Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Union City
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.
GFL-issued Cart Bin (Trash)
All trash must be securely bagged and placed inside the cart with the lid fully closed. Place the cart at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on your collection day with the wheels facing your home and the lid opening facing the street. Loose bags placed outside the cart will not be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Standard non-hazardous refuse
GFL-issued Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Place approved recyclables inside the cart. Do not place glass in the recycling bin under any circumstances. When in doubt about an item's recyclability, leave it out and dispose of it in the trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Newspaper, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Office paper
- ✓Aluminum cans and tin/steel cans
- ✓Plastic jugs and soft drink bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass of any kind
- ✕Hot ashes or coals
- ✕Concrete, rocks, or dirt
- ✕Large pieces of metal
- ✕Hazardous waste (paints, oils, batteries)
Yard Waste Bin
You must call GFL at 770-474-9273 to schedule pickup at least 24 hours in advance. Leaves and clippings must be bagged in paper or plastic yard waste bags. Limbs must be piled neatly and cannot exceed 4 feet in length. Total yard waste combined must not exceed 4 cubic yards per pickup.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs, limbs, and branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-Demand (Must call to schedule)
Placement
Place up to 3 approved bulk items neatly at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on the scheduled service day. Ensure they do not block sidewalks or sit under low-hanging wires.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large appliances
- ✓ Up to 3 bulk items per scheduled pickup
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Concrete, rocks, and tile
- ✕ Dirt
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous wastes (paint, oil, chemicals)
Up to 3 items are collected at no extra charge per week once scheduled. If you have more than 3 items, you must notify GFL directly, and additional fees may be quoted.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, your scheduled service day will be delayed by one day. The regular collection schedule resumes the following week.
Yard Waste Exception
Scheduled yard waste and bulk item collections are subject to the same holiday delay timeline and still require you to call 24 hours in advance.
Always ensure your carts are placed by the curb by 5:00 a.m. even on holiday-adjusted weeks, as truck route times may fluctuate following a long weekend.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
The Golden Rule: No Glass Ever
Union City and GFL strictly prohibit glass in the curbside recycling carts. Broken glass acts as a severe contaminant to paper and plastic bales at the sorting facility. Always toss old glass jars or bottles into your regular household trash cart instead.
When in Doubt, Leave it Out
Aspirational recycling—or 'wish-cycling'—causes major processing delays. If you cannot confirm whether a specific item like a styrofoam tray or mixed-material item is accepted, throw it in the garbage cart rather than risking the contamination of an entire recycling load.
Keep It Bagged in the Trash Cart
While recyclables should ideally be placed loose in the recycling cart, all regular household refuse placed inside your garbage cart must be securely bagged. This prevents loose debris from blowing into Union City streets during the automated dumping process.
Seasonal Information
Fall
October - DecemberDuring heavy leaf accumulation, remember that all leaves must be securely bagged (in paper or plastic yard bags) and placed at the curb. You still must call GFL 24 hours in advance to alert them of your yard waste.
Winter
December - JanuaryHoliday scheduling adjustments frequently apply during this season. If Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day falls on a weekday, your standard collection day will be delayed by one full day for that week.
Spring/Summer
March - AugustDuring peak lawn care season, ensure all brush and limbs are cut to 4 feet or less. Keep in mind that a single scheduled yard waste pickup cannot exceed a maximum total volume of 4 cubic yards.
About Union City Waste Management
City-Wide Roll Cart Transition in Union City
The City of Union City maintains an exclusive sanitation partnership with Green for Life (GFL) to streamline residential waste collection across all neighborhoods. By enforcing a standardized roll cart system, Union City actively eliminates the visual clutter and rodent issues previously associated with loose bags sitting on the curb. Residents must ensure that all household refuse fits entirely inside the provided cart so that automated trucks can safely lift and empty the containers without requiring workers to manually load extra bags.
Strict Cart Orientation and Curb Placement Requirements
Proper bin placement is essential for uninterrupted service in Union City. Your cart must be wheeled to the street by 5:00 a.m. on your designated service day, making it one of the earliest required set-out times in Fulton County. Additionally, the cart must be oriented correctly: the front of the cart where the lid opens must face the street, while the rear wheels must be positioned toward your home. GFL clearly states they will bypass any loose garbage bags left on the ground alongside the cart.
Mandatory Scheduling for Bulk and Yard Waste
Union City does not offer an automatic, unlimited pass for yard debris or large furniture pickups. Both bulk household items and yard waste collections operate on a strict on-demand scheduling system. To secure a pickup, residents must proactively contact GFL at least 24 hours prior to their standard collection day to be added to the driver's route. When clearing your yard, ensure you use compliant yard bags, and that all loose limbs are trimmed and bundled to a strict maximum length of four feet.
Simplifying the Curbside Recycling Stream
To cut down on costly sorting contamination, Union City's curbside recycling initiative relies heavily on residents adhering to material guidelines. Avoid adding any glass bottles to your blue bin, as they can shatter and ruin batches of high-quality paper or plastic. Acceptable items include basic cardboard, paperboard, aluminum cans, and plastic jugs. When in doubt about a specific container, Union City officials emphasize the rule of 'leaving it out' to protect the integrity of the whole load.
Drop-off Facilities
Merk Miles Citizens Convenience Center
3225 Merk Road SW, College Park, GA 30349
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my trash out in Union City?
GFL requires all Union City residents to have their carts positioned at the curb no later than 5:00 a.m. on your designated day of service. Because this is very early, it is highly recommended to place your cart out the night before.
Why wasn't my extra bag of trash picked up by the truck?
GFL enforces a strict policy that they will not manually service any garbage bags left sitting on the ground outside of the provided roll cart. All garbage must fit completely inside the cart with the lid closed.
How do I throw away tree limbs and branches?
Yard waste is not collected automatically. You must call GFL at 770-474-9273 at least 24 hours before your trash day to formally schedule a pickup. Limbs cannot exceed 4 feet in length, and the total pile cannot exceed 4 cubic yards.
Which way should my garbage cart face at the curb?
The front of your garbage container, which is where the lid opens, should face the street. The rear of the container, where the wheels and handle are located, must face backward toward your home.