Brookhaven, GA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)

Section 22-20(b)(1) sets the residential baseline: refuse is collected once each week from residential units, with one carve-out for exceptionally large piles of limbs, which can take an excessive period of time to load. Section 22-20(b)(2) sets the commercial frequency at as often as six times a week. Under § 22-17, the areas of the city are divided into pickup routes by the sanitation provider, so the provider draws the routes and the Code itself prints no weekday. Section 22-18(5) refers to the occupant's assigned collection days, which is the day a household has to get its refuse to the curb.

Who collects is restricted. Section 22-20(a) says refuse is collected by persons or commercial sanitation firms licensed by the city, or by other governments under intergovernmental agreements. Section 22-3(b) makes it unlawful for anyone without a city license to collect and haul refuse, other than their own accumulation, in areas of the city where the city maintains collection service.

Several conditions in § 22-20 can stop or limit a pickup. Under (b)(4), collection service is discontinued where garbage or trash cans or commercial containers are inadequate or have been condemned as unfit by an inspector, once notice has been given to an owner or occupant who refuses to correct the problem. Under (b)(3), dead animals other than dogs and house pets are not collected. Under (c), the city is not responsible for hauling discarded building material, dirt, rock, or discarded furniture and appliances from private property, or trees, bushes and other vegetation from commercial tree trimmers, landscapers or building contractors, except on a special fee basis.

Payment follows the property. Under § 22-22, residential sanitary fees are assessed on the tax commissioner's books and appear as a separate line item on the owner's annual property tax bill, due when property taxes are due. Commercial establishments are billed directly by the sanitation provider.