Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Sugar Hill
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 (95-gallon cart) Bin (Trash)
All garbage must fit securely inside the provided 95-gallon cart. No material placed outside or next to the cart will be collected by the automated trucks. Carts must be placed at the curb the evening before collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Blue or Green with Yellow Lid (Cart) Bin (Recycling)
Place items loosely inside the recycling cart. Do not bag recyclables. Cardboard must be broken down completely to fit inside the cart with the lid shut.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #3
- ✓Empty, clean aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Paper
- ✓Cardboard (broken down and flattened)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Plastics #4 through #7
- ✕Glass bottles and jars
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Limbs must be neatly stacked at the curb by 7 a.m. Monday, measuring no larger than 6 ft. long, 4 ft. high/wide, with a max 4-inch diameter. Clippings and leaves must be bagged (max 50 lbs) in paper lawn bags or standard trash bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Tree limbs and brush
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small plant debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Appointment Only
Placement
Place approved bulky items at the curb only after confirming your appointment date with Waste Management. Ensure items do not block sidewalks, mailboxes, or the street.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Appliances (must not contain Freon)
- ✓ Large household junk
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
- ✕ Yard waste (handled separately)
Additional fees apply for all bulk item pickups. You must contact Waste Management customer service directly at (404) 794-6707 to get a quote and schedule the service.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection routes are pushed back by one day following an observed holiday. For example, a Wednesday pickup moves to Thursday, and Friday moves to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Because yard waste is handled by City Public Works, Monday limb collections may be shifted to Tuesday during a holiday week.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays in your service for that week. Always place bins out the night before, as trucks often alter their route timing.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Plastic Bags in the Recycling Cart
Never bag your recyclables. Empty your clean paper, plastics, and cans loosely into your cart. Loose plastic grocery bags easily tangle in the sorting facility's gears, causing massive delays and machinery damage.
Strictly Plastics #1, #2, and #3
Waste Management enforces strict plastic recycling rules in Sugar Hill. Check the bottom of your plastic containers; if the recycling triangle displays a number 4, 5, 6, or 7, it belongs in the garbage cart, not the recycling cart.
Keep Glass Out of Curbside Bins
Glass is not supported in the standard Sugar Hill curbside recycling stream because it frequently breaks and contaminates paper and cardboard. Utilize specialized local drop-off centers in Gwinnett County to recycle your glass bottles.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March - MayThe city's Annual Spring Cleaning event has transitioned to a drop-off format. Watch the city's event calendar for the designated week where you can bring large bulk items directly to open-top dumpsters.
Fall
October - DecemberDuring heavy leaf drop, ensure all leaves and yard clippings are bagged and placed at the curb the day before your regular trash day. Bags must not exceed 50 pounds.
Winter
November - JanuaryWaste Management delays service by one day following Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your normal day is Friday, expect a Saturday pickup during these holiday weeks.
About Sugar Hill Waste Management
Unified Cart Collection System in Sugar Hill
In an effort to improve operational efficiency and maintain neighborhood aesthetics, the City of Sugar Hill and Waste Management have modernized residential garbage collection. Residents now utilize standardized 95-gallon carts for their weekly trash, completely replacing the older pay-as-you-throw bag system. It is critical that all refuse is contained within this cart with the lid closed; automated trucks are used, meaning drivers will not manually load any bags, boxes, or debris left sitting on the ground.
City-Managed Yard & Leaf Debris Collection
Unlike standard garbage and recycling—which are handled by a private franchise—yard waste removal remains a direct service provided by the Sugar Hill Public Works Department. This dual-provider approach allows the city to utilize dedicated machinery to clear heavy brush and limbs up to four inches thick. Public Works systematically tackles limb and brush piles starting early Monday mornings, while bagged leaves and yard clippings are retrieved the day immediately preceding your regular Waste Management trash day.
Curbside Recycling Guidelines and Enhancements
Sugar Hill is dedicated to sustainable waste practices through a modernized curbside recycling program. Having phased out small, open-air bins, homes are now equipped with large rolling recycling carts to prevent wind-blown litter. The accepted materials list is heavily focused on highly recyclable commodities: specifically plastics stamped #1, #2, and #3, clean tin and aluminum cans, paper, and flattened cardboard. Keeping out non-recyclables and preventing liquid contamination are essential for keeping the local recycling stream viable.
Modernized Bulk Waste & Spring Cleaning Procedures
To combat rising industry disposal costs and local labor shortages, Sugar Hill has revamped its bulk item protocols in recent years. The traditional city-wide curbside spring cleanup has been transformed into a guided drop-off event utilizing open-top dumpsters. For year-round heavy item removal at your curb, residents must now coordinate directly with Waste Management to book a specialized appointment, which incurs an additional collection fee.
Drop-off Facilities
Richland Creek Landfill (Republic Services)
5691 S Richland Creek Rd, Buford, GA 30518
Materials Accepted
Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Drop-off Events
Various locations across Gwinnett County
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who picks up the trash in Sugar Hill?
Waste Management (WM) is the exclusive franchised hauler for standard household garbage and curbside recycling in the City of Sugar Hill. However, the City of Sugar Hill Public Works Department directly handles all yard and leaf debris collection.
Why wasn't the extra garbage next to my cart picked up?
Effective November 2022, Sugar Hill transitioned to a strict automated cart system. Waste Management will only collect materials that fit completely inside the provided 95-gallon cart with the lid closed. Excess bags on the ground are no longer serviced and must be held until the following week.
When is yard waste picked up by the city?
Large limbs and brush (up to 4 inches in diameter and 6 feet in length) are picked up by the city starting on Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m. Bagged leaves and yard clippings are collected on a separate run, specifically the day prior to your scheduled Waste Management garbage day.
How do I throw away large items like furniture or mattresses?
Curbside bulk waste collection requires scheduling an appointment directly with Waste Management and paying an additional fee. Alternatively, you can utilize the city's annual drop-off events when scheduled, or transport items yourself to a local transfer station like the nearby Richland Creek Landfill.