Trash & Recycling in DeKalb County, GA (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Bin Placement Rules
In unincorporated DeKalb County, residents must move garbage carts off the curb into a storage spot closer to the house than the street by 7 p.m. on collection day.
DeKalb County Trash Cart Storage Rule
Some RestrictionsDeKalb County Code § 22-28(6)
It shall be the duty of the occupant to remove containers from the curbside location to the storage location, which storage location shall be nearer to the residential unit located on the premises than to any street abutting the premises; the removal shall be accomplished not later than 7:00 p.m. on the day the contents are emptied and collected.(7)Each owner shall prevent the continued, excess...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping, throwing or leaving litter on public or private property in unincorporated DeKalb is unlawful unless it's your own property, a designated disposal site, or a litter receptacle.
DeKalb County Illegal Dumping Ban
Significant RestrictionsDeKalb County Code § 16-29
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to dump, deposit, throw, or leave or to cause or permit the dumping, depositing, placing, throwing, or leaving of litter on any public or private property or waters in the unincorporated area of the county, unless: (1) The property is designated by the county for the disposal of litter...; (2) The litter is placed into a litter receptacle or contai...
Yard Waste Collection
Unincorporated DeKalb County residents must keep yard trimmings separate from household trash and set them out in an approved yard-trimmings receptacle, not a plastic bag.
DeKalb County Yard Trimmings Disposal Rule
Some RestrictionsDeKalb County Code § 22-35(b), (g)
(b)Yard trimmings shall not be placed in or mixed with municipal solid waste;(c)Yard trimmings shall not be disposed at municipal solid waste disposal facilities having liners and leachate collection systems or requiring vertical expansion;(d)Yard trimmings shall be sorted and stored for collection in such a manner as to facilitate collection, composting, or other handling;(e)Yard trimmings sha...
Dumpster Rules
Construction dumpsters and other onsite waste-disposal equipment can't sit in the street in unincorporated DeKalb County unless the planning department director signs off and the street is at least 24 feet wide with adequate traffic controls in place. Every building permit's site plan must already show where the dumpster will go.
DeKalb County Dumpster Street Placement Rule
Some RestrictionsDeKalb County Code of Ordinances § 7-31.1(d)
(d) Dumpsters or any onsite waste disposal equipment may not be located on the street. If adequate traffic controls can be implemented, the planning department director or designee may approve the placement of dumpsters and onsite waste disposal equipment on a street so long as the street has a paved width greater than twenty-four (24) feet.
Collection Schedule
Unincorporated DeKalb County residents get residential refuse collected twice a week by the county, except oversized limb piles that need extra time to load.
DeKalb County Twice-Weekly Trash Pickup
Some RestrictionsDeKalb County Code § 22-30(b)(1)
Refuse will be collected twice each week from residential units except for exceptionally large piles of limbs which may require an excessive period of time to load.(2)Refuse will be collected as often as six (6) times a week from commercial establishments.(3)Dead animals (other than dogs and house pets) will not be collected, and dead dogs and house pets will be collected only from animal hospi...
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