstand handling stress, easily filled, emptied and cleaned; sh...
Bulk Item Disposal
Cherokee County keeps yard trimmings, leaves, brush and prunings separate from household garbage: they cannot go into municipal solid waste, are barred from lined landfills, and must be sorted for composting, mulching or recycling.
Cherokee County Yard Trimmings Disposal Rules
Some RestrictionsCherokee County Code of Ordinances § 46-124
(b)Restrictions:(1)Yard trimmings may not be placed in or mixed with municipal solid waste.(2)Yard trimmings are prohibited at all municipal solid waste disposal facilities located within the county having liners and leachate collection systems or requiring vertical expansion within their jurisdiction.(3)Yard trimmings shall be sorted and stored for collection in such a manner as to facilitate ...
Illegal Dumping
Cherokee County makes it illegal to throw or deposit litter on any private property, whether you own it or not, under § 14-141(b), and § 14-151 lets the marshal presume you dumped it if identifiable mail, mail or marked items turn up in the pile. Division 5 violations can skip straight to court.
Cherokee County Illegal Dumping Enforcement
Significant RestrictionsCherokee County Code of Ordinances § 14-151
(a)Whenever litter is thrown, deposited, dropped or dumped from any motor vehicle, boat, airplane, or other conveyance in violation of this division, it shall be prima facie evidence that the operator of the conveyance has violated this article.(b)Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a), a person is presumed to be responsible for illegally depositing litter by the discovery of one or mor...
Yard Waste Collection
Cherokee County bans mixing yard trimmings, leaves, brush, grass clippings and Christmas trees into household trash or lined municipal landfills, and requires them to be sorted for collection, composting or mulching instead. Violators face up to a $1,000 fine and 60 days in the magistrate's court.
Yard Trimmings Disposal Rules in Cherokee County
Some RestrictionsCherokee County Code of Ordinances § 46-124
Sec. 46-124. - Yard trimmings disposal restrictions. (a)Definition: Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 12-8-22, yard trimmings are defined as leaves, brush, grass clippings, shrub and tree prunings, discarded Christmas trees, nursery greenhouse vegetative residuals and vegetative matter resulting from landscaping development and maintenance other than mining, agricultural, and silvicultural operations.(b)R...
Dumpster Rules
Cherokee County requires every dumpster and drop box to carry a lid that stays closed except when in use, keeping animals and wind-blown trash out under County Code § 14-144. A single roll-off bin tied to active construction, remodeling or demolition gets a narrow carve-out from the county's ban on commercial equipment sitting on residential property.
Cherokee County Dumpster and Roll-Off Rules
Some RestrictionsCherokee County Code of Ordinances § 14-144
(a)Persons placing litter in dumpsters or drop boxes shall do so in such a manner as to prevent the litter from being carried or deposited by the elements onto any road, sidewalk, or other public property or onto any other private property.(b)No person shall deposit litter in any dumpster or drop box designated for the sole use by a business or multifamily residence unless that person or indivi...
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