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Athens, GA trash pickup schedule

Athens trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.

Population 128,612 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.

Contents10 sections

Quick answer

Who collectsThe city and contracted haulers (by area or service) Athens-Clarke County (unified government) Solid Waste Department collects trash and recycling in the Downtown District and the Urban Service District (old Athens city limits; ~10,164 residential customers). Homes in the General Service District (rest of the county) use private haulers holding ACC franchise agreements (residential: AAA Sanitation, Johnson and Son, Waste Pro, Curbside Services Inc., Republic); their schedules and holidays vary by hauler. Leaf & limb and bulky waste are ACC services county-wide.17
How oftenRecycling USD (ACC customers): same day as currently collected; GSD: contact your private hauler (some, e.g. Republic, moving to bi-weekly), yard waste once per 4-week rotation by zone (zone map https://athensclarke.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=110f028a628143bcbabae287332cefca); out by 8:00 AM Monday of collection week, not more than 10 days before917
Set outCarts at the street by 7:00 AM on collection day (Rates page says 7:30 AM); allowed at the curb from 6:00 PM the day before until 12:00 PM (noon) the day after collection; remove carts at the end of collection day3
Your pickup dayAddress lookup: athensclarke.maps.arcgis.com2 · Look up your day here
Holidays No further 2026 holidays are on the city’s list. See the 2026 table.

Bulk items: Scheduled pickup: request it ahead (details). Drop-off sites: 4 listed (hours and fees).

Athens holiday trash schedule 2026

City’s ruleACC Solid Waste (ACC customers only) may alter collection for New Year's Day, MLK Day, Earth Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and posts a schedule for each holiday; Downtown District stays on its regular schedule. GSD private-hauler customers: varies by hauler.7
Official noticeaccgov.com7
Athens trash pickup on holidays, 2026
HolidayDatePickupWhat the city says
New Year's Day Thu, Jan 1, 2026 Changes; see details No collection Thu Jan 1; Mon-Wed normal; Thursday and Friday collected Friday; Downtown District regular schedule28
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Mon, Jan 19, 2026 Changes; see details No collection Mon Jan 19; Mon->Tue, Tue->Wed, Wed->Thu; Thursday and Friday collected Friday (page text says 'Thursday will be collected on Friday', table shows '*Thursday and Friday Collections' on Fri Jan 23); Downtown District regular18
Presidents' Day Mon, Feb 16, 2026 Not on the city’s list Not on the city’s list for this year
Earth Day Wed, Apr 22, 2026 Changes; see details No collection Wed Apr 22; Wed->Thu; Thursday and Friday collected Friday19
Memorial Day Mon, May 25, 2026 Changes; see details No collection Mon May 25; Mon->Tue, Tue->Wed, Wed->Thu; Thursday and Friday collected Friday20
Juneteenth Fri, Jun 19, 2026 Changes; see details No collection Fri Jun 19 (page text says 'Friday June 20th', table says Friday June 19th); Thursday and Friday collected Thursday21
Independence Day (Fourth of July) Fri, Jul 3, 2026 Changes; see details No collection Fri Jul 3; Thursday and Friday collected Thursday22
Labor Day Mon, Sep 7, 2026 Changes; see details No collection Mon Sep 7; Mon->Tue, Tue->Wed, Wed->Thu; Thursday and Friday collected Friday (page table labels Fri Sept 11 '*Thursday Collections'; page text says Thursday and Friday collected Friday)23
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day Mon, Oct 12, 2026 No dated list; see the city’s rule See the city’s rule above
Veterans Day Wed, Nov 11, 2026 No dated list; see the city’s rule See the city’s rule above
Thanksgiving Day Thu, Nov 26, 2026 No dated list; see the city’s rule See the city’s rule above
Christmas Day Fri, Dec 25, 2026 No dated list; see the city’s rule See the city’s rule above

Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.

Sources: Holiday Interruptions, Martin Luther King Jr. Day Schedule 2026, Earth Day 2026, Memorial Day Schedule (2026 content; URL says 2025), Juneteenth Holiday Schedule 2026, Fourth of July Schedule (2026 content; URL says 2025), Labor Day Schedule 2026, New Year's Day Holiday Schedule 2026 Last checked Report a change

Bulk trash pickup in Athens

How it worksScheduled pickup: request it ahead8
How to requestOnline form survey123.arcgis.com or call (706) 613-3501 option 7; email with collection date within 24 business hours; items at curb no earlier than 24 hours before and by 7:00 AM on pickup day; single-family, duplex and four-plex homes in both USD and GSD8
LimitsUp to 5 items per pickup, 4 pickups per year (20 items/year); separate metal items8
FeesFree for 4 pickups per year; after that cost-of-service, special pickups start at $50/trip; additional fee may apply depending on zoning8
Not accepted
  • Bagged trash, batteries, construction and demolition debris (including pallets), dead animals, hazardous materials, automotive components, liquids, tires, leaf and limb material8

