Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Gainesville
Trash Day
Garbage is collected once weekly, Monday through Thursday, depending on your street address.
Recycling
Collected once weekly on the same day as your garbage pickup.
Yard Waste
Yard waste and limbs must be bagged or bundled and scheduled for pickup by calling 770-532-0493; seasonal leaf vacuum collection runs October through January.
Set Out Time
By 6:30 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste and recycling service fees are bundled into your monthly City of Gainesville Department of Water Resources utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Bank Draft, Phone, Mail, Drive-Thru, In Person, or Night Deposit Box
City-issued waste receptacle Bin (Trash)
Place curbside by 6:30 AM on your designated collection day. Bag all trash to prevent odors and litter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
Blue recycling bin Bin (Recycling)
Rinse out and flatten cans. Place curbside by 6:30 AM rain or shine. Call (770) 532-0493 to request a bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Scrap metal (under 5 lbs and 18 inches)
- ✓Newspaper and magazines
- ✓#1 and #2 plastics
- ✓Broken-down cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Plastic bags
Yard Waste Bin
October to January: Leaves can be raked to the curb for vacuum collection (keep separate from limbs/trash). February to September: Leaves must be bagged and scheduled for pickup by calling (770) 532-0493. Limbs must not exceed 5 feet.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small branches (max 5 feet in length)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (up to 1 cubic yard) or On-Demand (Special Pickups)
Placement
Do not place white goods or large electronics curbside until you have called the Solid Waste Division at (770) 532-0493 to schedule and authorize the special pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Refrigerators and washing machines
- ✓ Televisions and electronics
- ✓ Air conditioners
- ✓ Bagged minor cleanup debris
- ✓ Furniture
Not Accepted
- ✕ Biomedical waste
- ✕ Bricks, blocks, and dirt
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Explosives and flammables
- ✕ Eviction and estate cleanups
Standard bulky items up to 1 cubic yard per week are free. White goods and special pickups incur a per-occurrence fee that will be added to your local water bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Neither garbage nor recycling is picked up on observed city holidays. Customers are asked to hold their garbage and recycling until the following day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and scheduled special pickups will also experience delays during observed city holiday weeks.
When holding trash for the following day due to a holiday, continue to follow the 6:30 AM set-out rule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
October to JanuaryThe City of Gainesville Street Maintenance Division runs an annual curbside leaf vacuuming program. Check the city’s zone map to find out which weeks your neighborhood’s loose leaves will be collected.
Post-Holidays
JanuaryAfter the holidays, ensure all large cardboard shipping and gift boxes are completely broken down and flattened before placing them in or near your recycling bin to maximize space for the collection trucks.
Major Holidays
Year-RoundThe city observes 10 major holidays, including Christmas Eve and the Day After Thanksgiving. If your collection day falls on one of these holidays, hold your garbage and recycling until the following day.
Local Tips & Community Info
Gainesville Trash and Recycling Collection Schedule
Residents of Gainesville, Georgia, benefit from a highly organized weekly garbage and single-stream recycling collection service. The City's Solid Waste Division manages all residential curbside collections to keep the community clean and sanitary. To find your specific collection day, you can check the interactive service map on the official city website. Keep in mind that both your household trash and your recyclables are picked up on the exact same day. Staying aware of your designated pickup schedule ensures that your household waste is managed efficiently, preventing overflow and neighborhood clutter.
What Goes in Your Recycling Bin?
Gainesville encourages residents to participate actively in the single-stream recycling program. You can place items like clean aluminum and tin cans, broken-down cardboard, newspapers, magazines, and plastic containers labeled No. 1 or No. 2 directly into your blue recycling bin. It is crucial to rinse out all cans and containers to avoid contaminating the rest of the recyclables. Note that glass is no longer accepted in the city's curbside bins; instead, residents can take glass to designated Hall County drop-off locations. Adhering to these guidelines helps reduce landfill waste and protects the environment.
Holiday Schedule and Missed Pickups
During major holidays, the City of Gainesville pauses its solid waste and recycling collections to allow sanitation workers time with their families. Neither garbage nor recycling is picked up on observed holidays. Usually, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the holiday week. If you ever experience a missed pickup on a regular service day, you should leave your cart by the curb and report the issue to the Solid Waste Division by calling 770-532-0493. Promptly reporting missed collections helps the city dispatch a truck to your neighborhood as quickly as possible.
Bulk Waste and Yard Waste Disposal Guidelines
Standard curbside bins are meant for typical household trash and recyclables, meaning large appliances, furniture, and heavy yard debris require special handling. Gainesville residents must schedule separate collections for bulk items to ensure they do not obstruct sidewalks or streets. For yard waste like branches, leaves, and grass clippings, the city offers seasonal leaf collection and specific guidelines for bagging or bundling organic matter. Always check the official public works page for the latest rules on scheduling bulk waste pickups and preparing your yard debris.
Bin Placement and Sanitation Rules
Proper bin placement is essential for the automated collection trucks to do their jobs safely and efficiently. You must place your garbage and recycling receptacles at the curb no later than 6:30 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day, regardless of rain or shine. Make sure to leave at least four feet of clearance around all sides of your carts. Keep them away from mailboxes, parked vehicles, utility poles, and bulk waste piles. Additionally, all household garbage should be securely tied in bags before being placed inside the trash cart to prevent litter and deter pests.
Drop-off Facilities
Hall County Landfill
1700 Oakbrook Drive, Gainesville, GA 30507
Materials Accepted
East Crescent Drive Compactor Site
738 East Crescent Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I put my trash and recycling bins out?
You should place your city-issued garbage and recycling carts at the curbside by 6:30 a.m. on your designated collection day. They must be placed with at least four feet of clearance from obstacles.
Can I recycle glass in my City of Gainesville bin?
No, glass is no longer accepted in the city's single-stream curbside recycling bins. You must take glass materials to specific Hall County recycling drop-off centers.
Who do I call if my garbage wasn't picked up?
If your garbage or recycling was missed, please report it directly to the Gainesville Solid Waste Division by calling 770-532-0493.