Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Cartersville
Trash Day
Trash is collected Monday through Friday based on your assigned residential street route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected bi-weekly (assigned as Schedule A or Schedule B) on the same day as your regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Brush and yard waste are collected weekly on your regular collection day, along with seasonal curbside bulk leaf collection.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside solid waste fees are billed alongside your municipal water, gas, and electric services on your unified monthly city utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person, Night Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
A discounted Senior Rate on residential solid waste is available for eligible residents aged 65 and older.
City-Issued Cart Bin (Trash)
Place all household garbage securely inside the provided city cart. Ensure the lid is fully closed to keep out rain and wildlife. Do not leave loose bags on the ground, as automated trucks require all material to be contained within the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Standard non-recyclable materials
City-Issued Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected every other week based on your assigned Schedule A or Schedule B calendar. Place approved items loosely inside the cart. Do not bag your recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Food-soiled paper (e.g., greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
From Nov 1 to Mar 31, loose leaves may be piled near the sidewalk (never in the street). Year-round, grass clippings and small debris must be placed in biodegradable paper bags or a dedicated yard waste cart purchased from the city.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small brush and twigs
- ✓Tree trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Self-Haul to County Centers
Placement
Do not leave bulky junk at the curb expecting municipal collection. Haul the items directly to a Bartow County facility, making sure to bring a valid ID.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Large broken-down boxes
Not Accepted
- ✕ Commercial construction waste
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals and liquid paint
- ✕ Automotive engine parts
Cartersville residents can drop off up to 80 cubic feet (about one standard pickup truck load) per day free of charge at county collection centers. Larger loads will be redirected to the landfill and may incur standard tonnage fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after a major city-observed holiday, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Monday moves to Tuesday).
Yard Waste Exception
Brush and yard waste pickup routes are frequently suspended during the first half of a holiday week and generally resume on the Wednesday or Thursday following the holiday.
Always refer to the official City of Cartersville Holiday Schedule PDF published on the Public Works website to confirm exact shift dates, as they are updated annually.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
November - MarchThe City of Cartersville operates its bulk leaf pickup program during these months. You may pile loose leaves safely near the curb or sidewalk, ensuring they do not spill over into the roadway or block pedestrian pathways.
Winter Holidays
December - JanuaryDuring the weeks of Christmas and New Year's Day, standard trash and recycling routes are typically delayed by one day. Additionally, brush and yard waste collections may be temporarily suspended early in the week to accommodate the holiday shift.
Spring/Summer
April - OctoberBulk loose leaf collection is officially suspended during the warmer months. All yard waste, including grass clippings from routine mowing, must be placed in a city-approved yard waste can or in biodegradable bags.
Local Tips & Community Info
Cartersville Public Works & Weekly Garbage Rules
The City of Cartersville Public Works Department ensures local neighborhoods stay pristine by providing reliable weekly refuse collection. To make sure your household trash is collected, your city-issued roll cart must be at the curb by 6:00 AM on your assigned service day. Positioning matters: face the cart toward the street, ensure the lid is fully closed, and maintain at least three feet of clearance from mailboxes, parked cars, and utility poles. Additionally, the city requires that all loose household waste be bagged inside the cart to prevent litter. If your bin is overflowing and the lid cannot shut, the automated trucks will bypass it. Do not forget to roll your empty container back to your house by the end of the collection day.
Curbside Recycling Guidelines and Contamination
Participating in Cartersville’s recycling program helps reduce local landfill dependency, but strict adherence to material guidelines is critical. You can place flattened corrugated cardboard, mixed paper, aluminum and steel cans, and plastic containers clearly marked with a #1 or #2 recycling symbol into your bin. Contamination is a major issue; putting incorrect items in your recycling cart can result in the entire load being diverted to the landfill. You must completely exclude glass bottles, styrofoam packaging, plastic grocery bags, and food-soiled containers from the curbside recycling stream. If you need to dispose of glass or textiles, they should be taken to designated drop-off facilities.
Managing Yard Debris and the Winter Leaf Program
Keeping your lawn tidy in Cartersville means dealing with seasonal yard waste. Residents have the option to purchase a dedicated yard waste can directly from the city for convenient weekly collections. If you generate heavy yard debris during the fall, the city runs a specialized Bulk Leaf Pickup program from early November through late March, which operates on the same schedule as your standard household trash collection. Outside of this winter window, standard brush and yard waste rules apply, meaning you must prepare your debris according to Public Works' sizing and bundling requirements so it does not block public sidewalks.
Proper Handling of Bulk Refuse and Prohibited Items
Standard garbage trucks are not equipped to crush construction materials or hazardous waste. Cartersville residents are strictly prohibited from tossing tires, electronics, wet paint, or building debris into their curbside roll carts. If you have oversized household furniture or appliances that do not fit in a standard bin, you will need to coordinate a special bulk collection or haul the items to a local Bartow County disposal facility. Adhering to these disposal restrictions protects the sanitation workers and ensures dangerous chemicals do not leak into the community's soil.
Sanitation Delays During City Holidays
The Public Works Department observes a set schedule of major holidays throughout the year. When a recognized holiday lands on a weekday, Cartersville's residential garbage and recycling routes are typically delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. For example, if a holiday falls on a Monday, all collections shift forward, ending with Friday routes being serviced on Saturday. Residents can always download the current year's holiday sanitation calendar directly from the city's official website to stay informed about temporary schedule changes.
Drop-off Facilities
Bartow County Landfill
40 Allatoona Dam Rd, Cartersville, GA 30120
Materials Accepted
Cedar Creek Collection Center
159 Cedar Creek Rd, Cartersville, GA 30121
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should my trash cart be at the curb in Cartersville?
Your city-issued roll cart needs to be placed at the curb no later than 6:00 AM on your scheduled pickup day, and it must be removed by the end of that same day.
Can I put glass in my Cartersville recycling bin?
No, glass is not accepted in the municipal curbside recycling program. It must be taken to a specialized drop-off recycling center.
How does yard waste collection work?
Residents can purchase a specific yard waste can from the city for weekly pickups. Additionally, a seasonal Bulk Leaf Pickup program runs parallel to your normal trash schedule from November through March.