Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Winder
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.
Blue (95-gallon cart) Bin (Trash)
Place your blue cart at the curb the night before or no later than 5:30 AM on your scheduled collection day. The lid must be completely closed, and the cart must sit four feet away from mailboxes, trees, and vehicles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Broken down cardboard boxes
- ✓Previously recycled materials (plastics, glass, paper)
N/A (Program Suspended) Bin (Recycling)
The city no longer provides curbside recycling carts. All materials should be bagged and disposed of as regular household garbage in the 95-gallon blue cart.
Accepted Items
Do NOT Include
- ✕Curbside recycling program suspended as of July 2023
Yard Waste Bin
Debris must be placed by the road on your regular garbage day, kept away from manholes, storm drains, and water meter boxes. Piles should not block the street.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Tree limbs (4 feet or shorter, under 8 inches in diameter)
- ✓Small brush and twigs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Same day as household trash)
Placement
Place bulk items at the curb by 5:30 AM on your regular collection day. Keep items at least four feet away from your blue cart, mailboxes, and parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and chairs
- ✓ Tables and furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household goods that do not fit in the cart
Not Accepted
- ✕ Refrigerators and freezers
- ✕ Window AC units
- ✕ Construction materials and shingles
- ✕ Tires and batteries
- ✕ Mirrors or panes of glass
Up to two items per week are included in your standard monthly sanitation rate of $38.17. Excessive bulk or prohibited construction items will be left on the curb or subject to code enforcement fines.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste Pro halts collection operations on major holidays. When a holiday occurs on a weekday, garbage and bulk collection will be pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Because Public Works runs the leaf and limb trucks on the same day as garbage collection, yard debris pickups are also delayed alongside the holiday trash schedule.
Always ensure your cart is at the curb by 5:30 AM on the adjusted holiday makeup day, as route timing may differ significantly from your normal schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Cardboard is Not Bulk Waste
Do not leave a pile of flattened Amazon boxes next to your bin expecting the bulk truck to collect them. Routine cardboard boxes must be broken down and placed entirely inside your 95-gallon blue cart.
Keep Appliances with Freon Off the Curb
While Winder's bulk program is generous, Waste Pro will not pick up refrigerators, freezers, or window AC units due to hazardous Freon regulations. You must arrange for private disposal of these appliances.
No Stumps or Massive Logs
The weekly leaf and limb program utilizes specific grinding equipment. Placing tree stumps or limbs thicker than 8 inches at the curb will result in a rejected pile or a hefty $50 per cubic yard removal fee added to your utility bill.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October to DecemberDuring peak leaf-fall season, residents should rake leaves to the curb for the Public Works collection, but must be extremely careful not to pile leaves over storm drains, which can cause severe neighborhood flooding during autumn rains.
Winter
Late December to JanuaryWaste Pro observes major holidays like New Year's Day. If your regular trash pickup falls on or after a major winter holiday, expect your collection to be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Spring
March to MaySpring cleaning is an excellent time to take advantage of the two-item weekly bulk allowance. If you are cleaning out a garage or replacing patio furniture, stagger your set-outs to two items per week to avoid extra fees.
About Winder Waste Management
The Transition to Blue Carts and Streamlined Services
In mid-2023, the City of Winder revamped its solid waste program by transitioning to a new contract with Waste Pro. As part of this change, residents swapped their old green bins for brand-new, 95-gallon blue garbage carts. The city established a comprehensive flat monthly sanitation rate that now covers routine household trash, extensive weekly bulk item pick-up, specialized leaf and limb collection, and regular street sweeping.
Understanding the Suspension of Curbside Recycling
To maintain affordable monthly rates in the face of escalating global recycling costs, the City of Winder officially suspended its curbside recycling program in July 2023. Following a community survey where the majority of respondents opted not to pay higher subscription fees to retain the service, the city elected to discontinue the recycling carts entirely. Residents must now bag all previous recycling materials, such as clean cardboard and plastics, with their standard household garbage.
Generous Weekly Bulk Item Allowances
One of the standout features of Winder's sanitation program is the weekly bulk waste allowance. Residents can place up to two large, bulky items—such as a broken sofa or a mattress—at the curb each week on their regular trash day for no additional fee. It is important to note that regular household garbage or overflow cardboard boxes do not qualify as bulk waste and must be placed inside your blue cart.
Year-Round Leaf and Limb Collection by Public Works
While Waste Pro handles the household bins and bulk items, the Winder Public Works Department operates the weekly leaf and limb collection routes on the exact same day as your garbage pickup. To guarantee service, homeowners must ensure tree limbs are cut to four feet or shorter and are no thicker than eight inches in diameter. If you place oversized logs or stumps at the curb, the city will assess a special $50 per cubic yard fee to remove them.
Drop-off Facilities
Oak Grove Landfill
236 Carl Bethlehem Rd, Winder, GA 30680
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the City of Winder stop its recycling program?
Yes. Due to rapidly increasing global processing costs, the City of Winder officially suspended its curbside recycling program in July 2023 to keep monthly utility rates affordable for all residents.
What time do I need to put my blue trash cart out?
Your 95-gallon blue cart must be placed at the curb no later than 5:30 AM on the day of your scheduled garbage pick-up, or the night before. Routes start promptly at 6:00 AM.
How many bulk items can I throw away each week?
You are allowed to place up to two (2) bulky items, such as furniture or mattresses, at the curb every week at no additional cost. These will be picked up on the same day as your regular trash.
What are the rules for limb and branch pickup in Winder?
Tree limbs must be cut to four feet or shorter and cannot be thicker than eight inches in diameter. If you exceed these dimensions or set out stumps, Public Works will charge a special $50 per cubic yard collection fee.