Sources: Bulky Waste Collection Last checked Report a change

Recycling in Athens

PickupUSD (ACC customers): same day as currently collected; GSD: contact your private hauler (some, e.g. Republic, moving to bi-weekly)17
Typesingle-stream10
Glassaccepted in cart10
Plastics#1-7 hard plastic cups, trays, bottles and containers, lids on; no Styrofoam or bioplastics10

Accepted

  • Hard Plastic #1-7 Cups, Trays, Bottles, and Containers (Lids on)- no Styrofoam or Bioplastics10
  • Metal Steel and Aluminum Cans10
  • Aluminum Foil and Trays10
  • Glass Bottles and Jars (Lids off)10
  • Cardboard Packaging and Boxes (clean and flattened)10
  • Mixed Paper including Office Paper, Junk Mail, Paper Bags, Newspapers, Paperback Books, and Magazines10
  • Food and Beverage Cartons, Paper Cups, and Containers10

Not accepted

  • NO Trash10
  • NO Plastic Bags or Wraps*10
  • NO Styrofoam*10
  • NO Food**10
  • NO "Tanglers" (hoses, chain, straps, cords)10
  • NO Scrap Metal* (pots/pans, tools, auto parts, bulky items)10
  • NO Shredded Paper*10
  • NO Batteries or Light Bulbs*10
  • NO Plastic Cutlery10
  • NO Glassware (plates, cups, mugs, windows*)10
  • NO Hangers (metal* or plastic)10
  • NO Wax Coated Cardboard**10
  • NO Napkins or Paper Towels**10

Programs

  • Free 96-gallon green recycling roll-cart for ACC garbage customers on request (32-gallon for elderly/disabled); GSD private haulers must collect single stream and accept the same items5
  • Free community recycling drop-off sites (9 listed: CHaRM, ACC Landfill and ACC Recycling Facility during their hours, plus six 24-hour sites)11

Sources: Services, Recycling (Mixed Recycling), Drop-Off Sites, Solid Waste FAQs Last checked Report a change

Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups

Yard waste pickupyes - county-wide leaf & limb pickup (not in trash or recycling carts)9
Seasonyear-round, 4-week zone rotation (Zones 1-4); current: Zone 3 continues over weekend of Oct 31, 2026; Zone 4 week of Nov 2; Zone 1 week of Nov 9; Zone 2 week of Nov 16, 20269
How oftenonce per 4-week rotation by zone (zone map athensclarke.maps.arcgis.com); out by 8:00 AM Monday of collection week, not more than 10 days before9
RulesOne load per rotation: 25 paper lawn bags OR limb pile 6 ft x 6 ft x 4.5 ft, or a combination; limbs max 4 in diameter; paper bags only for grass, pine straw, small brush and leaves (no plastic); in front of an occupied residence9
Food scrapsNo residential curbside food-scrap collection; free household food-scrap drop-off (loose or in compostable bags) at county sites incl. CHaRM (carts outside the gate off Cleveland Ave, 24/7), Solid Waste Administrative Office 725 Hancock Industrial Way (24/7), ACC Landfill (landfill hours), ACC Extension Office 275 Cleveland Rd Bogart (24/7), Tag Office on Jail Rd (24/7) and UGA-site carts; weekly curbside food-scrap collection for businesses/nonprofits/organizations from $46.00/month (once per week)30
Christmas trees2026-27: KACCB 'Bring One for the Chipper' event January 9, 2027; undecorated live trees free at the ACC Landfill; trees also collected with regular leaf & limb pickup13
Leaf collectionLeaves in paper lawn bags via county-wide leaf & limb rotation9

Sources: Leaf & Limb, Bring One for the Chipper, CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials), Food Scraps Drop-Off Program, Food Scraps Collection (commercial) Last checked Report a change

Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste

CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials)

TypeHousehold hazardous waste
Run byThe county
Address1005 College Ave, Athens, GA 30601 · Map16
HoursTue 7:00 AM-1:00 PM; Wed noon-6:00 PM; Fri & Sat 7:00 AM-1:00 PM; closed Sun, Mon, Thu; closed 4th week of September16
Fees$3/trip facility fee ACC residents/businesses, $8/trip outside ACC; item fees (e.g. paint $2/gallon container, chemicals $5/gallon, TVs $5, tires $3, mattresses $10); check or card only, no cash, no Amex16
Who can use itOpen to anyone (higher fee for non-ACC)16

