DeKalb Trash Pickup, Recycling, Yard Trimmings & Bulky Item Schedule 2026
This resident-first guide helps DeKalb County households understand weekly garbage, recycling and yard trimmings pickup, 2026 holiday delays, roll cart rules, missed pickup steps, glass drop-off, bulky item requests, special collection fees and the official Sanitation Division contacts residents actually need.
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DeKalb trash pickup schedule garbage collection is address-based. DeKalb County Sanitation collects garbage, recycling and yard trimmings once each week on the same assigned collection day. Items must be placed curbside after 7:00 PM the night before collection and must be available by 7:00 AM on collection day.
Use county-issued carts correctly: garbage must be bagged inside the 95-gallon garbage roll cart, recyclables must be loose in the recycling cart, and yard trimmings must be in approved containers, paper bags or properly tied bundles. Missed collection help goes to DeKalb Sanitation Customer Care at 404-294-2900 or sanitation@dekalbcountyga.gov.
DeKalb Trash Pickup Day Lookup — What Runs on Your Weekly Collection Day
DeKalb County does not use a single countywide trash day. Your pickup day is assigned by address and route. Once you know that day, the simple pattern is: garbage, recyclable materials and yard trimmings are collected on the same weekly service day, unless a county-observed holiday or weather delay changes the route.
The County’s Sanitation Division serves unincorporated DeKalb County and several cities, including Brookhaven, Decatur, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stonecrest, Stone Mountain and Tucker. If you are unsure whether your address is served by DeKalb County Sanitation or a city/private provider, call Customer Care before following a neighbor’s schedule.
Official route help: Use DeKalb Sanitation’s official pages and Customer Care to confirm your assigned pickup day and service status.
Open Sanitation DivisionDeKalb Pickup Morning Checklist — What I Would Check Before 7:00 AM
Most DeKalb missed-pickup problems come from timing, overflow, contamination or using the wrong request type. Use this quick resident checklist before calling the County.
- Place garbage, recycling and yard trimmings out after 7:00 PM the night before pickup.
- Make sure everything is available by 7:00 AM on collection day.
- Remove emptied carts within 24 hours after service.
- Keep carts clear of vehicles, mailboxes and flower beds.
- Put garbage in secure plastic bags inside the green county-issued cart.
- Put recyclables loose in the recycling cart, never in plastic bags.
- Do not place loose garbage or liquids in the roll cart.
- Do not place excess garbage bags outside the roll cart.
- Do not put glass in curbside recycling.
- Do not put yard trimmings in plastic bags.
- Do not mix tree parts, garbage and construction material into one pile.
- Do not assume bulky or special collection works without a request.
Local practical tip: If you have a repeated missed collection issue, take a photo before 7:00 AM showing cart placement, closed lids and no blocked access. That gives you a clearer record when contacting Sanitation Customer Care.
DeKalb County 2026 Holiday Trash Pickup Schedule — Official Delay Rules
DeKalb County publishes an official residential holiday collection schedule. Some holidays create a one-day delay for all customers; some affect only specific service days; and some observed holidays create no collection change. Do not assume every federal holiday changes your pickup.
| Holiday | 2026 Observed Date | Official Collection Impact |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1 | No service Thursday. Thursday customers serviced Friday. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 19 | No service Monday. Collection runs one day late for all customers. |
| Presidents Day | Monday, February 16 | No service Monday. Collection runs one day late for all customers. |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 | No service Monday. Collection runs one day late for all customers. |
| Juneteenth | Friday, June 19 | Observed. No change in collection service. |
| Independence Day | Friday, July 3 | Observed. No change in collection service. |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 7 | No service Monday. Collection runs one day late for all customers. |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, November 11 | No service Wednesday. Collection runs one day late for Wednesday and Thursday customers. |
| Thanksgiving Holiday | Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 | No service Thursday. Thursday customers serviced Friday. |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25 | Observed. No change in collection service. |
Holiday-week warning: The safe rule is to check the official holiday calendar whenever the holiday is on or before your collection day. Weather can also change collection schedules.
DeKalb Garbage Collection Rules — 95-Gallon Roll Cart, Bagging and Overflow Problems
DeKalb County requires garbage to be placed in secure, durable plastic bags before going into the county-issued 95-gallon roll cart. Loose garbage, liquids and extra bags outside the cart are not accepted as normal weekly service.
- Use only county-issued 95-gallon garbage roll carts.
- Bag household garbage securely before placing it in the cart.
- Keep liquids out of the cart.
