Atlanta, Georgia resident guide
Atlanta bulk trash pickup, trash & recycling schedule
Schedule Atlanta bulk collection, find the weekly address route, check 2026 holiday delays, prepare yard trimmings, and use the City's recycling and disposal options.
Official source links checked on August 31, 2026.
Regular household service
Trash and recycling service
Start here for the recurring household collections residents use most often.
Atlanta collects household garbage once each week in a City issued green cart. Put all waste inside with the lid closed, have the cart at the curb by 7 a.m., and remove it by 9 a.m. the following day. A missed route may be reported after 3:30 p.m.
Atlanta collects loose recycling once each week on the same day as garbage. Use the City issued blue cart, keep material clean and dry, flatten cardboard, and do not bag recyclables. Put the cart out by 7 a.m. and remove it by 9 a.m. the following day.
Need it gone before the city service?
Get a LoadUp quote when the local date is too far away or an item is excluded.
Start here
Schedule Atlanta service
Use the official Solid Waste Services Collection Tool or call ATL311 at 404-546-0311. Schedule at least one business day ahead, list the material, and wait for the confirmed date before placing anything outside.
Atlanta 2026 resident collection guide
Schedule Atlanta bulk pickup on the weekly collection day
Atlanta changed its bulk schedule on February 16, 2026. Every approved appointment now falls on the property's regular weekly collection day, but the resident must still make a request before placing the pile outside.
The allowance applies to eligible single family residential customers.
Extra material can count as another appointment and use the allowance faster.
Wait until the evening before the confirmed collection to move the pile outside.
Both carts share the address route day and must be ready by 7 a.m.
The City posts current collection weeks and accepts up to 20 prepared bags.
Atlanta bulk appointment checklist
Schedule first, then use the regular weekly collection day
Atlanta changed the program on February 16, 2026. The City now schedules approved bulk collection on the property's normal weekly route day, but the resident must still make a request at least one business day ahead.
Service beyond the allowance carries a fee under the City code.
A larger amount can count as another appointment and use the allowance faster.
Wait until the evening before the confirmed collection to place the pile outside.
Separate the pile from garbage, recycling, and yard trimming material.
Avoid a rejected pile
Atlanta's official pages conflict about tires and construction material
The current City bulk page says up to four tires may qualify, while the ATL311 request article says auto parts including tires are not eligible. The pages also describe building material differently. Confirm those items with ATL311 before setout. Atlanta Recycles Day provides a safer City option for tires.
Weekly Atlanta household service
Garbage and recycling share the address route day
The official collection tool shows the weekday for the property. Put both carts at the curb by 7 a.m. and remove them by 9 a.m. the following day.
Keep every bag inside the cart and close the lid before collection.
Place clean, dry material loose in the cart. Do not bag recyclables.
Use ATL311 once that time passes on the scheduled collection day.
The collection tool can send reminders for the service address.
Leaves and yard trimmings
Atlanta collects prepared yard material every other week
Leaves, grass, flowers, and qualifying branches use the yard route rather than the garbage or bulk pile. The City posts the active weeks in its service announcements.
The City lists September 1, 14, and 28 as weeks without yard collection.
Each bag must weigh no more than 35 pounds. Do not use plastic bags.
Mark YARD TRIMMINGS clearly on all four sides.
Keep branches within both dimensions and away from the other collection piles.
Electronics, chemicals, tires, and shredding
Use CHaRM or the monthly Atlanta Recycles Day
Atlanta does not collect household hazardous waste in the regular carts. Two local programs give residents a better disposal path for material that does not belong at the curb.
Visit 1110 Hills Street SE or call 404-600-6386 to arrange service.
Options include televisions, computers, paint, oil, batteries, and pesticides.
The Greenbriar Mall event runs from February through December.
The event also accepts selected containers, books, cardboard, and aluminum cans.
City rules at a glance
Local limits before placement
Eligible single family residents receive 12 bulk appointments each year. A pile may contain no more than eight cubic yards, about the size of a small room of furniture. Extra material can count as another appointment, and service beyond the annual allowance carries a fee.
