Forsyth County, GA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Mandate
- None (voluntary)
- Drop-Off
- Free at county centers
- Curbside Recycling
- Optional, via hauler
- Required Separation
- Yard trimmings only
Summary
Recycling is voluntary in Forsyth County; there is no residential recycling mandate. Residents drop off recyclables free at county convenience centers, and some private haulers offer curbside recycling for a fee. Only yard-trimming separation is legally required.
It shall be unlawful to place or mix yard trimmings with other solid waste within the county.
(b) Yard trimmings shall not be disposed of at any solid waste disposal facility with liners or leachate collection systems or any municipal solid waste landfills which have received a vertical expansion under O.C.G.A. § 12-8-40.2.
(c) Yard trimmings shall be sorted and stored for collection in a manner that facilitates collection, composting, or other lawful handling.
(d) Yard trimmings shall be placed in separate bags or containers. Such bags or containers may include reusable receptacles provided by residents which meet the requirements of this part, watertight paper bags manufactured for yard trimming disposal which, when full, do not exceed 50 pounds in weight, or special containers provided by a solid waste collector, but may not include plastic bags. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection, tree branches, tree trunks, and heavy brush which cannot be containerized and do not exceed four feet in length or six inches in diameter may be neatly stacked. No further preparation shall be required.
(e) Upon collection, yard trimmings shall be sorted and stockpiled until their ultimate disposal by chipping, mulching, other beneficial use, or recycling.
(f) The county manager or his designee is authorized to modify the requirements for preparation of yard trimmings and to arrange collection services for organized community cleanup
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 43).
Full Breakdown
Georgia has no statewide residential recycling mandate, and Forsyth County does not require households to recycle. Instead, the county operates convenience and recycling centers where residents drop off paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, and plastics for free; electronics, paint, and tires are accepted for a fee. Some private subscription haulers also offer optional curbside recycling. The one diversion the code does mandate is yard trimmings: state law and county code make it unlawful to place or mix yard trimmings with other solid waste, so grass, leaves, and brush must be kept separate.
Violations & Fines
No penalty for choosing not to recycle. Mixing yard trimmings with regular trash is unlawful and can bring a citation after written notice to remove or separate it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is recycling required in Forsyth County?
Do I have to separate yard waste?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Forsyth County
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