Effingham County, GA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)

Solid waste collection in unincorporated Effingham County is not optional. Article III of Chapter 66 designates a single residential service provider under contract with the county, and Sec. 66-104(a)(1) requires that provider to collect all residential solid waste and run weekly curbside collection under its service agreement; a second hauler cannot legally pick up in the same area, since Sec. 66-104(b)(1)e. makes it a violation for any provider except the county's designated one to serve a residential unit there. Payment is likewise mandatory. Sec. 66-104(a)(7)b. requires every residential service unit owner to pay an annual residential service fee covering both program administration and collection and disposal, and the Board of County Commissioners sets that fee schedule.

New homeowners cannot skip the line: Sec. 66-104(a)(7)c. requires the fee to be requested and remitted before the county will issue a certificate of occupancy or allow initial occupancy of the unit, and the fee can be billed through the ad valorem tax statement or a separate billing process (Sec. 66-104(a)(7)e.). Bulky waste, white goods and residential recovered materials collection ride along with the same contracted provider if the county's service agreement includes them (Sec. 66-104(a)(1)a-b, (a)(2)). Special-needs residents who cannot place a cart curbside can qualify for non-curbside pickup with a physician's certificate (Sec. 66-104(a)(3)). Violations, including using an unauthorized hauler, are enforced under Sec. 66-115 and Sec. 66-108 in Magistrate or State Court.