Trash & Recycling in Clayton County, GA (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Clayton County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Clayton County requires refuse contractors to collect residential solid waste at least once a week, using metal or plastic containers, under a nontransferable, privileged county license. A contractor who violates the licensing rules gets five days to fix it before facing a suspension or revocation hearing.
Clayton County Trash Collection Licensing Rules
Some RestrictionsCode of Clayton County, GA Sec. 78-7(1), (2), (3), (7)
Licenses for refuse service are nontransferable. The license contemplated under this chapter is a privileged license.(1)Collection areas. Contractors shall collect solid waste deposited in standard containers (hereinafter described) in keeping with their contract with the individual entity.(2)Collection schedule. Contractors must provide a minimum of once per week residential collection.(3)Numb...
Bin Placement Rules
In unincorporated Clayton County, refuse containers stay behind the building line until the scheduled pickup day, when they may be set out no closer than ten feet from the sidewalk or right-of-way. Permanent containers must be returned to the rear the same day (Sec. 78-6).
Clayton County Curb Rules: 10 Feet Out on Pickup Day
Some RestrictionsCode of Clayton County, GA Sec. 78-6
Containers for the storage of refuse shall be kept to the rear of the building line of the customer until the day scheduled for pickup, at which time it may be placed no closer than ten feet of the sidewalk or right-of-way.
Bulk Item Disposal
Clayton County's regular collection excludes large appliances, furniture, tires, and other bulky items that a regulation garbage truck cannot compact (Sec. 78-7(6)). Residents must arrange a separate contract, and yard trimmings go to the county's inert landfill in Lovejoy.
Clayton County: Bulky Items Not in Regular Trash Pickup
Some RestrictionsCode of Clayton County, GA Sec. 78-7(6)
Solid waste, as used in the within chapter, does not include such items as refrigerators, washing machines, hot water heaters, any other large appliances, machinery or discarded furniture, rocks, dirt, scrap metal, scrap building material, automobile tires or any part of automobiles, motorized vehicles or large bulky items which cannot be compacted by a regulation garbage truck.
Recycling Requirements
Georgia law, incorporated in Clayton County Sec. 78-7(4), bans yard trimmings from municipal landfills. Grass, leaves, and limbs must be separated from household garbage in cans (no plastic bags). The county offers drop-off recycling; there is no mandatory curbside recycling for residents.
Clayton County: Yard Trimmings Banned From Landfills
Some RestrictionsCode of Clayton County, GA Sec. 78-7(4)
Effective September 1, 1996, state law requires yard trimmings be banned from disposal in municipal landfills. Grass clippings, leaves, pine straw, small shrubs, limbs, branches, etc., shall be separated from household garbage and placed in plastic or metal containers (plastic bags are prohibited) to be picked up by the contract hauler.
Illegal Dumping
Clayton County's Litter Control Code (Sec. 62-30.1) makes it unlawful to dump or leave litter on any public or private property or waters in the unincorporated county without authorization. Scrap-tire dumping is separately banned (Sec. 62-304). Violations are misdemeanors with cleanup orders.
Clayton County Litter Control: Dumping Is a Misdemeanor
Heavy RestrictionsCode of Clayton County, GA Sec. 62-30.1(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to dump, deposit, throw or leave litter or to cause or permit the dumping, depositing, placing or throwing, or leaving of litter on any public or private property or waters in the unincorporated areas of the county.
Dumpster Rules
Clayton County's zoning ordinance requires every permanent dumpster or trash refuse area in the unincorporated county to sit on a cement pad, stay behind the building, and be fully screened on three sides. The standard applies countywide, from single-family lots to shopping centers, under Sec. 6.9, AS-09.
Clayton County Dumpster Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsClayton County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 6.9, AS-09
AS-[09]: Trash Refuse Standards:This Trash Refuse Standards section applies to all districts.All trash refuse areas and dumpsters located in Clayton County shall be consistent with the following minimum standards and requirements:1.Permanent trash refuse areas and dumpsters shall be located on a cement pad.2.Permanent trash refuse areas and dumpster shall be located within the rear of the prima...
Collection Schedule
Clayton County requires its licensed sanitation contractors to pick up residential garbage at least once a week, and customers must follow strict placement rules under Code of Ordinances Sec. 78-9. Containers stay behind the building line except on pickup day, must be sealed and watertight, can't sit in an enclosed carport, and must be located within 150 feet of the curb.
Clayton County Residential Trash Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsClayton County Code of Ordinances § 78-9
All residents or other persons receiving solid waste collection and disposal services from contracted firms shall comply with the following regulations: (1)All solid waste containers from which collections are made shall be placed to the rear of the building line of the residence, except on the days of scheduled pickup, with the container tightly sealed or enclosed. (2)Trash containers shall no...
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