Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Milton
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.
Varies by Hauler (Typically 95-gallon cart) Bin (Trash)
Must adhere to the City's Solid Waste Ordinance; carts should not be overfilled and must be placed curbside according to your specific hauler's weekly schedule.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
Varies by Hauler (Typically 65-gallon or 95-gallon cart) Bin (Recycling)
The city mandates all permitted haulers offer curbside recycling. Do not bag recyclables; keep them loose in the cart. Take glass to the Bell Memorial Park drop-off.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and non-waxed paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #3
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is an add-on service and policies vary by hauler. State law prohibits mixing yard trimmings with household garbage in landfills. Branches typically must be cut and bundled.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small tree limbs and brush
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand (Requires direct scheduling with your hauler)
Placement
Do not place bulky items at the curb until you have a confirmed pickup date from your hauler, as leaving items out indefinitely violates local nuisance ordinances.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household items
- ✓ Appliances (with Freon professionally removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Wet paint
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
Most private haulers in Milton charge an additional per-item or volume-based fee for bulk waste removal, which will be added to your invoice.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Holiday schedules depend entirely on your chosen private hauler. Typically, if a major holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of the week are pushed back by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
If you are subscribed to a yard waste add-on service, it will generally follow the same one-day delay as your trash and recycling during holiday weeks.
Always verify your specific holiday schedule directly on your permitted hauler's website or customer portal, as policies between companies like Waste Pro, Custom Disposal, and Waste Management may differ.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Use the Glass Drop-Off at Bell Memorial Park
Do not put glass in your curbside bin. It shatters during transit, embedding shards into paper and cardboard. Always take your clean glass bottles and jars to the city's drop-off site at Bell Memorial Park.
Return Plastic Bags to City Hall
Never bag your recyclables. Private haulers' sorting machinery gets jammed by plastic film, causing severe facility delays. You can drop off clean plastic shopping bags at the specialized collection boxes at Milton City Hall.
Separate Yard Waste Completely
Do not mix grass clippings or leaves into your household garbage cart. Landfill regulations prohibit mixing organic yard waste with municipal solid waste; it must be separated and bagged in compostable paper if your hauler collects it.
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
October to DecemberDuring peak leaf season, if your private hauler offers yard waste pickup, ensure leaves are properly bagged in compostable paper bags. Do not blow leaves into the street or storm drains, as this violates city ordinances.
Major Holidays
Year-RoundBecause Milton uses multiple private haulers, holiday schedules vary. However, the industry standard for companies like Waste Management and Red Oak Sanitation is a one-day delay if a major holiday falls on a weekday.
Spring
March to MaySpring cleaning is a great time to responsibly dispose of leftover household chemicals and old paint. Keep an eye on the City of Milton’s Facebook page and website for announcements regarding periodic Household Hazardous Waste collection events.
About Milton Waste Management
Milton’s Open Market Solid Waste System
Milton operates under an open-market subscription system and does not manage a municipal sanitation fleet. Instead, homeowners or their Homeowners Associations (HOAs) must contract directly with one of the city's permitted private waste haulers, such as Red Oak Sanitation, Waste Management, or Custom Disposal. This competitive framework allows residents to select a service plan and pricing tier that perfectly fits their household's specific waste disposal needs.
Mandatory Curbside Recycling Rules
Although residents utilize private contractors, the City of Milton mandates through its Solid Waste Ordinance that every permitted residential trash hauler must offer a curbside recycling program. Accepted curbside materials typically include non-waxed paper, broken-down cardboard, aluminum cans, and plastics #1, #2, and #3. Residents should always confirm the exact list of acceptable items with their specific provider to avoid contamination fees.
Glass Recycling Drop-Off Locations
Glass is largely excluded from curbside single-stream bins by local haulers because it shatters easily during transit, contaminating valuable bales of paper and cardboard. To solve this, the City of Milton provides a dedicated public glass recycling drop-off bin at Bell Memorial Park. Residents can safely recycle clean glass bottles and jars here without risking contamination of their curbside bins.
Managing Electronics, Batteries, and Hard-to-Recycle Items
To divert toxic materials from local landfills, the City of Milton proactively collects hard-to-recycle items that private haulers will not accept curbside. Residents can conveniently drop off clean plastic shopping bags, handheld electronics (like old cell phones and tablets), and household batteries at collection boxes located directly inside City Hall, the Milton Police Department, and the Milton City Park and Preserve Community Center.
Bulk Waste and Yard Debris Protocols
Because sanitation services vary by provider in an open market, bulk item pickups (like furniture and appliances) and yard waste collections are generally not included in standard base rates. Residents must contact their chosen hauler in advance to schedule a special pickup for oversized items or subscribe to a dedicated yard waste tier. Mixing yard clippings with household garbage is strictly prohibited by state and local landfill regulations.
Drop-off Facilities
Bell Memorial Park Glass Recycling
15245 Bell Park Road, Milton, GA 30004
Materials Accepted
Roswell Transfer Station
1810 Hembree Road, Alpharetta, GA 30009
Materials Accepted
Keep North Fulton Beautiful
470 Morgan Falls Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30350
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Milton provide municipal trash pickup?
No, Milton operates on an open-market system. The city does not have its own sanitation fleet. Residents, or their Homeowners Associations, must directly subscribe to a private waste hauling company from the city’s permitted list, such as Waste Management, Red Oak Sanitation, or Custom Disposal.
Are private haulers in Milton required to offer recycling?
Yes, the City of Milton's Solid Waste Ordinance requires all permitted residential trash haulers to offer a curbside recycling program to their customers. Typical accepted items include cardboard, non-waxed paper, and plastics #1 through #3.
Where can I recycle glass in Milton, GA?
Because private haulers generally do not accept glass in curbside single-stream bins, the City of Milton provides a dedicated glass recycling drop-off bin at Bell Memorial Park. Ensure all bottles and jars are clean and empty before depositing.
How do I dispose of old batteries and electronics in Milton?
You cannot place batteries or electronics in your curbside bins. The City of Milton provides convenient collection boxes for household batteries and handheld electronics (like old cell phones and tablets) at City Hall and the Milton Police Department.