Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Athens
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.
Blue bin with a black lid Bin (Trash)
Trash must ALWAYS be bagged. The roll-cart must be at the street by 7:00 AM on collection day with the lid completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household trash
- ✓Non-hazardous waste
- ✓Food wrappers
Green bin with a yellow lid Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be kept loose (never bagged). Keep the cart at least 2 feet away from other objects.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Metal cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Stretchy film plastic
- ✕Bubble wrap
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Liquid waste
- ✕Glass (take to CHaRM)
Yard Waste Bin
Leaves and grass must be in paper lawn bags (no plastic). Place curbside by 8:00 AM on the Monday of your 4-week rotational collection week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Pine straw
- ✓Small brush
- ✓Limbs up to 4 inches in diameter and 6 feet long
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to 4 free pickups per year for eligible residential customers.
Placement
Place between curb and sidewalk by 7:00 AM on pick-up day, but no earlier than 24 hours prior. Keep 50 feet away from intersections and 10 feet from fire hydrants.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Large electronics (TVs)
- ✓ Rugs (cut and bundled)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Propane tanks (take to CHaRM)
- ✕ Yard waste
- ✕ Loose glass or ceramic
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Hazardous materials
No fee for the first four pick-ups annually. Subsequent pick-ups or non-standard items incur special pick-up fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collections are suspended on observed holidays. Pickups for the remainder of the week typically shift by one day. Downtown District services usually remain on the regular schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
Leaf and limb pick-ups may be altered or delayed by major holidays, severe weather events, or staffing issues.
Service suspensions apply to compost, garbage, recycling, and leaf & limb collections for ACC Solid Waste customers.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ban the Stretchy Plastics
Never put grocery bags, bubble wrap, or plastic film pillows in your green recycling bin. These 'tanglers' jam the sorting machinery at the Athens recycling facility. Take them to CHaRM instead.
Keep Recyclables Loose
Bagging your recyclables is a quick way to contaminate the load. Ensure all paper, cans, and cardboard are placed loosely into your green bin with the yellow lid.
Overflow Requires Stickers
Any loose garbage outside of the blue trash cart is considered overflow and will not be collected unless it is bagged and tagged with a visible, prepaid ACC overflow sticker ($2 per extra bag).
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
November to JanuaryDuring heavy leaf-fall season, yard waste crews operate on a 4-week zone rotation. Do not place yard debris curbside more than 10 days before your scheduled Monday.
Post-Holidays
Late December to JanuaryLive, undecorated Christmas trees can be dropped off at the ACC Landfill or designated 'Bring One for the Chipper' event sites to be turned into mulch.
Spring/Summer
May to AugustDuring hot, humid Georgia summers, ensure your blue trash bins are securely bagged and the lids tightly closed to prevent pests and odor accumulation.
About Athens Waste Management
Athens-Clarke County’s Dual-Zone Collection System
Athens-Clarke County operates under a unique split-service model. Residents residing within the Urban Service District (USD) receive direct garbage and recycling collection from the ACC Solid Waste Department. Meanwhile, homes in the General Service District (GSD) must arrange their curbside services through authorized franchised private haulers. Make sure you confirm your service zone to ensure your waste management needs are seamlessly met.
Strict Paper Bag Rules for Leaf & Limb Debris
Maintaining Athens’ beautiful canopy and landscapes comes with specific disposal rules. For residential yard waste, the ACC Solid Waste Department strictly prohibits plastic bags. All grass clippings, pine straw, and leaves must be packed in biodegradable paper lawn refuse bags. Limbs and branches must be stacked neatly at the curb—no longer than six feet and no wider than four inches in diameter—ready for the specialized 4-week rotational leaf and limb pickup.
Navigating Bulky Waste Rules and Free Pickups
Upgrading your furniture or clearing out the garage? Athens residents are eligible for up to four free bulky waste pickups per year. Acceptable items range from mattresses and sofas to major appliances, but must be scheduled in advance online or by calling 706-613-3501. Keep your bulk piles away from low-hanging wires, hydrants, and pedestrian walkways, and always separate scrap metal so it can be successfully recycled.
The CHaRM Facility: Athens' Solution for Hard-to-Recycle Items
Not everything belongs in your curbside roll-cart. The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM), located on College Avenue, is Athens' premier drop-off destination for complex waste. From tricky tanglers like stretchy film plastics and grocery bags to electronics and secure document shredding, CHaRM helps the county push toward its zero-waste goals by processing items that would otherwise jam up the main recycling facility's sorting machines.
Drop-off Facilities
Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM)
1005 College Ave, Athens, GA 30601
Materials Accepted
ACC Landfill
5700 Lexington Rd, Winterville, GA 30683
Materials Accepted
ACC Solid Waste Department (Admin & Overflow Stickers)
725 Hancock Industrial Way, Athens, GA 30605
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who picks up my trash in Athens-Clarke County?
If you live in the Urban Service District (USD), the Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department handles your garbage and recycling. Residents in the General Service District (GSD) must hire a franchised private hauler for curbside services.
What should I do if my garbage doesn't fit in my blue roll-cart?
All trash must be bagged and fit inside the blue roll-cart with the lid closed. Any bags left outside the cart are considered overflow and will only be collected if they display a visible, prepaid ACC overflow sticker, which costs $2 per bag.
How do I correctly dispose of yard clippings and leaves?
ACC Solid Waste requires all grass, small brush, and leaves to be placed in paper lawn refuse bags. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited. Your paper bags and stacked limbs (up to 4 inches thick) should be at the curb by 8:00 AM on the Monday of your designated 4-week zone collection.
Where can I recycle plastic grocery bags in Athens?
Plastic bags and stretchy films cannot go in your green curbside recycling bin because they tangle in the sorting machines. Instead, drop them off at the CHaRM facility at 1005 College Avenue or use the specialized recycling bins at local grocery stores.