Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Valdosta
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, according to your neighborhood's designated collection route.
Recycling
No curbside collection; residents can drop off recyclables at the City Recycling Center (3130 Val Tech Road) Tuesday through Saturday.
Yard Waste
Collected once per week on the same designated day as your household garbage.
Set Out Time
Between 12:00 PM the day before and no later than 5:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Sanitation and trash collection fees are bundled and billed monthly on your municipal utility statement alongside water, wastewater, and stormwater fees.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto Debit, Bank Bill Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person / Drive-thru, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
Free walk-up service is available for elderly residents or individuals with physical disabilities who have no able-bodied household members; no billing discounts are listed.
Green Bin (Trash)
Trash must be bagged. The cart lid must be completely closed—overfilled cans will be bypassed. Carts must be placed at the curb by 5:00 AM on the designated pickup day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Standard household refuse
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items should be placed loosely in the bin. Do not bag recyclables. Clean and dry all containers before disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Newspaper and mixed paper
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✕Food-soiled paper (e.g., pizza boxes)
- ✕Household garbage
Yard Waste Bin
Must be ready by 5:00 AM. Limbs cannot exceed 35 pounds. Leaves must be in a separate pile from branches. Keep away from hydrants, utility boxes, and parked cars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Plant clippings
- ✓Tree limbs (under 6 ft long and 4 inches diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your designated service day
Placement
Place items safely at the curb by 5:00 AM. Do not cover fire hydrants, water meters, or place items under low-hanging tree branches.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires (must be taken to tire businesses)
- ✕ Batteries
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
Free for piles 4x8x5 ft or less. Piles larger than 4x8x5 ft incur a $45 fee, and piles up to 6x10 ft incur a $90 fee, which is added to your utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The Public Works Department is closed on major holidays. Garbage, bulk items, and yard waste collections scheduled for the holiday are typically delayed and picked up on the next available business day.
Yard Waste Exception
During holiday weeks, yard waste is collected on a delayed schedule to prioritize the collection of putrescible household garbage.
The city often issues early closures for offices (e.g., closing at noon on Christmas Eve), but always check the city's official holiday calendar for exact route shifts.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
March to MayDuring peak spring yard cleanup, ensure your debris piles do not exceed 4x8x5 feet. If your pile is larger, you will automatically be assessed a $45 or $90 fee directly to your water bill.
Summer
June to SeptemberFollowing severe summer thunderstorms or hurricanes, yard waste collection usually operates on a delayed schedule. Ensure limbs downed by storms meet the 6-foot length and 35-pound weight limits.
Winter
December to JanuaryDuring the winter holiday season, large volumes of cardboard are generated. Flatten all cardboard completely to maximize space in your recycling cart and prevent the lid from propping open.
Local Tips & Community Info
Valdosta’s Green Roll-Out Cart System
In Valdosta, all residential sanitation is directly managed by the city’s Public Works Department. Homeowners do not have to shop around for private haulers, as your municipal garbage, yard debris, and bulk item collections are all consolidated into a flat monthly fee of approximately $25.74. Every local residence is issued one official green roll-out container free of charge. It is important to note that these bins are permanently assigned to the physical address, meaning you must leave the cart behind if you ever move out of your home. If your green container is stolen or goes missing, you are required to file an official report with the Valdosta Police Department and provide the resulting case number to Customer Service before a replacement cart will be delivered.
Strict Curb Timelines and the $10 Penalty
To prevent neighborhood clutter and ensure efficient routes, Valdosta strictly regulates when garbage bins can sit in the public right-of-way. You may push your green roll-out to the curb starting at noon on the day before your scheduled collection. Because crews begin their routes exceptionally early, your bin must be in position no later than 5:00 a.m. on the actual morning of pickup. Most importantly, local ordinances mandate that empty containers must be pulled back to your house by noon on the day following your collection. Neglecting this rule is a code violation, and the city can legally assess a $10 fine for every single day your bin remains illegally parked at the roadside.
Navigating Yard Trash and Heavy Bulk Collection
Valdosta offers the immense convenience of picking up residential yard waste and bulk items on the exact same day as your household garbage. However, because specialized vehicles are used, completely separate trucks will arrive at different times to collect these materials. Yard trash, such as grass clippings and leaves, can be placed in bags or cardboard boxes next to your green cart—just ensure nothing is dumped directly into the street or gutter. Any tree limbs you set out must not exceed four feet in length, four inches in diameter, or 35 pounds in total gross weight. Never mix organic landscape debris or heavy bulk junk inside your green household garbage cart, as the drivers will simply refuse to empty it.
The Curbside Medical Assistance Program
For elderly residents or individuals with physical disabilities, hauling a heavy 96-gallon trash cart down a long driveway can be an impossible chore. Valdosta Public Works proudly offers a specialized assistance program for qualifying residents. To enroll, you must submit a formal letter on official letterhead from your healthcare provider detailing why you cannot physically move your container, along with an expiration date for temporary conditions. Once approved, the city will paint a discrete yellow arrow on your roadside curb. This painted symbol alerts the sanitation drivers to walk up to your property, retrieve the bin, empty it, and return it safely to your house.
Drop-off Facilities
Valdosta Public Works Department
1017 Myrtle Street, Valdosta, GA 31601
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my Valdosta trash cart gets stolen?
You must first call the Valdosta Police Department at 229-242-2606 to report the theft. Once you receive a valid police case number, call Public Works at 229-259-3590 to order your free replacement.
How late can I leave my empty garbage bin at the curb?
Your empty roll-out container must be removed from the public curb no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the day following your scheduled collection to avoid daily $10 code enforcement fines.
Does Valdosta charge extra to pick up a mattress or yard debris?
No, standard residential yard trash and bulk items are already included in your $25.74 monthly sanitation fee. They are collected on the same day as your regular household garbage by specialized trucks.