Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Albany
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-furnished cart Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged and fit entirely inside the container with the lid closed. Place at the curb no earlier than 5:00 PM the day before and no later than 7:00 AM on collection day. Remove by 7:00 PM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Broken down cardboard boxes
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
No curbside bin provided Bin (Recycling)
Residents must self-haul clean and sorted recyclables to Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful drop-off sites.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (broken down)
- ✓Aluminum cans
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 (at drop-off)
- ✓Glass bottles separated by color (at drop-off)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tin or steel cans
- ✕Plate glass or light bulbs
Yard Waste Bin
Picked up twice a month. Must be piled near the regular garbage cart. Absolutely no other debris or household trash can be mixed in with the yard debris pile.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small branches and twigs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
No curbside bulk pickup. Must use roll-off boxes or self-haul.
Placement
Do not place bulk items at the curb. Doing so violates city code and will not be collected by standard automated garbage trucks.
Accepted
- ✓ Household trash overflow (at community roll-offs)
- ✓ Furniture and appliances (at Dougherty County Landfill)
- ✓ Mattresses (at Dougherty County Landfill)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires (not allowed in community roll-offs)
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Automotive fluids
Residents can formally rent a residential roll-off container from the Solid Waste Division for home projects, which requires a $300 deposit to cover setup, daily rental, and tonnage fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, Albany's garbage collection routes for that day and the remainder of the week typically shift back by one day (e.g., Thursday pickups move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard household garbage.
The Dougherty County Landfill is also closed on most public holidays. Always check the official city holiday schedule PDF before self-hauling.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Always Break Down Cardboard
If you are placing cardboard boxes in your regular garbage cart instead of taking them to a KADB recycling center, you must completely flatten and break them down. Jammed boxes prevent the automated trucks from properly emptying the cart.
Keep Tires Out of Roll-Off Boxes
While the city's community roll-off boxes are excellent for overflow household trash, you are strictly prohibited from dumping vehicle tires in them. Tires must be disposed of at the Dougherty County Landfill, where specific tire disposal fees apply.
Do Not Mix Yard Waste
Never mix loose household trash, plastic bags, or construction debris into your yard waste piles. Albany Solid Waste crews use specialized equipment for organic material, and mixed piles will be rejected.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June to SeptemberDuring the hot and humid South Georgia summer, ensure all household food waste is securely double-bagged before tossing it into your city-issued cart to prevent foul odors and deter pests.
Fall
August to OctoberDuring peak tropical storm season, do not place yard waste piles at the curb if heavy rain or high winds are forecasted. Loose debris can quickly block street drains and cause localized flooding.
Winter
Late December to JanuaryAfter the holidays, take your excess packing materials, wrapping paper, and large cardboard boxes to one of the five city-sponsored roll-off dumpsters to avoid overflowing your curbside cart.
About Albany Waste Management
Albany's Automated Garbage Collection Regulations
The City of Albany utilizes a fully automated collection system to manage residential solid waste. Every household must use the official, city-furnished rolling cart for their weekly household garbage. To ensure the automated mechanical arms can safely service your bin, carts must be placed facing the roadway and positioned within three feet of the curb. Be mindful to never place your barrel directly next to utility poles, mailboxes, or parked vehicles.
Using the Free Community Roll-Off Boxes for Excess Trash
Unlike many municipalities that charge steep fees for overflow garbage, Albany provides five free community roll-off boxes strategically located around the city, including sites at the Civic Center and Palmyra Road. These dumpsters are available to residents at no extra cost for disposing of normal household trash overflow. However, it is strictly prohibited to place used tires or commercial construction debris in these communal receptacles.
Navigating Albany's Recycling Drop-Off System
Albany does not currently offer residential curbside recycling through the Solid Waste Division. Instead, eco-conscious residents partner with Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful (KADB) by bringing sorted materials to designated community drop-off centers. The primary facilities are located in West Albany at Fire Station #6 (Meredyth Drive) and Downtown behind the James H. Gray, Sr. Civic Center, accepting flattened cardboard, sorted glass, plastics #1 and #2, and aluminum.
Strict Separation Protocols for Twice-Monthly Yard Debris
Keeping Albany’s streetscapes clean requires strict adherence to the city's yard waste ordinances. Yard debris—such as grass clippings, leaves, and pruned branches—is collected twice a month. It must be piled neatly near your regular garbage cart. The city mandates that yard waste must be completely pure; if it is mixed with household garbage, bulk furniture, or plastics, the sanitation crew will flag the pile as a code violation and refuse collection.
Self-Hauling Bulk Items and Appliances
Because the City of Albany does not offer free curbside collection for massive bulk items like couches, appliances, or mattresses, residents have two main options. For large-scale home cleanouts, residents can rent a specialized roll-off container directly from the Public Works department (involving a deposit and tipping fees). Alternatively, you can self-haul bulk waste and non-hazardous heavy materials directly to the Dougherty County Landfill on Gaissert Road.
Drop-off Facilities
Dougherty County Landfill
900 Gaissert Road, Albany, GA 31705
Materials Accepted
Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful (West Albany Drop-Off)
2521 Meredyth Drive (At Fire Station #6), Albany, GA 31707
Materials Accepted
Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful (Downtown Drop-Off)
Front Street and Mercer Avenue (Behind Civic Center), Albany, GA 31701
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my garbage cart out in Albany?
The City of Albany requires you to place your official rolling garbage cart at the curb no earlier than 5:00 PM on the day before your scheduled collection, and no later than 7:00 AM on the day of collection. You must remove the empty cart by 7:00 PM that evening.
Does Albany provide curbside recycling bins?
No. The City of Albany does not currently offer curbside recycling service. Residents who wish to recycle must drop off their sorted materials (like cardboard, aluminum, and plastics #1/#2) at Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful centers located at Fire Station #6 or the Civic Center.
Will the city pick up an old couch or mattress at the curb?
No. Albany does not provide curbside bulk waste collection. You cannot leave old furniture or appliances next to your garbage cart. You must either haul these items yourself to the Dougherty County Landfill on Gaissert Road or hire a private junk removal service.
What should I do if I have too much trash for my cart?
If you occasionally have overflow trash, you can utilize one of the city's five free community roll-off dumpsters (e.g., 1500 Palmyra Road or 1401 Avalon Avenue). If you consistently exceed your cart's capacity, you can order an additional city-issued cart for an extra monthly fee.