Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Chamblee
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-issued 65 or 95-gallon cart Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged before being placed in the cart. Loose trash causes messy delays. Carts must be placed at the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the day before, and by 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Sealed boxes of broken glass
City-issued 65-gallon cart Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be cleaned, dried, and placed loose directly into the recycling cart. Do not bag recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Food-grade aluminum cans
- ✓Rinsed tin or steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic bags (do not bag recycling)
- ✕Food and liquids
- ✕Scrap metal or car parts
Yard Waste Bin
Limbs must be cut into 4-foot lengths and no larger than 6 inches in diameter. Piles cannot exceed 5' x 5' x 5'. Leaf debris is collected by a separate truck the day after regular sanitation.
Accepted Items
- ✓Limbs and branches
- ✓Brush
- ✓Leaves (collected separately)
- ✓Bagged dirt, sand, and mulch
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand (Special Pickup by appointment)
Placement
Items should be placed curbside. Do not place items out until you have scheduled the pickup and paid the required fees.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, recliners, and sleeper sofas
- ✓ Washing machines and dryers
- ✓ Refrigerators and items containing Freon
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large brush piles and yard debris over 5 feet
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor-generated waste
- ✕ Landscaping debris from hired professionals
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
A base fee of $75 is applied to every Special Pickup. In addition to the base fee, per-item fees apply (e.g., $100 for a refrigerator, $85 for a couch, $65 per mattress/box spring pair).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Chamblee often shifts Monday routes to Wednesday during Monday holidays. For Thursday/Friday holidays (like Thanksgiving), Thursday routes are usually collected on Wednesday, and Friday routes shift to Monday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection is completely suspended during the weeks of Thanksgiving and the Winter Holiday (Christmas).
The city publishes a highly specific annual 'Holiday Sanitation Schedule' on their website detailing the exact shift for every single holiday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Sticks Out of Leaf Piles
Sticks, twigs, and rocks clog and severely damage Chamblee's specialized leaf vacuum trucks. Ensure your leaf piles are completely free of rigid foreign objects, or crews will leave the pile and tag your door.
No Glass in the Recycle Cart
Glass bottles and jars are strictly prohibited in the recycling cart. Take intact glass to a local drop-off center. If you have broken household glass, place it in a sealed box marked 'Broken Glass' in your regular garbage cart.
Empty Liquids to Prevent Pollution
The city mandates that all liquids must be emptied from bags and containers prior to disposal. Keeping cart lids completely closed prevents these liquids from spilling and causing non-point source pollution in Chamblee's waterways.
Seasonal Information
Fall
October to DecemberDuring peak leaf season, remember that leaf debris is collected the day after your regular sanitation day. Ensure piles are placed at the curb, free of sticks and mulch, to be collected by the vacuum trucks.
Winter
November to JanuaryDuring the Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday (Christmas) weeks, standard yard waste collection is completely suspended so crews can focus on shifting garbage and recycling routes.
Spring
March to MaySpring landscaping projects often generate excess debris. If your yard waste pile exceeds the 5' x 5' x 5' limit, or if limbs are longer than 4 feet, it will be classified as a Special Pickup requiring a minimum $85 additional fee.
About Chamblee Waste Management
Chamblee's Comprehensive Four-Day Collection
The City of Chamblee Public Works Department manages a streamlined residential sanitation program operating four days a week. Each household is assigned a specific collection day when both household garbage and recycling are collected simultaneously. A unique feature of Chamblee's service is its dedicated leaf debris collection, which takes place the day following your primary collection day to ensure organic waste is handled efficiently.
Strict 'Special Pickup' Fees for Bulk Waste
Unlike some neighboring municipalities that offer free bulk allowances, Chamblee requires residents to schedule and pre-pay for all bulky item removals through their 'Special Pickup' program. The city charges a flat $75 base fee just to dispatch the truck, plus additional per-item charges (such as $85 for a couch or $100 for a refrigerator). Payments must be finalized before the Public Works crew will remove the items.
Separate Handling for Leaves and Brush
Chamblee makes a strict distinction between general yard waste (like limbs and brush) and loose leaf piles. Standard yard brush is collected on your normal trash day and must be sized no larger than 5' x 5' x 5'. However, loose leaves are vacuumed by a specialized leaf truck on the day after your regular trash pickup. Mixing sticks, rocks, or vines into your leaf pile will damage the vacuum machinery, and crews will leave a 'sanitation tag' instead of collecting it.
Glass Banned from Curbside Recycling
To maintain the quality of recyclable paper and cardboard, Chamblee has banned glass bottles and jars from the curbside recycling carts. Broken glass severely contaminates sorting lines. Residents must instead utilize local glass drop-off centers for intact bottles, while broken household glass should be boxed, sealed, labeled 'Broken Glass,' and placed with regular garbage.
Drop-off Facilities
DeKalb County Seminole Road Landfill
4203 Clevemont Road, Ellenwood, GA 30294
Materials Accepted
DeKalb North Transfer Station
4600 Buford Highway, Chamblee, GA 30341
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup in Chamblee?
You must schedule a 'Special Pickup' by filling out the online request form or calling Public Works at 770-986-5019. Chamblee charges a $75 base fee plus specific per-item fees (like $85 for a couch). All fees must be paid prior to removal.
Why did the city leave a sanitation tag on my leaf pile?
If you receive a tag on your leaf pile, it usually means foreign objects like sticks, rocks, mulch, or vines were found mixed in. These items damage the city's specialized leaf vacuum trucks, so crews will not collect the pile until the debris is removed.
Can I put glass bottles in my Chamblee recycling cart?
No. Glass bottles and jars are strictly banned from Chamblee's curbside recycling carts. You should take intact glass to a nearby glass drop-off center. Broken household glass must be boxed, sealed, labeled 'Broken Glass,' and thrown in the regular garbage.
When does Chamblee collect yard waste and leaves?
Standard yard waste (limbs cut to 4 feet, piles up to 5'x5'x5') is collected on your regular sanitation day. However, loose leaf debris is collected by a specialized leaf truck on the day following your regular garbage collection day.