Atlanta Trash Pickup Schedule & Holiday Delays
Source-reviewed schedule
Trash pickup is scheduled for this date.
- Trash pickup days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySet carts out Place cart at curbside no later than 7 a.m. on collection day. Carts may be set out after 7 p.m. on the evening before collection. Remove carts by 9 a.m. the day after collection day.
- Next trash pickup
- Sep 23Based on the listed schedule
- Recycling days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySingle-stream collection
Regular trash pickup & collection details
| Service | Collection days | Placement or collection rule |
|---|---|---|
| Trash | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday · Weekly | Placement cutoff: Place cart at curbside no later than 7 a.m. on collection day. Carts may be set out after 7 p.m. on the evening before collection. Remove carts by 9 a.m. the day after collection day. |
| Recycling | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Single-stream recycling |
| Bulk waste | Single-family households receive up to 12 free scheduled bulk pick-ups per year on their regular collection day. Scheduling in advance is mandatory through ATL311 (online or phone 404-546-0311). Place items in front of property after 7 p.m. the day before collection and at least 6 feet away from carts. Maximum volume is 8 cubic yards per collection. | Up to 12 items per pickup |
| Yard waste | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Year-round. Yard trimmings are collected weekly on regular collection day. Place in reusable containers up to 32 gallons labeled YARD TRIMMING on all four sides or paper yard bags up to 34 gallons (maximum 35 pounds each). Branches must not exceed 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length. Piles of 21 or more bags require scheduling as a bulk collection via ATL311. Never use plastic bags. |
Trash container requirements
- Use only city-issued green roll carts for household garbage
- Place all household waste inside the cart with lid fully closed
- Bag all trash to keep containers clean and prevent litter during collection
- Do not place hazardous materials, liquid paint, or building debris in carts
- Place carts at least 6 feet away from parked cars, mailboxes, and bulk piles
Atlanta recycling overview
Single-stream recycling · Collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Accepted items
- Paper and mixed paper: office paper, magazines, catalogs, envelopes, and newspapers
- Cardboard: corrugated boxes and clean food boxes (flattened to save cart space)
- Plastic containers and bottles: beverage bottles, detergent jugs, and plastic clamshells
- Metal containers: aluminum beverage cans and steel or tin food cans
- Glass containers: clean food and beverage bottles and jars (all colors)
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags and plastic film (never bag recyclables; place loose in cart)
- Food waste and organic kitchen scraps
- Yard trimmings and garden debris (collected separately)
- Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam cups, food trays, and packing peanuts)
- Hazardous chemicals, batteries, and electronics (drop off at CHaRM)
- Garden hoses, electrical cords, and wires
Atlanta bulk pickup rules
| Collection rule | Single-family households receive up to 12 free scheduled bulk pick-ups per year on their regular collection day. Scheduling in advance is mandatory through ATL311 (online or phone 404-546-0311). Place items in front of property after 7 p.m. the day before collection and at least 6 feet away from carts. Maximum volume is 8 cubic yards per collection. |
|---|---|
| Limit per pickup | 12 items |
| Permitted materials | Furniture, Appliances |
| Advance notice | Required before collection. |
| Dispatch phone | 404-546-0311 |
Atlanta holiday trash delays
Listed strategy: one day slide. A listed holiday shifts remaining pickups in its Monday-Saturday service week by one day.
Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Named holidays recur each year; explicit dates apply only to their listed year.
2026 Holiday Collection Calendar: Atlanta, GA
Official schedule adjustments for recognized 2026 holidays. When a holiday falls on or before your collection day, review whether curbside pickups slide forward:
| Holiday | Observed Date | Schedule Status | Curbside Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, Jan 19, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Presidents' Day | Monday, Feb 16, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Juneteenth | Friday, Jun 19, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Independence Day | Friday, Jul 3, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sep 7, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Columbus Day | Monday, Oct 12, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, Nov 11, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov 26, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec 25, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
DPW & sanitation contact
City of Atlanta Department of Public Works · municipal dpw
Phone: 404-546-0311
55 Trinity Ave SWAtlanta, GA 30303
These collection rules cover Zone Atlanta Citywide Curbside Routes.
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Atlanta, GA?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Place cart at curbside no later than 7 a.m. on collection day. Carts may be set out after 7 p.m. on the evening before collection. Remove carts by 9 a.m. the day after collection day.. These rules apply to Zone Atlanta Citywide Curbside Routes.
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Atlanta?
As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone Atlanta Citywide Curbside Routes.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Atlanta?
Single-family households receive up to 12 free scheduled bulk pick-ups per year on their regular collection day. Scheduling in advance is mandatory through ATL311 (online or phone 404-546-0311). Place items in front of property after 7 p.m. the day before collection and at least 6 feet away from carts. Maximum volume is 8 cubic yards per collection. The listed limit is 12 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 404-546-0311 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone Atlanta Citywide Curbside Routes.
What items are accepted for recycling in Atlanta?
The listed accepted materials are Paper and mixed paper: office paper, magazines, catalogs, envelopes, and newspapers, Cardboard: corrugated boxes and clean food boxes (flattened to save cart space), Plastic containers and bottles: beverage bottles, detergent jugs, and plastic clamshells, Metal containers: aluminum beverage cans and steel or tin food cans, Glass containers: clean food and beverage bottles and jars (all colors). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags and plastic film (never bag recyclables; place loose in cart), Food waste and organic kitchen scraps, Yard trimmings and garden debris (collected separately), Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam cups, food trays, and packing peanuts), Hazardous chemicals, batteries, and electronics (drop off at CHaRM), Garden hoses, electrical cords, and wires. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone Atlanta Citywide Curbside Routes.