Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Smyrna
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 Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged before being placed inside the city-provided cart. No loose debris. 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 cart without bagging them. Rinse all food and liquid residue from containers prior to disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
- ✓Paper, newspapers, and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and steel food cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (take to Recycling Center)
- ✕Plastic grocery bags (unless using Hefty ReNew bags)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard (like greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Leaves, grass, and small debris MUST be placed in biodegradable paper bags (plastic bags are strictly prohibited). Limbs must be neatly stacked at the curb. Pickups occur on Mondays.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small sticks and brush
- ✓Limbs up to 8 inches in diameter and 4 feet long
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Thursdays by advance request only
Placement
Bulk items must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on your scheduled Thursday. Do not place items under trees, power lines, or against fences.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Box springs
- ✓ Large household items (excluding Freon appliances)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Refrigerators, freezers, and A/C units
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste and paint
- ✕ Tires and car parts
The city charges a $30.00 fee for each large item collected, which is typically billed to your utility account.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
During a holiday week, your trash and recycling collection day will be adjusted (typically pushed back one day) based on the observed holiday.
Yard Waste Exception
All yard debris pickup (Mondays) and large bulk item collections (Thursdays) are completely suspended during any week that contains an observed holiday.
Residents should check the message line on their utility bill or the city's official website for exact date shifts during holiday weeks.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Glass Out of the Curbside Cart
Smyrna operates a single-stream recycling system, meaning glass is easily broken during transit. Broken glass contaminates paper and cardboard loads. Always leave glass out of your blue cart and take food-grade glass jars directly to the Smyrna Recycling Center.
Say No to Tanglers
Items like garden hoses, holiday string lights, and extension cords wreak havoc on the sorting facilities. They wrap around the sorting gears and shut down operations. Throw these items in your regular garbage.
The Hefty® ReNew™ Exception for Plastics
Never toss loose plastic bags, bubble wrap, or styrofoam into your recycling cart. The only exception is if you are using the official orange Hefty® ReNew™ program bags, which can be dropped off at the recycling center to properly process these hard-to-recycle materials.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October to DecemberDuring peak leaf-falling season, remember that all loose yard waste must be bagged in paper bags for Monday collection. If a holiday falls during the week (like Thanksgiving), yard waste collection is completely suspended for that entire week.
Summer
June to AugustFollowing intense summer storms, tree branches often litter yards. To qualify for curbside pickup, residents must cut limbs so they are no larger than 8 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length, stacked away from power lines and fences.
Winter
December to JanuaryWinter holidays significantly alter the sanitation schedule. During the weeks of Christmas and New Year's Day, regular trash is typically delayed by one day, and both Monday yard waste and Thursday bulk item collections are entirely paused.
About Smyrna Waste Management
Keeping the Jonquil City Clean with Reliable Sanitation
Known as the Jonquil City, Smyrna takes great pride in its manicured streetscapes and vibrant community spaces. The City of Smyrna Sanitation Division manages a highly structured municipal waste program to maintain this standard. Residents are provided with designated carts for household garbage and single-stream recycling, ensuring that Cobb County neighborhoods remain clean, safe, and environmentally friendly.
A Unique Schedule for Yard Debris and Large Items
Unlike some municipalities that collect everything on the same day, Smyrna operates on a specialized schedule for non-household waste. Yard debris and brush are exclusively collected citywide on Mondays. Meanwhile, large bulk items, such as old mattresses or couches, require a pre-scheduled work order and are always collected on Thursdays. This segmented approach helps the city deploy specialized trucks more efficiently.
Advanced Recycling Initiatives and the Hefty® ReNew™ Program
Smyrna is a forward-thinking community when it comes to waste diversion, working closely with the Keep Smyrna Beautiful initiative. While standard recyclables go into the curbside cart, the city also participates in the Hefty® ReNew™ program. This allows residents to purchase special orange bags to collect hard-to-recycle plastics (like foam and thin films), which can then be dropped off at the Smyrna Recycling Center to keep them out of local landfills.
Cart Placement and Strict Curbside Rules
To guarantee successful automated collection, residents must adhere to strict cart placement timelines. Carts cannot be placed at the street prior to 6:00 PM the evening before pickup, and they must be brought back in by 9:00 PM on the day of collection. All household trash must be securely bagged inside the cart to prevent loose litter from blowing across residential lawns or into storm drains.
Drop-off Facilities
Smyrna Recycling Center
3475 Lake Dr SE, Smyrna, GA 30082
Materials Accepted
Cobb County Transfer Station
1897 County Services Pkwy, Marietta, GA 30008
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my trash carts out in Smyrna?
Carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. However, city ordinance states you cannot place them at the street before 6:00 PM the evening prior, and they must be removed by 9:00 PM on collection day.
How do I request a pickup for an old mattress or couch?
You must submit a work order request online or by calling 770-431-2850 before 4:30 PM on Monday. Bulk collections occur on Thursdays, and there is a $30.00 fee per item.
Can I put glass bottles in my blue recycling cart?
No. Glass is strictly prohibited in the curbside recycling carts because it breaks and contaminates other materials. Residents should bring clean, food-grade glass to the Smyrna Recycling Center.
Will the city pick up my old refrigerator?
No. The City of Smyrna no longer collects items containing Freon, such as refrigerators, freezers, or air conditioning units. You must take these to the Cobb County Transfer Station or hire a private hauler.