Clayton County, GA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Yard trimmings
- Banned from landfills (since 1996)
- Container
- Plastic or metal cans, no plastic bags
- Curbside recycling
- Not mandated for residents
- Drop-off recycling
- Paper, glass, aluminum, plastic, oil
- Code section
- Sec. 78-7(4)
Summary
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.
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.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 104).
Full Breakdown
Under Code of Clayton County Sec. 78-7(4), effective September 1, 1996, state law requires yard trimmings to be banned from disposal in municipal landfills, so grass clippings, leaves, pine straw, small shrubs, limbs, and branches must be separated from household garbage and placed in plastic or metal containers (plastic bags are prohibited) for the contract hauler; they may be disposed of at the Clayton County Inert Landfill in Lovejoy. Beyond this yard-waste separation, Clayton County does not mandate that residents sort recyclables. The county and Clayton County Water Authority provide recycling drop-off for paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic, plus special programs for used motor oil, batteries, e-waste, and tires, and an annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day.
Violations & Fines
Disposing of yard trimmings in a municipal landfill, or in prohibited plastic bags for pickup, violates Sec. 78-7 and Georgia's Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act. Chapter 78 violations are misdemeanors under Sec. 78-16, each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I throw grass clippings and leaves in the regular trash?
Does Clayton County require me to recycle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clayton County
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