Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for South Fulton
Trash Day
Trash collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your zone. Residents can check their specific collection day and monthly bulk week using the city's interactive Solid Waste map.
Recycling
Curbside recycling is not currently provided; residents can drop off recyclables at no charge at the Merk Miles Citizens Convenience Center (3225 Merk Road).
Yard Waste
Yard waste is not included in standard curbside service, but can be added for an additional fee through Waste Pro or dropped off at the Merk Miles facility.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste services are billed once a year in June by the Fulton County Tax Commissioner (due July 31) and are often paid through your mortgage escrow account.
Billing Cycle
Annually
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, In Person, Escrow
Pro Tip / Discount
Free non-curbside/backdoor collection service is available for qualified residents with physical disabilities; no general senior or low-income discounts are listed.
City-issued Cart (Branded) Bin (Trash)
Only carts featuring the official City of South Fulton logo will be serviced. Trash must fit inside with the lid closed. Excess bags left on the ground will be ignored.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Standard non-recyclable packaging
No curbside bin provided Bin (Recycling)
Curbside recycling is not currently offered. Residents must self-transport their recyclables to the Merk Miles Citizens Convenience Center.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics
- ✓Paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Metals (at drop-off location)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food-soiled materials
- ✕Hazardous waste
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is NOT included in basic city service. It is strictly banned from monthly bulk pickups. You must arrange independent service directly with Waste Pro.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once per month, determined by your City Council District week.
Placement
Place items curbside on Sunday evening. Collection will occur anytime between Monday and Friday of your scheduled week. Do not place items out more than 48 hours before the pickup week.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and car seats
- ✓ Large household appliances (stoves, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Hot water tanks
Not Accepted
- ✕ Yard debris
- ✕ Cardboard of any size
- ✕ Tires and car batteries
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Propane tanks and glass/mirrors
This monthly bulk collection is included in your $275 annual solid waste fee, provided you stay within the 2-item limit and schedule it in advance.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, all collection routes for that day and the remainder of the week will be pushed back by exactly one day, with Friday routes running on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is independently contracted, but Waste Pro typically applies the exact same holiday shift to all supplemental services.
Always check the City of South Fulton's News Flash webpage for real-time updates regarding specific holiday schedule adjustments.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer
June to JulyThe annual solid waste invoice is mailed out by the Fulton County Tax Commissioner around June 1st and is due by July 31st. Ensure your payment is processed to avoid service interruptions or tax liens.
Fall/Winter Holidays
November to JanuaryDuring major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, Waste Pro operates on a one-day delay for the remainder of the week. The Merk Miles Convenience Center also closes on these observed holidays.
Year-Round
All YearIf you plan to utilize the Merk Miles Convenience Center for recycling, be aware that the facility is strictly closed on Sundays and Mondays. Plan your drop-offs between Tuesday and Saturday.
Local Tips & Community Info
Keeping South Fulton Clean: Solid Waste Overview
As one of Georgia's rapidly growing municipalities, the City of South Fulton prioritizes maintaining beautiful, litter-free neighborhoods through strategic sanitation contracts. Rather than operating an internal fleet, the city partners with private environmental service providers to handle weekly household refuse and recycling collection across its diverse districts. Understanding your specific service zone is the first step to successful waste management. Property owners can easily verify their designated pickup days by accessing the interactive residential zoning map on the official City of South Fulton website. Staying proactive about your scheduled collection ensures local streets remain pristine and sanitary.
Cart Etiquette and Morning Deadlines
To facilitate smooth operations for the automated collection trucks, residents must adhere to strict container placement rules. Your 96-gallon municipal trash cart needs to be positioned at the edge of your driveway no later than 7:00 a.m. on the day of your scheduled pickup. The wheels and hinges must face away from the street, aiming directly at your house. Additionally, operators require a clear spatial buffer; keep your container at least three feet away from mailboxes, secondary bins, and parked vehicles. Once the trucks have cleared your street, local ordinances mandate that all empty carts be rolled back to your home's side or rear by 7:00 p.m. to preserve community aesthetics.
Proper Sorting for the Recycling Program
Environmental sustainability is a core initiative for South Fulton, and community participation in the curbside recycling program is highly encouraged. Your secondary cart is reserved strictly for loose, unbagged recyclables such as corrugated cardboard, paperboard, aluminum beverage cans, and basic plastics. It is absolutely vital to keep plastic shopping bags, food-contaminated boxes, and hazardous household chemicals out of this stream. Contaminated bins not only risk being bypassed by the drivers but can also ruin an entire truckload of recoverable materials at the local processing facility.
Handling Seasonal Yard Trimmings
When tackling weekend lawn care, disposing of your green waste requires following specific packaging guidelines. South Fulton sanitation crews will collect yard debris alongside standard trash, provided it is prepared correctly. Leaves, grass clippings, and small weeds must be placed inside durable paper lawn bags—never plastic garbage bags. If you are pruning trees, branches must be cut down to sections no longer than four feet and securely tied with twine into manageable bundles. Large piles of loose dirt, massive tree stumps, and professional landscaping debris are strictly prohibited from this weekly curbside service.
Special Collections for Large Household Goods
Upgrading your furniture or replacing an old appliance means you will need to utilize the city's bulk waste services. Because these items cannot physically fit inside the standard 96-gallon carts, they require a separate, scheduled pickup. Residents must submit a service request ahead of time via the city's customer service portal or by calling the sanitation hotline to coordinate a removal date. Acceptable bulk items include mattresses, broken couches, and non-freon appliances. Keep in mind that hazardous materials, wet paint, and heavy construction debris like drywall or roofing shingles will not be collected under any circumstances.
Drop-off Facilities
Merk Miles Citizens Convenience Center
3225 Merk Road, South Fulton, GA 30349
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When does my garbage cart need to be at the street in South Fulton?
Residents must place their authorized trash and recycling carts at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on their assigned service day. All containers must be retrieved by 7:00 p.m. that evening.
Can I put my grass clippings in black plastic bags?
No, yard trimmings such as grass clippings and leaves must be packed exclusively into biodegradable paper lawn bags. Plastic bags will be left at the curb uncollected.
How do I throw away an old mattress?
Large items like mattresses and furniture require a scheduled bulk pickup. You must contact the city's sanitation customer service team in advance to arrange a specific collection date for oversized goods.