Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Columbus
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.
Black or Brown cart (City-issued) Bin (Trash)
All household waste MUST be contained inside a city-issued cart with the lid closed. Place at the curb by 7:00 AM on your scheduled service day, keeping it 3 feet from other objects.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Blue 65-gallon cart Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be placed loosely in the blue cart (no plastic bags). You must call 311 to request the delivery of a new 65-gallon cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (#1-#7)
- ✓Clean paper, envelopes, and magazines
- ✓Flattened small cardboard
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Glass bottles
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Large oversized cardboard boxes
- ✕Food waste
Yard Waste Bin
Use the green rolling cart. Any excess yard waste must be placed in biodegradable paper bags or black contractor bags. Place curbside by 7:30 AM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Pine needles
- ✓Tree and shrub trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once per week on your regular collection day.
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb before 7:00 AM on your standard collection day. Ensure items are kept at least 3 feet away from your garbage carts, mailboxes, and parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Large household appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Bulk furniture (sofas, dressers)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Up to 5 passenger vehicle tires per household (must be off the rim)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition materials (bricks, concrete, lumber)
- ✕ Propane or oxygen cylinders
- ✕ Vehicle or marine batteries
- ✕ Hazardous waste or drums that contained fluids
Standard bulk collection is free. However, if you cut down a tree on private property, you must pay a 'Tree For Fee' charge of $50 per load plus a tipping fee for the city to remove the debris.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Columbus utilizes a specific Wednesday Make-Up Day schedule. If a holiday disrupts your regular collection day, your trash will typically be picked up on the Wednesday of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Because Columbus operates a same-day collection system, your yard waste, recycling, and bulk waste will all follow the exact same Wednesday make-up schedule as your regular garbage.
Download the 'Columbus GA Recycles' smartphone app for real-time push notifications regarding specific holiday schedule shifts for your address.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Never place your recyclables inside plastic garbage bags. Loose plastic grocery bags and film wrap easily tangle the sorting equipment at the Columbus recycling facility, causing costly mechanical shutdowns.
Large Cardboard Requires Drop-Off
The new automated blue carts cannot accommodate oversized cardboard boxes. If you have large TV or appliance boxes, do not jam them into the blue bin; take them to the drop-off trailer at Cooper Creek Park or the Pine Grove Recycling Center.
Yard Waste Must Stay Pure
Do not mix household garbage or plastic wrappers with your yard debris. If your green yard waste cart is full, use biodegradable paper bags or heavy-duty black contractor bags for overflow, but never standard kitchen trash bags.
Seasonal Information
Year-Round Holidays
All YearColumbus uses a unique Wednesday make-up day system for most observed holidays. If a holiday falls on your standard collection day, your route will generally be serviced on the Wednesday of that same week.
Fall
October to DecemberDuring peak leaf-drop season, ensure all excess leaves that do not fit in your green cart are packed neatly into biodegradable paper bags. Leaves raked directly into the street gutters will not be collected by the city.
Winter
November to JanuaryHoliday cooking results in excess fats, oils, and grease. Never pour these down your drain. Instead, utilize one of the 11 grease recycling drop-off locations maintained by Columbus Water Works.
About Columbus Waste Management
Columbus’s Unified Same-Day Waste Collection System
To simplify residential service, the Columbus Integrated Waste Division operates on a strictly unified collection schedule. This means all of your curbside services—household garbage, automated recycling, yard trimmings, and bulky items—are picked up on the exact same day each week. Just ensure all your designated carts are lined up at the curb by 7:00 AM on your specific neighborhood's service day.
Mandatory City-Issued Carts Rule
As of late 2024, Columbus instituted a strict policy requiring all household garbage to be placed inside a city-issued black or brown rolling cart. Garbage left at the curb in personal cans or loose plastic bags will be left behind by the collection trucks. If your household consistently generates more trash than the standard black cart holds, you can easily purchase an additional brown cart for a one-time fee of $55 by contacting the 311 Citizens Service Center.
Upgrading to Automated 65-Gallon Recycling
Columbus has modernized its recycling program by phasing out the old 18-gallon open bins in favor of automated 65-gallon blue carts. However, these new carts are not delivered automatically; residents must proactively call 311 to request one. Keep in mind that large corrugated cardboard boxes will no longer fit in the automated trucks. Break down small boxes to fit loosely inside the blue cart, and take any oversized cardboard directly to a city recycling drop-off trailer.
Navigating Large Limb Removals with the 'Tree For Fee' Program
Standard weekly yard waste collection easily handles your grass clippings, leaves, and small pruning debris inside the green cart. However, if you are cutting down an entire tree on your private property, standard municipal crews will not haul it away for free. Columbus residents can arrange for the city's special 'Tree For Fee' collection by calling 311. This service costs a flat rate of $50 per load, plus a $76.50 per ton tipping fee, saving you the hassle of renting a private dumpster.
Disposing of Construction Debris and Inert Waste
Heavy renovation materials like bricks, roofing shingles, and toilets are banned from standard bulk collection. Depending on what you are disposing of, you must utilize one of Columbus's two specialized municipal landfills. The Granite Bluff Inert Landfill on River Road handles natural earth materials, rocks, and cured asphalt, while the Pine Grove Landfill is the designated drop-off site for all other construction, demolition, and remodeling debris.
Drop-off Facilities
Pine Grove Landfill
7900 Pine Grove Way, Columbus, GA 31907
Materials Accepted
Granite Bluff Inert Landfill
7859 River Road, Columbus, GA 31829
Materials Accepted
Cooper Creek Park Recycling Drop-Off
4816 Milgen Road, Columbus, GA 31907
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get one of the new blue recycling carts in Columbus?
Residents must actively order the new automated 65-gallon blue recycling cart by calling the 311 Citizens Service Center at 706-653-4000. The old 18-gallon open bins are no longer serviced and can be repurposed for home composting.
Can I use my own trash can for household garbage?
No. As of September 2024, all household garbage must be placed inside a city-issued black or brown rolling cart. Waste left outside the cart in personal cans or loose bags will be ignored by collection crews. You can purchase an additional brown cart for a one-time fee of $55 via 311.
How does the Columbus holiday trash schedule work?
Unlike cities that shift collection by one day all week, Columbus Integrated Waste typically utilizes a Wednesday make-up day system. If your normal collection day falls on a holiday like Labor Day or Memorial Day, your route will usually be serviced on the Wednesday of that same week.
Will the city pick up a tree I cut down in my yard?
Standard weekly yard waste collection does not cover large trees cut on private property. However, you can call 311 to request a 'Tree For Fee' pickup. This municipal service will clear the debris for $50 per load plus a $76.50 per ton tipping fee.