Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Albany
Trash Day
Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route
Recycling
Drop-off only (available at Meredyth Drive and Albany Civic Center recycling centers; no residential curbside pickup)
Yard Waste
Twice a month
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day (or after 5:00 PM the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste and sanitation fees are billed monthly through your bundled Albany Utilities statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, Drive-Thru, In-Person, Night Deposit Box
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
How Albany’s Automated Garbage Collection Works
The City of Albany Solid Waste Division operates a modern, fully automated collection system for all residential garbage. To participate, homeowners must use the specific rollout barrels provided directly by the local government. The mechanized arms on the city's sanitation trucks are calibrated to these exact containers, meaning any personal bins or loose bags left on the ground will simply be ignored. All household refuse, including flattened cardboard boxes, must fit completely inside your designated barrel with the lid shut securely. If your family consistently produces more waste than a single bin can hold, you can easily request an additional container for a supplemental monthly fee by contacting the Solid Waste Division at (229) 302-1800.
Timings and Curb Placement Protocol
Properly positioning your barrel is vital for a seamless pickup. Albany municipal guidelines dictate that your container must be placed at the roadside no earlier than 5:00 PM on the evening before your assigned collection day. Likewise, empty bins must be removed from the curb and returned to your property no later than 7:00 PM on the day of collection. When positioning the cart, ensure the front of the barrel faces the street. Leave a minimum clearance of three feet around the bin, keeping it far away from utility poles, low-hanging tree branches, and mailboxes so the automated truck arm has an unobstructed reach.
Bi-Monthly Yard Debris Collection
Maintaining a beautiful lawn is easier with Albany's included yard waste service. The Solid Waste Division provides yard debris pickup twice a month for city residents. You should pile your seasonal yard trimmings, such as grass clippings, pine straw, and fallen leaves, adjacent to your regular garbage pickup site. It is critical that you do not mix household trash, construction debris, or plastics in with your organic yard waste. If the collection crew spots prohibited items mixed into the pile, they will tag it and refuse to collect it until the pile is properly sorted by the homeowner.
Free Roll-Off Boxes for Excess Trash
Sometimes you generate more refuse than usual, especially after a garage cleanout or family gathering. To assist residents with overflow trash, the City of Albany provides strategically placed roll-off boxes throughout the community. These heavy-duty public dumpsters are available at multiple convenient locations, including 1500 Palmyra Road (behind the fire station), Owens Avenue at Elva Street, 1712 Radium Springs Road, the Civic Center rear parking lot at 100 W Oglethorpe Boulevard, and near the park at 1401 Avalon Avenue. You can drop off your excess bagged trash for free at any time, but be aware that depositing used tires or hazardous chemicals in these dumpsters is strictly prohibited.
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
Can I set cardboard boxes next to my garbage barrel?
No, the city's automated trucks cannot pick up loose items. All cardboard boxes must be completely broken down and placed entirely inside your city-issued container.
How do I get an extra trash barrel in Albany?
You can order an additional garbage container by calling the City of Albany Solid Waste Division at (229) 302-1800. A recurring fee will be added to your account for the extra bin.
What are the allowed times for leaving my trash bin on the street?
You may roll your bin to the curb starting at 5:00 PM the day before your pickup, and it must be brought back to your house out of public view by 7:00 PM on collection day.