Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for McDonough
Trash Day
Trash is collected weekly Monday through Friday, depending on your assigned neighborhood route (Schedule A or Schedule B).
Recycling
Every two weeks on the same day as your regular trash collection.
Yard Waste
Bagged leaves are collected weekly on your regular trash day (up to 10 bags), while city limb chipping runs Monday through Thursday according to neighborhood zone.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential sanitation service is bundled with your monthly City of McDonough water bill, which is mailed around the 15th of each month.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Debit, Mail, Phone, Drop Box, In Person
City-issued Cart (Republic Services) Bin (Trash)
All residential trash must be bagged and fit entirely inside the cart. The lid must close completely. No bags may be left on the street.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Broken down cardboard
City-issued Cart (Republic Services) Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected every other week on your normal service day. Items must be placed loosely in the cart (not bagged), and the lid must close.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (broken down flat)
- ✓Paper products
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2 only
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Plastics #3 through #7
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Hazardous materials
Yard Waste Bin
Leaves and grass must be placed in clear see-through or brown paper yard bags (up to 10 bags per week). Limbs for the chipper truck must be under 4 inches in diameter and less than 4 feet long.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Limbs and branches
- ✓Brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Up to 3 items)
Placement
Place bulk items in the right-of-way next to your carts on collection day. Note that moving boxes are not considered bulk items and must be broken down and placed inside the carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Cardboard boxes
- ✕ Appliances with Freon (must be professionally tagged first)
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste and paint
- ✕ Flammable materials
Bulk pickup is included in standard residential sanitation service up to the 3-item limit.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Garbage and recycling services will be delayed by one day ONLY if an observed holiday falls directly on a scheduled service day (Tuesday or Wednesday).
Yard Waste Exception
The Public Works chipper trucks operate Monday through Thursday; Fridays are used to catch up on limb collections delayed by holidays or severe weather.
Because routes do not run on Thursdays or Fridays, holidays like Thanksgiving generally do not impact the residential pickup schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
March to MayDuring peak landscaping season, remember the strict bagging limit. Republic Services will only collect a maximum of 10 clear or brown yard waste bags per week. Plan major yard cleanouts accordingly.
Summer
June to AugustFollowing severe summer thunderstorms, the city's limb chipper schedule may be temporarily interrupted or delayed due to the high volume of downed branches. Friday is typically utilized as a make-up day.
Winter
December to JanuaryBecause residential routing occurs only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, a Christmas or New Year's Day falling on a Thursday or Friday will not delay your pickup. Delays only occur if the holiday lands directly on your service day.
Local Tips & Community Info
Residential Waste Management in the Geranium City
Maintaining the historic charm of McDonough requires a coordinated effort between local households and the municipal Public Works Department. The city provides dedicated curbside refuse and recycling collection for all residents living strictly within the incorporated city limits. By adhering to the neighborhood sanitation codes, homeowners actively prevent litter from accumulating in the streets, deter local wildlife from foraging, and ensure the automated garbage trucks can complete their daily routes safely and on time.
Cart Placement Rules and Morning Cutoffs
To guarantee your household waste is successfully collected, punctuality is absolute. All municipal garbage carts must be wheeled to the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your designated service morning. Proper positioning is just as critical as timing; place the receptacle on a flat surface near the roadway with the lid opening facing the street. You must leave at least a three-foot gap between the cart and nearby structures, such as fire hydrants, mailboxes, or parked cars, to allow the truck's lifting mechanism to operate freely.
Navigating Single-Stream Recycling
McDonough actively supports environmental sustainability through its curbside recycling program. Residents are provided with a separate bin specifically for recyclable goods. The system relies on single-stream sorting, meaning you can place clean paper, flattened corrugated cardboard, aluminum beverage cans, and basic household plastics directly into the container. It is imperative to keep contaminants out of this bin; items like greasy pizza boxes, shattered glass, styrofoam packaging, and thin plastic grocery bags are strictly prohibited and can cause an entire truckload to be rejected.
Seasonal Yard Debris and Foliage Pickup
Managing a property in Georgia means dealing with heavy seasonal foliage. The city accommodates this by picking up yard debris on a scheduled basis. Grass clippings, pine needles, and autumn leaves must be securely bagged in heavy-duty paper lawn sacks. Tree branches and shrubbery clippings are permitted but must be cut down to manageable segments—typically under four feet in length—and stacked neatly parallel to the street. Commercial landscaping debris or massive tree stumps will not be collected by municipal crews.
Scheduling Bulk Item Removal
Standard automated trucks are not equipped to crush or transport massive household goods. If you need to dispose of an old mattress, a broken television, or a dilapidated couch, you cannot simply cram it into your standard trash cart or leave it abandoned on the sidewalk. Residents must contact the Public Works office directly to arrange a specialized bulk pickup. Be aware that highly hazardous materials, including wet paint, motor oil, batteries, and construction drywall, are banned from this service entirely.
Holiday Route Adjustments
City sanitation workers observe major federal holidays, which occasionally disrupts the standard weekly calendar. When city offices close for events like Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Thanksgiving, the refuse collection routes slide back by 24 hours for the remainder of that week. For example, a Wednesday pickup will shift to Thursday. The local government consistently publishes adjusted holiday schedules on the official McDonough website to help residents plan their week accordingly.
Drop-off Facilities
City of McDonough Drop-Off Facility
560 Macon Street, McDonough, GA 30253
Materials Accepted
Henry County Recycle Center
65 West Asbury Road, McDonough, GA 30253
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does McDonough pick up glass in the recycling bin?
No. Glass materials are not accepted in the municipal curbside recycling bins because they frequently break and contaminate other sorted materials. Please dispose of glass in your regular garbage.
What is the deadline to place my garbage cart at the street?
Homeowners must ensure their standard trash carts and recycling bins are positioned at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the day of their scheduled route.
How do I get rid of an old couch or mattress?
Large furniture cannot be picked up by the regular garbage trucks. You must call the McDonough Public Works Department to schedule a specific bulk item collection for your address.