Athens-Clarke County Landfill

TypeLandfill
Run byThe county
Address5700 Lexington Rd, Winterville, GA 30683 · Map12
HoursMon-Fri 7:30 AM-4:30 PM; Sat 7:30 AM-3:00 PM12
FeesSee accgov.com; 1-6 bags per trip use the ACC Landfill Punch Card; no C&D accepted12
Who can use itMSW from Athens-Clarke County and Oglethorpe County only12

Athens-Clarke County Recycling Facility (drop-off)

TypeRecycling center
Run byThe county
Address699 Hancock Industrial Way · Map11
HoursM-F 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM11
Feesfree11

24-hour recycling drop-off sites: Winterville (126 Harris Lane), 3035 Jail Rd, Fire Station #2 (265 Cleveland Rd), Fire Station #9 (1626 Danielsville Rd), ACC Fleet Management (225 Newton Bridge Rd), Fire Station #8 (3955 Jefferson Rd)

TypeRecycling center
Run byThe county
Addresssee name11
Hours24 hour access11
Feesfree11
Who can use itanyone11

Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.

Sources: Drop-Off Sites, Landfill, CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials) Last checked Report a change

Missed pickup and contacts

Missed pickup formNo online form: ACC customers report missed garbage/recycling within 24 hours at 706-613-3501, press 5, or [email protected]; private-hauler customers contact their hauler2
Phone706-613-3501 (Solid Waste Department; main office 725 Hancock Industrial Way, Mon-Fri 8 AM-5 PM)1
311Not published by the city (official page)
Official websiteaccgov.com1

Sources: Solid Waste, Residential, Solid Waste FAQs Last checked Report a change

Nearby cities

All Georgia cities: Georgia trash pickup schedules.

Athens trash pickup FAQ

What day is trash picked up in Athens?

Athens does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s address lookup (athensclarke.maps.arcgis.com).

Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2026 in Athens?

New Year's Day falls on Thu, Jan 1, 2026. Changes; see details: No collection Thu Jan 1; Mon-Wed normal; Thursday and Friday collected Friday; Downtown District regular schedule

How do I get rid of bulky items in Athens?

Scheduled pickup: request it ahead. Online form https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/0dbe15da82374d5a81d825e64b41ef23 or call (706) 613-3501 option 7; email with collection date within 24 business hours; items at curb no earlier than 24 hours before and by 7:00 AM on pickup day; single-family, duplex and four-plex homes in both USD and GSD Fees: Free for 4 pickups per year; after that cost-of-service, special pickups start at $50/trip; additional fee may apply depending on zoning.

Does Athens recycle glass?

Glass: accepted in cart.

How do I report a missed trash pickup in Athens?

Use the city’s online form (No online form: ACC customers report missed garbage/recycling within 24 hours at 706-613-3501, press 5, or [email protected]; private-hauler customers contact their hauler) or call 706-613-3501 (Solid Waste Department; main office 725 Hancock Industrial Way, Mon-Fri 8 AM-5 PM).

Sources

  1. 1
    Solid Wastecounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  2. 2
    Residentialcounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  3. 3
    Automated Collection Rulescounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  4. 4
    Ratescounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  5. 5
    Servicescounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  6. 6
    Additional Requirementscounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  7. 7
    Holiday Interruptionscounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  8. 8
    Bulky Waste Collectioncounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  9. 9
    Leaf & Limbcounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  10. 10
    Recycling (Mixed Recycling)county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  11. 11
    Drop-Off Sitescounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  12. 12
    Landfillcounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  13. 13
    Bring One for the Chippercounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  14. 14
    Private Haulerscounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  15. 15
    Residential Collection & Franchised Hauling in ACCcounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  16. 16
    CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials)county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  17. 17
    Solid Waste FAQscounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  18. 18
    Martin Luther King Jr. Day Schedule 2026county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  19. 19
    Earth Day 2026county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  20. 20
    Memorial Day Schedule (2026 content; URL says 2025)county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  21. 21
    Juneteenth Holiday Schedule 2026county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  22. 22
    Fourth of July Schedule (2026 content; URL says 2025)county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  23. 23
    Labor Day Schedule 2026county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  24. 24
    Indigenous People's Day 2025county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  25. 25
    Veterans Day Holiday Schedule 2025county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  26. 26
    Thanksgiving Day Schedule 2025county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  27. 27
    Christmas Day Holiday Schedule 2025county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  28. 28
    New Year's Day Holiday Schedule 2026county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked October 30, 2026
  29. 29
    TrashPickup20180413 - TrashPickupPoints (Residential Pickup Days Map layer)county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · services2.arcgis.com · checked October 30, 2026
  30. 30
    Food Scraps Drop-Off Programcounty (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked November 1, 2026
  31. 31
    Food Scraps Collection (commercial)county (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government) · accgov.com · checked November 1, 2026

Something changed? Report a change

Second-pass verification against every source: November 1, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.