Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Marietta
Trash Day
Garbage is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route. Residents can check their specific pickup day using the city's online Collection Calendar or the Marietta Trash Talk mobile app.
Recycling
Recycling is collected once weekly on your assigned trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Weekly on Wednesdays for all residential customers across the city.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Sanitation charges are bundled and billed directly on your monthly Marietta Power and Water utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Automatic Bank Draft, Phone, Mail, and In-Person (Walk-Up or Drive-Thru)
Pro Tip / Discount
A senior citizen discount is available for qualifying customers aged 65 and older with an annual income of $20,000 or less.
Green or Black Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be securely bagged before being placed inside the cart. Carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on the scheduled collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Used hygiene products
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the bin. Do not bag your recyclables. Rinse all food containers completely before disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Corrugated cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Newspapers and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (#1 and #2)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Place in paper lawn bags or personal cans marked 'Yard Waste'. Limbs must be stacked neatly at the curb, separate from household trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Pine straw
- ✓Small tree limbs (under 4 feet long and 4 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By request or designated clean-up events
Placement
Bulk items must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on the scheduled special pickup day, completely clear of low-hanging wires and parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (doors removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Hazardous materials (paint, chemicals)
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Vehicle parts
A nominal fee may apply for certain large appliances or excessive amounts of bulk trash. Residents should confirm costs when scheduling the pickup.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after an observed holiday, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
During holiday weeks with altered schedules, yard waste collection may be temporarily suspended to prioritize household garbage and recycling.
Always check the City of Marietta's official holiday schedule online or via their sanitation app for the most accurate updates.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October to DecemberDuring peak leaf-falling season, yard waste volume surges. Ensure all leaves are securely packed in biodegradable paper bags to prevent them from blowing into storm drains and causing neighborhood flooding.
Summer
June to AugustSummer pop-up storms in Georgia often result in downed branches. Remember that storm debris must still meet the city's size restrictions (under 4 feet in length) to be eligible for standard curbside yard waste pickup.
Winter
December to JanuaryFollowing the holidays, Marietta often provides specific instructions for live Christmas tree recycling. Trees must be completely stripped of lights, ornaments, and stands before being placed at the curb for collection.
Local Tips & Community Info
Residential Sanitation Operated by the City of Marietta
Unlike many surrounding municipalities that rely on private subscriptions, the City of Marietta’s Environmental Services Division directly manages solid waste collection for all its residents. Living within the city limits means your household garbage service is seamlessly integrated into your local government utilities. The city supplies households with specialized, heavy-duty roll-out carts for regular trash. To keep neighborhoods sanitary, local crews service these carts on a designated weekly schedule. If your family generates an exceptional amount of refuse, you can request an additional garbage cart for a nominal monthly surcharge by contacting the Environmental Services office directly.
What Goes in the Recycling Cart?
Marietta offers curbside single-stream recycling to help residents minimize their environmental impact. You can freely toss rinsed aluminum cans, flattened cardboard boxes, and rigid plastics into your designated recycling bin without sorting them. However, it is absolutely crucial to keep plastic grocery bags, food-soiled paper, and all types of glass out of this cart. Glass shatters inside the collection trucks and contaminates the entire load of recyclables. If you wish to recycle empty bottles and jars, you must transport them to specific Cobb County glass drop-off centers.
Managing Your Lawn Clippings and Branches
Yard maintenance is a year-round necessity in Georgia, and the city provides dedicated yard waste collection to assist homeowners. All grass clippings, pine straw, and fallen leaves must be packed into heavy-duty, biodegradable paper lawn bags. The city crews will completely reject yard waste that is placed in standard plastic garbage bags. If you are pruning trees or clearing brush, make sure the branches are cut down to a maximum of four feet in length, tied together, and stacked neatly at the curb.
Disposing of Large Household Items
For major home cleanouts, such as getting rid of a broken washing machine, a dilapidated couch, or an old mattress, Marietta requires residents to schedule a special bulk pickup. These heavy, oversized items cannot simply be abandoned next to your standard trash cart. You must call the sanitation division ahead of time to arrange a specific collection date. A flat fee will be applied to your consolidated utility bill depending on the size, weight, and type of the bulky item being removed.
Rules for the Right-of-Way and Timings
Strict placement rules ensure that the mechanized collection trucks can operate efficiently and safely in your neighborhood. All carts, along with any properly prepared yard debris, must be placed at the edge of the street no later than 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection morning. Always keep a three-foot buffer zone around your containers to accommodate the mechanical arms of the garbage trucks. Once emptied, city ordinances require that residents retrieve their carts from the street and store them near their home by the end of the day.
Drop-off Facilities
Cobb County Transfer Station
1897 County Services Pkwy, Marietta, GA 30008
Materials Accepted
Advanced Disposal - Marietta Drop-Off
4696 Canton Rd, Marietta, GA 30066
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do my garbage bins need to be at the street in Marietta?
All trash and recycling carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day to ensure they are emptied by the sanitation crews.
Will the city pick up yard waste in plastic bags?
No, the City of Marietta strictly prohibits the use of plastic bags for yard debris. You must use biodegradable paper lawn bags for all leaves and grass clippings.
Can I put glass bottles in my Marietta recycling bin?
No, glass is not accepted in Marietta's curbside single-stream recycling program. Residents should utilize local Cobb County drop-off facilities for glass disposal.