Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Douglasville
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.
Green City-Issued Cart (90-gallon or 65-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Cart lid must be completely closed. Place at the curb by 7:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. Excess bags require a prepaid city sticker.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Bagged trash
Drop-Off Only Bin (Recycling)
Curbside recycling has been discontinued. Residents must take recyclables to the Douglasville Recycling Center. Materials must be pre-sorted, clean, dry, and empty.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean #1 & #2 consumer plastic containers
- ✓Flattened cardboard and brown paper bags
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Food grade glass jars and bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastics #3 - #7
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film
- ✕Aerosol cans
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Household hazardous waste
- ✕Glass drinkware, cookware, or mirrors
Yard Waste Bin
Picked up weekly on your scheduled sanitation day. Leaves and grass must be in biodegradable or compostable bags (max 50 lbs). No plastic bags. No large trees, stumps, or animal waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged leaves and grass clippings
- ✓Tree branches (6 inches or less in diameter, up to 5 feet long)
- ✓Brush
- ✓Garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand (By request only)
Placement
You must call the Sanitation Department ahead of time to schedule the special pickup and pay the required fee before placing the items at the curb.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and bulky furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ General household appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators)
- ✓ Large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Car batteries
- ✕ Construction debris (brick, concrete, roofing)
- ✕ Hazardous waste and paint
- ✕ Automotive fluids
There is a minimum fee of $25 for special bulky item pickups.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If the city observes a holiday on your normal pickup day, collection dates for the remainder of the week may be altered and delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is picked up on the same adjusted schedule as your household garbage during holiday weeks.
During holiday weeks with altered schedules, missed pick-ups might not be corrected until the following week due to heavy volumes. Always check the city's official notification flyers.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Plastic Bags for Yard Waste
The city will leave your yard waste at the curb if it is packed in plastic bags. You must use biodegradable or compostable paper bags for all grass clippings, leaves, and garden debris to ensure successful collection.
Respect the Closed-Lid Policy
An overflowing trash cart with an open lid is considered contaminated and may be skipped by the automated trucks. If you have more trash than fits inside, use a tagged overflow bag with a city sticker or rent an additional bin.
Keep Film and Foam Out of Drop-Offs
When visiting the local recycling center, ensure no plastic grocery bags, plastic film, or styrofoam makes its way into the bins. These items clog the sorting machinery at recycling facilities and are strictly prohibited.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to JanuaryChristmas trees can be placed at the curb separate from household garbage for recycling on your scheduled pick-up day for two weeks after Christmas. Alternatively, trees can be taken to a 'Bring One for the Chipper' drop-off event.
Spring and Fall
March to May, September to NovemberDo not hold onto yard waste for a designated 'Spring Cleanup' or 'Fall Cleanup' day. Douglasville collects compliant yard debris weekly on your normal sanitation day, so put it out as you generate it.
Major Holidays
Year-RoundDue to increased waste volume during holiday weeks, missed pick-ups may not be serviced until the following week. Always have your cart at the curb by 7:00 AM to avoid being skipped.
About Douglasville Waste Management
Municipal Solid Waste Services in Douglasville
The City of Douglasville's Public Services Department directly manages residential garbage collection within city limits. Residents are typically provided with a 90-gallon cart for weekly household trash disposal. Qualifying seniors also have the option to downsize to a 65-gallon cart for a reduced monthly rate. To ensure a clean neighborhood, all trash must fit inside the provided cart with the lid completely closed.
Navigating the Switch to Drop-Off Recycling
Douglasville officially phased out residential curbside recycling, collecting the old bins in early 2026. However, environmentally conscious residents can still actively recycle by bringing their sorted materials to the Douglasville Recycling Center on Cedar Mountain Road. This self-service facility accepts flattened cardboard, clean paper, #1 and #2 plastics, aluminum and steel cans, and food-grade glass bottles, promoting responsible waste diversion outside of the curbside system.
How to Handle Excess Household Garbage
Because the city strictly enforces a 'closed-lid' policy for its garbage carts, residents cannot simply place extra trash bags on the curb for free. If you have excess waste that will not fit into your 90-gallon bin, you must place it in closed plastic bags tagged with an official City of Douglasville Sanitation Sticker. These stickers are available for purchase at City Hall in batches of five. Alternatively, households that consistently generate excess waste can rent a second cart for a nominal monthly fee.
Strict Guidelines for Yard Debris Collection
Douglasville makes yard maintenance easier by collecting yard waste weekly on the same day as regular sanitation routes. However, there are firm rules to follow: all grass clippings and leaves must be packed in biodegradable or compostable bags weighing no more than 50 pounds. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited. Tree branches must measure no larger than six inches in diameter and five feet in length, stacked neatly at the curb.
Scheduling Bulky Item and Appliance Removal
When it is time to get rid of an old couch, mattress, or broken washing machine, the city offers a special large-item pickup service. This is not a free weekly feature; residents must contact the Sanitation Department in advance to schedule the collection. There is a minimum fee of $25 for special pickups, ensuring that oversized items are transported safely without disrupting the regular automated truck routes.
Drop-off Facilities
Douglasville Recycling Center
8145 Cedar Mountain Road, Douglasville, GA 30134
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my garbage doesn't fit in the city-issued cart?
All garbage must fit inside the cart with the lid completely closed. If you have excess waste, you must put it in closed plastic bags tagged with an official City of Douglasville Sanitation Sticker (sold at City Hall for $1 each) and place them next to your cart. You can also rent an additional cart for a monthly fee.
Why didn't the city pick up my curbside recycling bin?
The City of Douglasville discontinued residential curbside recycling services. To recycle cardboard, paper, glass, and approved plastics, you must now bring them directly to the Douglasville Recycling Center located at 8145 Cedar Mountain Road.
Can I use plastic bags for my grass clippings and leaves?
No. The city strictly prohibits the use of plastic bags for yard waste. All leaves, grass, and garden debris must be placed in biodegradable or compostable bags, each weighing no more than 50 pounds.
How do I throw away an old mattress or washing machine in Douglasville?
For large, bulky items like furniture and appliances, the city offers a special pickup service for a minimum fee of $25. You cannot simply leave these items by your garbage cart; you must call the Sanitation Department at (770) 920-3005 to schedule and pay for the collection.