Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Columbus
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected once weekly on the same day as your household garbage pickup.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected once weekly on the same day as your household garbage pickup.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential solid waste and recycling fees are billed monthly and appear directly on your Columbus Water Works utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
A 25% low-income rate reduction is available for eligible households meeting federal poverty guidelines.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Residential Refuse Collection in Columbus
The Columbus Consolidated Government's Integrated Waste division provides robust garbage, recycling, and yard waste services to keep local neighborhoods beautiful. Through a systematic curbside program, each household is assigned specific days for various waste streams. Knowing your designated pickup schedule prevents unsightly trash buildup and helps city crews maintain efficiency. If you are unsure of your local route, residents can easily dial 311 to confirm their collection days. Staying informed ensures a cleaner community and prevents unwanted pests from foraging through missed bins.
Strict Cart Placement and Timing Requirements
To accommodate the city's automated garbage trucks, households must roll their black or brown trash carts to the curb before 7:00 a.m. on the day of service. The position of the cart is just as important as the timing. The wheels must rest against the curb with the handle pointing toward your residence. Furthermore, ensure there is a minimum three-foot clearance around the bin, keeping it far away from parked cars, recycling carts, and mailboxes. Refuse placed outside the official cart will simply be left behind, so ensure all household garbage fits completely inside the container.
What Goes Inside the Blue 65-Gallon Recycling Cart
Columbus strongly encourages community recycling but relies on residents to sort correctly. The city utilizes a 65-gallon blue cart system for single-stream recyclables. Acceptable items include loose cardboard, paper products, aluminum cans, and plastics. A critical rule to remember is that recyclables should never be placed in plastic grocery bags, as the film jams the heavy sorting machinery at the processing facility. If you are still relying on an older 18-gallon bin, you must upgrade by contacting the 311 Citizens Service Center to request the newer, automated-friendly blue cart.
Disposing of Heavy Furniture and Yard Debris
Getting rid of bulky household items or massive amounts of landscaping waste does not have to be a headache. Columbus schedules bulk waste and green yard debris collection on the same assigned day each week. Appliances and large furniture pieces should be brought to the curb, away from your standard bins. For yard waste, grass clippings and pine needles must go into your designated green rolling cart, completely free of any household garbage. Tree limbs can be neatly stacked nearby. However, if you are doing a home remodel, remember that construction materials like bricks and cement are prohibited from curbside pickup and must be hauled independently to the Pine Grove Landfill.
Dealing With Holiday Delays and Missed Pickups
Occasionally, a designated garbage route might run behind schedule due to inclement weather, holiday closures, or unforeseen mechanical issues. During major city-observed holidays, regular trash service is typically pushed back by one day for the remainder of that work week. If a holiday did not occur and your cart was skipped despite being placed out by 7:00 a.m., it is important to notify the city promptly. Residents should call 311 or reach out directly to 706-653-4000 to report the oversight, allowing the dispatch center to investigate the issue and send a recovery truck to your location.
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
What time should my garbage cart be at the curb in Columbus?
You must place your black or brown garbage cart at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Ensure it has at least three feet of clearance from other objects.
How do I dispose of construction debris in Columbus?
Construction and demolition materials such as bricks, concrete, and sand are strictly prohibited from curbside collection. Residents must take these materials to the Pine Grove Landfill for proper disposal.
Do I need to put my recycling in bags?
No. All recyclable materials must be placed loosely into your 65-gallon blue recycling cart. Plastic bags are forbidden because they tangle and damage the sorting equipment at the recycling center.