- Place cart curbside after 7:00 PM the night before collection.
- Make cart available by 7:00 AM on collection day.
- Remove cart within 24 hours after service.
- Liquids of any kind.
- Hazardous materials, including batteries.
- Large appliances.
- Construction materials.
- Yard trimmings.
- Excess garbage bags outside the roll cart.
Overflow mistake: If your garbage does not fit in the cart, do not just pile extra bags beside it. Excess bags can become a special collection issue and may require a paid request depending on volume and preparation.
DeKalb Recycling Pickup — What Goes in the Cart and What Must Stay Out
DeKalb’s residential single-stream recycling program is optional but included in the annual sanitation assessment fee. Recyclables should be placed loose in the recycling cart. Plastic bags and bagged recyclables are a major contamination problem.
- Mixed paper.
- All cardboard.
- Plastic bottles and containers #1 and #2 only.
- Metal and aluminum cans and containers.
- Up to 10 flattened cardboard boxes.
- Items should be clean, empty and loose in the cart.
- Glass — use glass drop-off locations.
- Shredded paper.
- Plastic bags.
- Electronics.
- Hazardous materials.
- Food waste.
- Plastics #3 through #7.
Glass rule: DeKalb no longer accepts glass in curbside single-stream recycling. Use county-operated glass recycling drop-off locations.
Recycling GuideDeKalb Waste Video Guide — Official Recycling PSA
DeKalb County’s official government channel published a recycling PSA explaining important updates to the residential single-stream recycling program. This is useful for residents who need a quick visual reminder of accepted recyclables, cart preparation and why correct sorting helps extend the life of the Seminole Road Landfill.
Best for: New residents, homeowners, renters, residents upgrading recycling carts, families with large cardboard volumes, and anyone unsure about glass, plastic bags, plastics #3 through #7, batteries, electronics or other contamination issues.
This video supports the recycling guidance in this article. For exact pickup dates, holiday changes, missed collection, bins, fees, cart availability, bulky item requests, landfill hours and service alerts, residents should still verify details through the official DeKalb County Sanitation links above.
DeKalb Yard Trimmings Pickup — Paper Bags, 40-Gallon Containers and Branch Rules
Yard trimmings are collected weekly on the same assigned collection day as garbage and recycling, but the material must be prepared separately. Yard waste mixed with household garbage or placed in plastic bags can be left behind.
- Use metal or plastic containers up to 40 gallons.
- Use biodegradable paper bags.
- Cut branches and limbs to a maximum of 4 feet in length.
- Bundle and tie limbs securely.
- Stack branches neatly at the curb.
- Keep each piece at 25 pounds or less.
- Plastic bags.
- Containers with dirt.
- Limbs cut by professional contractors.
- Tree parts over 25 pounds.
- Contaminated yard waste.
- Large tree parts over 3 inches diameter without special collection fee.
Storm cleanup warning: If a professional tree contractor cut the limbs, DeKalb does not treat that pile like normal weekly yard trimmings. Make sure your contractor arranges disposal, or check whether a paid special collection is required.
DeKalb Bulky Item Pickup — Furniture, Mattresses, Appliances and Paid Special Collection
DeKalb County separates no-fee bulky item collection from paid special collection. Residents must place items curbside and submit a bulky item or special collection request. After the request is submitted, the County assesses the material and gives further instructions if payment is needed.
- Toilets.
- Furniture.
- Mattresses and box springs.
- Household appliances.
- Appliances must be empty.
- All appliance doors must be removed.
- Commingled piles.
- Landlord evictions.
- Excess garbage bags.
- Wood, metal fences and decking.
- Improperly prepared yard trimmings.
- Construction and demolition materials, excluding concrete.
- Large volumes of garbage or yard trimmings.
| Special Collection Type | Official Fee Structure | Resident Note |
|---|---|---|
| General special collection pile | $100 minimum / $225 per truckload | Use when regular bulky collection does not apply. |
| Tree parts over 3 inches diameter | $200 minimum / $450 per truckload | Often applies after heavy trimming or storm work. |
| Commingled piles | $200 minimum / $450 per truckload | Mixed garbage, tree parts or construction debris can trigger fees. |
Official bulky request: Submit an online bulky item or special collection request after items are curbside and ready.
Request CollectionDeKalb New Sanitation Service — Roll Carts, Assessment Fees and Cart Upgrades
DeKalb County sanitation service is fee-based. Annual sanitation assessment fees include weekly garbage, recycling, yard trimmings and bulky item collection. New customers must pay prorated annual sanitation assessment fees before service and roll cart delivery begin.
