Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Candler-McAfee
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.
Green Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged and fit entirely within the 95-gallon county-issued cart. No liquids, construction materials, or hazardous waste are permitted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loosely in the blue cart. Do not bag your recyclables. Ensure heavy food residue is rinsed away before disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Mixed paper
- ✓Flattened cardboard (up to 10 boxes)
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers (#1 and #2 ONLY)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7
Yard Waste Bin
Use biodegradable paper bags or a personal metal/plastic container (up to 40 gallons). Do not use plastic bags or county-issued rollout carts for yard trimmings.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Branches and limbs (max 4 ft length, max 25 lbs)
- ✓Tree parts under 3 inches in diameter
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By request only
Placement
Place items safely curbside, ensuring they do not block sidewalks, mailboxes, or utility lines. Do not place items in the public roadway.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, chairs, dressers)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Toilets and bathroom fixtures
- ✓ Appliances (doors removed, fully empty)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Concrete, dirt, or rocks
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Propane tanks and batteries
- ✕ Landlord eviction cleanouts
- ✕ Logs over 3 inches in diameter
Certain items, like unflattened cardboard, large tree parts, or excessive waste piles exceeding standard household amounts, will require a paid special collection assessment fee before pickup.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
DeKalb County delays sanitation collection by one day for holidays falling on weekdays. For example, Monday collections move to Tuesday, and Friday collections move to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard trimmings and recycling follow the exact same one-day delay schedule as standard garbage collection.
Always ensure your carts are set at the curb by 7:00 AM on the adjusted holiday service day, as route times often vary.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Glass Out of Your Blue Cart
Glass breaks during transit and ruins bales of perfectly good paper and cardboard. Take glass jars and bottles to the Central Transfer Station or another DeKalb County glass drop-off site.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Leave approved plastics (#1 and #2), metals, and paper loose in the blue bin. Plastic bags jam the complex gears at the county's material recovery facility.
Flatten All Cardboard Boxes
You can place up to 10 flattened boxes out for weekly collection. Leaving boxes fully constructed or putting out excessive amounts will trigger a special bulky collection fee.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June to AugustThe hot and humid Georgia summers mean rapid odor build-up and increased pest activity in your green trash carts. Ensure all household garbage is tightly tied in secure plastic bags, as DeKalb County prohibits loose garbage or liquids.
Fall
October to DecemberAs autumn leaves drop, strictly use only biodegradable paper bags or open metal/plastic containers under 40 gallons for yard trimmings. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited and will be left at the curb.
Winter
January to FebruaryOccasional winter storms or freezing rain in the greater Atlanta area can delay routes. If weather suspensions occur, sanitation crews will typically resume service the next scheduled business day.
About Candler-McAfee Waste Management
Unincorporated DeKalb County Sanitation Services
Because Candler-McAfee is an unincorporated census-designated place, residents rely directly on the DeKalb County Sanitation Division for all solid waste removal. Your annual assessment fee covers weekly curbside service, which includes standard garbage, optional recycling, and yard trimmings, all picked up efficiently on a single designated day.
Strict One-Cart Policy for Household Garbage
To maintain rapid and automated route efficiency, all household trash in Candler-McAfee must fit inside your green 95-gallon roll cart. DeKalb County crews will not collect loose garbage bags or personal trash cans left on the curb. Ensure all refuse is tightly bagged before placing it in the cart to deter local pests and minimize odors.
Glass and Plastic Bag Recycling Bans
Candler-McAfee homes are provided with single-stream recycling through a free 35-gallon or upgraded 65-gallon blue cart, but strict contamination rules apply. Glass of any kind and plastic film bags are entirely banned from your curbside recycling. Residents must take glass to DeKalb's designated drop-off centers and return plastic bags to local grocery and retail stores.
Managing Yard Debris During Heavy Growing Seasons
Given Georgia's lush, humid climate, managing seasonal yard waste is a critical part of property upkeep. Limbs and branches must be cut to four feet or less, securely bundled, and weigh no more than 25 pounds per piece. Avoid placing any dirt, rocks, or large logs over three inches in diameter in yard waste piles, as this will lead to a rejected pickup or require a special collection fee.
Drop-off Facilities
Seminole Road Landfill
4203 Clevemont Road, Ellenwood, GA 30294
Materials Accepted
Central Transfer Station
3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur, GA 30032
Materials Accepted
CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials)
Atlanta, GA (check livethrive.org for exact facility addresses)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator in Candler-McAfee?
You must submit a bulky item request to the DeKalb County Sanitation Division. Be sure to completely empty the appliance and remove all doors for child safety reasons before placing it neatly at the curb.
Can I put out extra garbage bags next to my green cart?
No. DeKalb County requires all trash to fit securely inside the 95-gallon roll cart. Excess bags left on the ground will not be collected unless you request and pay for a special collection assessment.
Does Candler-McAfee provide a separate bin for yard trimmings?
No, residents must use their own personal metal or plastic containers (up to 40 gallons) or biodegradable paper bags. Never put yard trimmings in your county-issued garbage or recycling carts.
Why didn't the county pick up my recycling bin?
Your bin may have been flagged for severe contamination. Common reasons include bagging your recyclables, placing glass bottles in the cart, or mixing in prohibited plastics (only #1 and #2 are allowed in the blue bin).