What can and can't be thrown out in Atlanta?
Atlanta residents may schedule up to 12 bulk collection appointments per year, but the city excludes waste from contractors, businesses, new construction, demolition, and rental properties. It also will not collect household hazardous waste, electronics, explosives, metal drums, or pressurized gas cylinders as bulk. Furniture, mattresses, and household appliances are accepted when they meet the city's preparation and scheduling rules. Always check the official list before placing material at the curb.
Written and maintained by the WasteMatch Team — Atlanta metro haulers and dispatchers who handle disposal compliance every day. Last updated .
The EPA estimated that the United States generated 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2018, or about 4.9 pounds per person per day. It reported that 32.1% was recycled or composted ( EPA Facts and Figures).
City of Atlanta bulk pickup
The City of Atlanta allows residents up to 12 scheduled bulk collection appointments per year. Materials should be placed neatly at the curb after 7 p.m. on the day before collection and kept clear of streets, sidewalks, utilities, and traffic.
The city does not accept contractor, business, new-construction, demolition, or rental-property debris through residential bulk collection. Household hazardous waste, electronics, explosives, metal drums, and pressurized gas cylinders are also excluded. See the official Atlanta bulk collection rules before setting items out.
Need it gone faster? That's what we do.
City bulk pickup is a great free option - if you can wait for a slot and haul everything to the curb yourself. WasteMatch handles what the city program can't:
- Same-day and next-day pickup - no waiting for a scheduled city slot
- In-home removal, not just curbside - we do the lifting
- Appliances and larger volumes the bulk program limits
- Construction debris and other items the city won't take as bulk
Curbside recycling basics (blue cart)
Atlanta's recycling program accepts the following common materials. Keep them empty and loose, and review the City of Atlanta recycling guidance when you are unsure:
- Paper and cardboard
- Metal cans
- Glass bottles and jars
- Plastics #1–5 and #7
Not accepted curbside:
- Electronics
- Batteries
- Textiles
- Plastic bags
Hard-to-recycle items
Electronics, chemicals, and batteries don't belong in curbside recycling or regular trash. Take them to Live Thrive Atlanta's Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM), which accepts exactly these kinds of items safely.
The EPA identifies paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides as products that may contain hazardous ingredients and require special care at disposal. Read the EPA household hazardous waste guidance, then check the City of Atlanta's local instructions or an approved drop-off program before moving the material.
Donate first
Before you toss it, consider donating. Usable furniture and working appliances can get a second life through local charities - better for your neighbors and better for the landfill. If it's still good, give it a chance to be great for someone else.
Municipal rules change. This page was checked against the City of Atlanta's current bulk collection guidance; confirm the official page before setting out regulated or unusual material.
The WasteMatch Team — Atlanta haulers & dispatchers
WasteMatch was built by people who did the removals themselves — one pickup truck and a borrowed trailer, hauling junk for Atlanta neighbors on nights and weekends. We started the platform to fix what we kept running into: vague estimates, no-shows, and week-long waits. Our team runs dispatch and the hauler network, and sets the pricing and payout standards every job on WasteMatch follows.
We review regulated and municipal guidance against the official City of Atlanta, Georgia EPD, and U.S. EPA sources listed below.
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