Chatham County, GA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- Chatham County §21-408
- Participation
- Encouraged, not mandated
- Drop-off centers
- County-run recycling sites
- Accepted
- Cardboard, cans, glass, plastics, oil
- Commingling
- Not allowed in containers
Summary
Chatham County Code §21-408 establishes a recycling program at county drop-off centers and encourages all residents, in both incorporated and unincorporated areas, to participate. Recycling is voluntary rather than mandated; residents must properly prepare and separate materials, and no commingling is allowed in drop-off containers.
All residents living in incorporated and unincorporated areas of the County are encouraged to participate in any and all waste diversion/reduction or recycling opportunities available within the County.
Full Breakdown
Section 21-408 of the Code of Chatham County establishes a county recycling program: all residents in incorporated and unincorporated areas are encouraged to participate in waste-diversion and recycling opportunities, and the County phases recycling in at its drop-off centers. Common accepted materials include cardboard, magazines, steel and aluminum cans, glass and plastic food/beverage containers, waste oil, and textiles, with the specific list set by the Public Works Director. Residents must prepare materials (rinse containers, flatten cardboard, remove caps) and place each type in the correct container; commingling in county drop-off collection containers is not allowed (§21-406). Curbside recycling in the City of Savannah runs under the City's own program. Participation is encouraged, not mandated by county code.
Violations & Fines
Residents who fail to adequately prepare recyclables are responsible for disposing of them (§21-408); dumping outside designated drop-off areas or after hours is illegal dumping subject to county penalties (§21-406, §21-314).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is recycling mandatory in Chatham County?
Do I have to sort recyclables at county drop-off centers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chatham County
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