Trash & Recycling in Walton County, GA (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Walton County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Unincorporated Walton County residents must set refuse receptacles, rubbish and bundles at the roadside on their assigned collection day without blocking passage, and never before dusk the night before, then pull containers back to storage nearer the house than the street. County Code § 46-41(a)-(e) also bars open containers, untied bags and hazardous waste at the curb.
Walton County Trash Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsWalton County Code § 46-41(a)-(e)
(a)Placement of refuse for collection. Occupants of single-family dwellings, apartments, condominiums or other multi-family dwelling units not served by commercial container, shall place refuse receptacles, rubbish and bundles on assigned collection days, at roadside locations in such a manner as not to obstruct passage. ... This placement shall not be made before dusk on the day prior to colle...
Bin Placement Rules
Section 46-41 tells unincorporated Walton County residents when and where to put out trash: receptacles go roadside no earlier than dusk the day before pickup and must be hauled back to storage near the house, not the street, within a reasonable time after collection.
Walton County Garbage Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsWalton County Code § 46-41(a)-(b)
(a)Placement of refuse for collection. Occupants of single-family dwellings, apartments, condominiums or other multi-family dwelling units not served by commercial container, shall place refuse receptacles, rubbish and bundles on assigned collection days, at roadside locations in such a manner as not to obstruct passage. Occupants shall place such refuse at appropriate locations prior to the ar...
Recycling Requirements
Walton County requires every licensed hauler to offer curbside recycling under Sec. 46-39(3), but participation is voluntary for residents. Customers who opt in get weekly pickup of glass, newspaper, PET and HDPE plastic, and aluminum and steel cans at no extra charge beyond the standard trash fee.
Walton County Curbside Recycling Program
Light RestrictionsWalton County Code § 46-39(3)
(3)For all residential customers desiring to voluntarily participate in recycling, licensee shall collect at least once per week, pursuant to a county-provided list of guidelines, glass bottles and jars, newspaper, plastic (PET and HDPE), aluminum cans and bi-metal/steel cans.a.The county reserves the right to change the type and number of recovered items and to redetermine collection and dispo...
Holiday Pickup Schedule
In unincorporated Walton County, licensed residential haulers must still pick up trash at least once during any week that includes a legal holiday or extreme weather like snow or ice, per County Code § 46-41(g). The ordinance sets only a floor of one collection that week, not a guaranteed makeup day, so residents should confirm their hauler's actual schedule around holidays.
Walton County Holiday Trash Pickup Rule
Some RestrictionsWalton County Code § 46-41(g)
(g)Collections during extreme weather conditions. During any week in which there is a legal holiday or extremely harsh weather conditions, such as snow or ice, licensees shall be required to collect residential solid waste once during such week.
Illegal Dumping
Walton County bans open dumping of solid waste on any property in the unincorporated area under Sec. 46-35(c). A property owner notified that dumping occurred gets 15 days to promise cleanup and 30 more to finish it; violators who miss those windows face the county's general penalty of up to $1,000.00 or 60 days in jail.
Walton County Illegal Dumping Rules
Heavy RestrictionsWalton County Code § 46-35(c)
No solid waste may be disposed of by any person in an open dump, nor may any person cause, suffer, allow or permit open dumping on his property as defined by the Rules of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Chapter 391-3-4-04.(1)A person shall be presumed to have violated this subsection if, upon written notification that litter or solid waste has bee...
Dumpster Rules
In unincorporated Walton County, commercial dumpsters must sit on a concrete pad located to the rear of the building and be screened by an opaque enclosure at least six feet high. The rule comes from the Land Development Ordinance's off-street loading standards, not the trash-collection chapter of the county code.
Dumpster Placement Rules in Walton County
Some RestrictionsWalton County Land Development Ordinance § 7-2-140
Section 7-2-140 - Dumpsters A.Location Dumpsters shall be located to the rear of the building. Dumpsters shall be placed on concrete pads of sufficient size and strength to support the weight of service vehicles. B.Screening Dumpsters shall be screened by an opaque enclosure not less than six (6) feet in height.
Collection Schedule
Licensed haulers in unincorporated Walton County must run residential collection between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. under Sec. 46-36(b), and Sec. 46-39(1) requires at least weekly curbside pickup of packaged household waste. Owners of the served property are billed, though a requesting tenant can become jointly responsible for the charges.
Walton County Trash Collection Hours & Service
Some RestrictionsWalton County Code § 46-39(1)
The licensee shall provide, at a minimum, weekly curb service collection of residential waste packaged as approved pursuant to this article, except as otherwise set out in this article. Each licensee shall set uniform fees for designated service area collection within the county. Charges for residential collection and removal services shall be charged to the owners of the real property served, ...
Recycling Rules
Unincorporated Walton County haulers must collect residents' voluntary recycling, glass, newspaper, plastic PET and HDPE, and aluminum and steel cans, at least weekly at no extra charge, under County Code § 46-39(3). Once set out in a designated recycling container, the material can become county property, and taking it before pickup during the 24 hours beforehand is itself a violation under § 46-39(4).
Walton County Curbside Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsWalton County Code § 46-39(3)-(4)
(3)For all residential customers desiring to voluntarily participate in recycling, licensee shall collect at least once per week, pursuant to a county-provided list of guidelines, glass bottles and jars, newspaper, plastic (PET and HDPE), aluminum cans and bi-metal/steel cans. ... d.No additional fee, over the amount charged for curbside collection of residential waste, shall be charged by the ...
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