Place the approved pile at the front curb after 7 p.m. on the evening before the confirmed collection. Keep at least six feet from carts and yard trimmings, and keep sidewalks, streets, hydrants, mailboxes, meters, wires, and parked vehicles clear.
Local detail that matters
What makes Atlanta service different
Atlanta now places scheduled bulk on the regular weekly collection day. Yard trimmings use a separate every other week route. The City publishes current collection weeks in its service announcements, so an address schedule and the latest announcement answer two different questions.
Item guidance
What may go in the bulk item pile
Accepted examples
Properly prepared furniture, mattresses and box springs, washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators, barbecue grills, carpet, securely wrapped flat glass, railroad ties cut to four feet or less, and qualifying resident yard waste within the published limit.
Not accepted
Electronics, explosives, ammunition, paint, oil, fuel, solvents, metal drums, pressurized cylinders, contractor material, and debris from business, new construction, demolition, vacant properties, or eviction cleanouts. Official City pages conflict about tires and some building material, so confirm those with ATL311 before setout.
Holiday collectionAtlanta published the exact 2026 holiday route effects2026 schedule confirmed
Seven listed holidays move collection one day later. Four listed holidays keep the regular schedule, so residents do not have to assume that every City closure changes the route.
The delay applies to the route week
When the City lists a one day delay, use the official address tool to see the resulting collection date for garbage, recycling, yard trimmings, and a confirmed bulk appointment.
Bulk still needs a request
A holiday delay does not create a bulk appointment. Schedule through the Solid Waste Services Collection Tool and keep the confirmed date.
Yard trimmings use a separate calendar
The service announcements page identifies the current every other week yard collection dates. Check it along with the holiday rule before preparing leaves or branches.
One day collection delay
The City marks these holidays with a one day delay.
- New Year's Day. Thursday, January 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Monday, January 19
- Memorial Day. Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth. Friday, June 19
- Labor Day. Monday, September 7
- Thanksgiving Day. Thursday, November 26
- Christmas Day. Friday, December 25
Regular collection schedule
The City says these listed holidays do not change the collection schedule.
- Presidents' Day. Monday, February 16
- Independence Day. Saturday, July 4
- Indigenous Peoples' Day. Monday, October 12
- Veterans Day. Wednesday, November 11
Common questions
Atlanta collection FAQ
How do I schedule Atlanta bulk trash pickup?
Use the official Solid Waste Services Collection Tool or call ATL311 at 404-546-0311. Schedule at least one business day ahead and keep the confirmation showing the collection date.
How many Atlanta bulk pickups do residents receive?
Eligible single family residents receive 12 scheduled collections each year. A pile over eight cubic yards can count as an additional collection, and requests beyond the annual allowance carry a City fee.
When should Atlanta bulk items go to the curb?
Place approved material at the front curb after 7 p.m. on the evening before the confirmed appointment. Keep six feet from carts and yard trimmings and do not block sidewalks, streets, utilities, or mailboxes.
What happens if an Atlanta bulk appointment is missed?
Report a missed scheduled collection within two business days. Atlanta requires cancellation by 3 p.m. on the day before the appointment if the pile will not be ready.
Does Atlanta collect tires with bulk trash?
The current City bulk page says up to four tires may qualify, while the ATL311 request article says auto parts including tires are not eligible. Confirm with ATL311 before setout or use Atlanta Recycles Day at Greenbriar Mall for tire recycling.
How does Atlanta collect leaves and yard trimmings?
Yard trimmings are collected every other week. Use paper yard bags of no more than 35 pounds or a reusable container no larger than 32 gallons marked YARD TRIMMINGS. The regular limit is 20 bags, and branches must be no more than four inches wide and four feet long.
Where can Atlanta residents take electronics, paint, and batteries?
Use CHaRM at 1110 Hills Street SE. Service is by appointment; call 404-600-6386. Atlanta Recycles Day also accepts small electronics and selected recyclable material at Greenbriar Mall every third Saturday from February through December.
Which Atlanta holidays delay collection in 2026?
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day cause a one day delay. The City lists a regular collection schedule for Presidents' Day, Independence Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, and Veterans Day.
Sources used for this guide
Official supporting information
TrashDayFinder used these public sources to prepare the resident guidance above. They were checked on August 31, 2026 and are provided here as evidence.