- Complimentary green 95-gallon garbage roll cart.
- Complimentary blue 45-gallon recycling roll cart.
- Weekly garbage collection.
- Weekly recycling collection if participating.
- Weekly yard trimmings collection.
- Bulky item collections under county rules.
- Recycling participation is optional but included in annual fees.
- 65-gallon recycling cart upgrade requires a one-time $25 prepaid fee.
- Additional 95-gallon garbage cart requests can increase annual assessment fees.
- Additional carts require payment before delivery.
- Service is tied to the property address.
New residential service: Apply online, by mail or in person at the Sanitation Division administration building.
Establish ServiceMissed Trash Pickup DeKalb County — What to Check Before Calling
If household garbage, recycling or yard trimmings have not been collected by the end of the business day on your scheduled collection day, contact DeKalb Sanitation. Before calling, check whether the material followed collection procedures.
| Problem | Likely Reason | Best Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage cart not emptied | Late set-out, blocked cart, loose garbage, liquids or excess bags outside cart. | Fix the issue, then call 404-294-2900 if properly placed. |
| Recycling not collected | Plastic bags, glass, food waste, electronics, plastics #3-#7 or contamination. | Remove contamination and check recycling guide. |
| Yard trimmings left behind | Plastic bags, limbs over limits, dirt, contractor-cut limbs or contaminated yard waste. | Prepare correctly or request paid special collection if needed. |
| Bulk pile not picked up | No request submitted, mixed special collection material or payment required. | Submit bulky/special collection request and follow instructions. |
Missed collection help: Call DeKalb Sanitation Customer Care or email with your address and service issue.
Call 404-294-2900DeKalb Sanitation Drop-Off and Facility Help — Landfill, Transfer Stations, Compost and Recycling Centers
Some items do not belong in weekly curbside carts. DeKalb County lists several sanitation facilities and drop-off options, including the Seminole Road Landfill, transfer stations, recycling centers, compost pickup locations and glass recycling locations.
- Sanitation Division office: 3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur, GA 30032.
- Seminole Road Landfill: 4203 Clevemont Road, Ellenwood, GA 30294.
- North Transfer Station: 4600 Buford Highway, Chamblee, GA 30341.
- East Transfer Station: 1750 Rogers Lake Road, Lithonia, GA 30058.
- County-operated glass recycling drop-off locations.
- Check facility hours before loading your vehicle.
- Confirm whether the item is accepted.
- Check whether fees apply.
- Do not take hazardous material to the wrong facility.
- Use official landfill and recycling pages for current rules.
Sanitation Division Office Map
DeKalb Sanitation Phone Number, Email, Office Address and Official Links
| Need | Official Contact | Use This For |
|---|---|---|
| Sanitation Customer Care | 404-294-2900 | Pickup day help, missed collection, new service, carts and general sanitation questions. |
| sanitation@dekalbcountyga.gov | Service questions, missed pickup follow-up and written requests. | |
| Office | 3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur, GA 30032 | In-person sanitation service applications and payments. |
| County Main Contact | 404-371-2000 | General DeKalb County routing. |
Official DeKalb Sanitation Links
Related Trash Pickup Guides — Internal Links for Georgia, Bulk and Holiday Collection Help
These related guides help residents compare common pickup problems such as holiday delays, recycling contamination, bulk item rules, yard waste preparation and missed collection routing.
DeKalb Trash Pickup FAQ — Most Searched Local Questions Answered
Source Verification and Editorial Note
Independent information guide — not affiliated with DeKalb County Government. trash-pickup.org is a public information resource. We do not operate sanitation trucks, carts, recycling pickup, yard trimmings collection, bulky item requests, special collection billing, landfill operations or DeKalb County customer service phone lines.
Pickup timing, weekly collection rules, roll cart requirements, recycling restrictions, yard trimmings rules, bulky item fees, new service details, 2026 holiday schedule, missed pickup contacts and official video availability were checked against official DeKalb County resources as of May 2026. Routes, fees, forms, facility hours and service notices can change. Always verify through official links before acting.
Official Sources — Verified May 2026
- DeKalb County — Sanitation Division
- DeKalb County — Collection Procedures
- DeKalb County — Establish Residential Service
- DeKalb County — Bulky Items and Special Collections
- DeKalb County — Sanitation FAQ
- DeKalb County — Why and How to Recycle
- DeKalb County — 2026 Residential Holiday Collection Schedule PDF
- DeKalbCountyGov — Official Recycling PSA
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