Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Decatur
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.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Decatur operates on a Pay-As-You-Throw system; annual base sanitation fees are billed via your city property taxes, while curbside trash must be disposed of in official city-purchased bags.
Billing Cycle
Biannually (included in city property tax installments due June 1 and December 20)
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Residents who qualify for the S-2 Homestead Exemption receive fee offsets and discounts on solid waste fees.
Green (Official Bags) or City-Approved Carts Bin (Trash)
All household trash must be enclosed in official City of Decatur green bags or an approved PAYT rolling cart. Place at the curb by 7:00 AM on your scheduled collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Broken ceramics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the blue cart. Do not bag your recyclables. Cardboard must be broken down to fit inside the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Mixed paper and mail
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (#'s 1-7)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Electronics
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in biodegradable paper yard bags or a reusable rigid container marked 'Yard Debris'. Limbs must be neatly stacked.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Pine straw
- ✓Tree limbs (under 4 feet long and 4 inches thick)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Request
Placement
Place items directly behind the curb the night before your scheduled bulk pickup. Ensure they do not block sidewalks, fire hydrants, or parked vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (doors removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Appliances containing Freon (unless certified evacuated)
Bulk pickup is not free. Fees must be prepaid. For exact rates per item, consult the current Decatur Public Works fee schedule.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a designated holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collection is typically delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Monday collection moves to Tuesday).
Yard Waste Exception
During holiday weeks, yard waste collection is often suspended entirely to allow crews to focus on elevated household trash and recycling volumes.
Schedules can change unexpectedly due to severe weather. Always check the Decatur Public Works homepage for the latest alerts.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn
November to JanuaryDecatur operates a seasonal loose-leaf vacuum program. During this window, residents can rake leaves directly to the curb (behind the curb line, out of the street and storm drains) for specialized truck collection.
Winter
Late December to JanuaryFollowing the holidays, the city provides designated drop-off locations for 'Bring One for the Chipper', Georgia's annual Christmas tree recycling event. Curbside pickup for bare trees is also offered during early January.
Spring
April to MayThe city typically hosts specialized electronics recycling and paper shredding events in the spring. This is the perfect time to clear out old hard drives, TVs, and sensitive documents safely.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating the City of Decatur Sanitation Services
The City of Decatur Public Works Department manages solid waste collection for residents, operating independently from DeKalb County's sanitation services. Household garbage, recycling, and yard waste are generally collected once a week on your designated service day. All sanitation items must be placed at the curb by 7:30 a.m. to guarantee collection, but you shouldn't place them out earlier than 5:00 p.m. the evening prior. Following these local rules helps maintain neighborhood cleanliness and keeps our city running smoothly.
The Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) System Explained
Unlike many municipalities that charge a flat fee for trash bins, Decatur uses a unique Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) model. This means you only pay for the garbage you actually produce. All regular household trash must be placed in official City of Decatur PAYT bags. These bags come in three sizes: 8-gallon green bags, 15-gallon yellow bags, and 33-gallon blue bags. You can purchase them at local retailers like Kroger, Publix, and Intown Hardware. If your trash isn't in an official PAYT bag, the sanitation crew will not collect it.
Decatur Recycling: Commingled and Glass Rules
Decatur has specific guidelines to keep the recycling stream clean. The city separates glass from commingled recycling. You should place your clean paper, cardboard, plastics, and aluminum into the green commingled bin. Glass bottles and jars belong exclusively in the red glass recycling bin, which prevents broken shards from contaminating other recyclable materials. Never bag your recyclables; items should be placed loosely in their respective bins. If you need a new recycling bin, residents can pick them up for free at the Public Works facility on Talley Street.
Yard Trimmings and Organic Waste Pickup
Yard waste is picked up on your regular sanitation day, but it must be prepared correctly. Grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs should be placed in biodegradable paper yard bags or dedicated reusable yard waste containers. Tree limbs and larger brush must be cut to manageable lengths (typically under four feet) and stacked neatly at the curb away from low-hanging wires or parked cars. Avoid mixing any plastic bags or household trash with your yard trimmings, as this will lead to a missed pickup.
Bulky Items and Neighborhood Cleanup Days
Getting rid of large furniture, mattresses, or appliances requires a bit of planning. Decatur hosts an annual Neighborhood Cleanup program every spring, assigning specific Saturdays to different neighborhoods for free bulk waste collection. During these events, you can leave bulky materials at the curb without using PAYT bags. For bulky item disposal outside of the spring cleanup schedule, residents must arrange a special pickup through the Public Works department, which typically incurs a specialized hauling fee based on the size of the load.
Holiday Schedule and Missed Pickups
When a major federal holiday falls on a weekday, the Decatur trash pickup schedule usually shifts by one day for the remainder of the week. Holidays affecting service include New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If your trash or recycling was put out correctly by 7:30 a.m. but was not collected by 3:30 p.m., you should contact the Decatur Public Works office right away to report a missed pickup and get your home rescheduled.
Drop-off Facilities
CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials)
1110 Hill St SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
Materials Accepted
Seminole Road Landfill
4203 Clevemont Rd, Ellenwood, GA 30294
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy official Decatur PAYT trash bags?
You can purchase official Pay-As-You-Throw bags at local grocery stores and hardware shops, including the Publix on N. Decatur Rd, Kroger, Intown Hardware, and Decatur City Hall.
Why was my recycling bin left at the curb?
Your recycling might have been left behind if it contained unapproved items like plastic bags, Styrofoam, or if glass was mixed into the green commingled bin instead of the designated red glass bin.
Does the city offer curbside composting?
The City of Decatur does not currently offer municipal curbside composting, but residents are highly encouraged to compost at home or utilize private local composting collection services.