Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Acworth
Georgia municipal collections typically run weekly. Your exact service day is determined by your local county or city zoning schedule.
State Mandate
EPD laws restrict yard trimmings from being mixed with general household garbage.
City-Issued 95-gallon cart (Color Varies) Bin (Trash)
All garbage MUST be secured in plastic garbage bags before being placed into the 95-gallon cart. The cart must be at the curb by 6:30 AM on your scheduled collection day. Bags placed outside or on top of the container will not be collected, except during designated post-holiday pickups.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Standard refuse
N/A (No City Service) Bin (Recycling)
The Acworth Sanitation Division does not offer curbside recycling. Residents must contract a private hauler for curbside service or utilize local Cobb County drop-off recycling centers.
Accepted Items
Do NOT Include
- ✕Curbside recycling is not provided by the City of Acworth.
Yard Waste Bin
Must be curbside by 6:30 AM. Leaves and clippings must be bagged and under 50 lbs. Limbs must be tied in bundles no larger than 4 feet long and 4 inches thick. Total volume cannot exceed 4'x6'x4'.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Brush and limbs
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes (max 3'x3')
- ✓Scrap lumber (max 4 ft)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-Demand (Fee Applies)
Placement
Items must be placed curbside away from obstructions like mailboxes, utility boxes, and trees. Items must clearly display a large item pickup tag provided by the city.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Washing machines and dryers
- ✓ Refrigerators (Freon must be removed and tagged)
- ✓ Couches and household furniture
Not Accepted
- ✕ Dirt, mulch, and rocks
- ✕ Bricks, cinder blocks, and concrete
- ✕ Automotive batteries and tires
- ✕ Contractor-generated construction debris
A $25 fee applies per large item, billed to your account. Appliances using coolant must have the gases removed and tagged by a certified technician prior to collection.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Holidays falling on Sunday are observed on Monday, which delays service by one business day. During Thanksgiving week, normal Thursday pickups are automatically shifted to Wednesday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and dry items follow the same holiday scheduling shifts as household garbage.
During holiday weeks, always ensure your bins and bags are at the curb by 6:30 AM, as route times may fluctuate following a long weekend.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Bag Your Household Garbage
Unlike some cities that allow loose trash in the bin, Acworth strictly requires all household refuse to be secured in tied plastic garbage bags before being placed in the city-issued 95-gallon cart. This policy minimizes wind-blown litter during the collection process.
Keep Remodeling Debris Small
Small household remodeling items like drywall or paneling are accepted as part of your weekly 'dry items' pile, but they must be broken down into sections no larger than four feet and stacked neatly. These stacks cannot weigh more than 50 pounds.
Mitigate Nails and Screws
If you are setting out scrap lumber as part of your curbside dry items, you must completely remove or flatten all screws and nails. This strict rule ensures the safety of the sanitation workers handling the materials.
Seasonal Information
Holidays
VariableFollowing major holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter, Acworth allows residents to place up to six extra 13-gallon bags or two 55-gallon bags next to their cart without any penalty.
Fall
October - DecemberDuring peak leaf-fall season, ensure all leaves are securely bagged in paper or plastic yard bags that weigh less than 50 pounds each. Do not rake or sweep loose leaves directly into the street.
Post-Christmas
Late DecemberOn the regularly scheduled sanitation service day immediately after Christmas, the City permits additional broken-down cardboard boxes and smaller dry items to be placed curbside next to the bin.
About Acworth Waste Management
Municipal Sanitation Services in Acworth
For residents living within the incorporated city limits of Acworth, residential trash collection is proudly provided directly by the Acworth Sanitation Division. Serving approximately 6,000 municipal customers, the city fleet manages weekly household garbage, yard debris, and bulk item pickups. However, if you live in unincorporated Cobb or Paulding counties with an Acworth mailing address, you must contract an independent private hauler for these weekly services.
City-Issued Carts and Strict Bagging Policies
Acworth enforces strict solid waste regulations to keep its historic neighborhoods clean and pest-free. Every participating household is provided a 95-gallon cart bearing the official City of Acworth decal. A critical rule to remember: all household garbage must be placed inside tied plastic garbage bags before going into the container. Loose paper or unbagged trash that can easily blow away is prohibited, and any standard bags left sitting on top of or next to the cart will be bypassed by sanitation crews.
Acworth's Approach to Curbside Recycling
Currently, the City of Acworth's municipal sanitation department does not operate a dedicated residential curbside recycling program. Homeowners dedicated to sustainable waste practices must utilize alternative methods. You have the option to contract a private waste management franchise that offers subscription-based recycling, or you can transport your sorted paper, plastics, and metals directly to nearby Cobb County transfer stations and local glass drop-off receptacles.
Post-Holiday Overload Collection Perks
Understanding that household waste volume spikes during major celebrations, the City of Acworth offers a unique holiday grace period. On the first scheduled collection day immediately following major observed holidays—such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Independence Day—the city temporarily relaxes its 'no bags outside the cart' rule. Residents are permitted to leave up to six additional 13-gallon bags or two 55-gallon bags of trash directly next to their bin at no extra charge.
Extensive Yard Waste and Dry Item Support
Acworth provides robust yard waste and dry item removal, but strict volume and preparation limits apply. Your weekly pile cannot exceed the size of a standard pickup truck bed (4' x 6' x 4'). All grass clippings and leaves must be securely bagged in paper or plastic, with each bag weighing under 50 pounds. Neatly bundled brush is accepted as long as limbs are kept under four feet in length and four inches in diameter.
Drop-off Facilities
Cobb County Transfer Station
1897 County Services Pkwy, Marietta, GA 30008
Materials Accepted
Keep Cobb Beautiful HHW Events
Various Locations (Check Cobb County website)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides trash pickup in Acworth?
If you live within the incorporated city limits, the Acworth Sanitation Division provides your residential trash and yard waste service. If you live in an unincorporated area of Cobb or Paulding county with an Acworth address, you must hire an independent private waste hauler.
Why wasn't the extra garbage bag next to my can picked up?
Under normal circumstances, Acworth sanitation crews will not collect any refuse left outside of the city-issued 95-gallon cart. The only exception is on the first scheduled collection day immediately following a major observed holiday, when up to six extra small bags are permitted.
Does the City of Acworth offer curbside recycling?
No, the City of Acworth's municipal sanitation department does not currently provide a curbside recycling program. Residents who wish to recycle can opt to hire a private company for the service or utilize local drop-off centers in Cobb County.
How do I dispose of an old refrigerator in Acworth?
Large appliance removal is handled on Thursdays by request. You must call Customer Service at 770-917-8903 to schedule the pickup and accept a $25 fee per item. Importantly, refrigerators must have their Freon safely removed and tagged by a certified technician before the city will collect them.