Columbus trash & recycling schedule
Trash is picked up weekly; your day depends on your ZIP.
At a glance
| Trash | Weekly household garbage in City-issued black or brown cart only (policy effective Sept 9, 2024 — nothing outside cart collected). Verified 2026-10-15 · columbusga.gov |
|---|---|
| Curbside | Household garbage carts at curb before 7:00 a.m. collection day. Checklist Verified 2026-10-15 · columbusga.gov |
| Recycling | Blue 65-gal cart weekly same day. Loose only (no plastic bags): plastic, paper, cardboard, tin, aluminum cans. Verified 2026-10-15 · columbusga.gov |
| Bulk | Contact the city for bulk pickup details. Bulk page Verified 2026-10-15 · columbusga.gov |
| Hauler | City of Columbus Public Works Integrated Waste. |
| Contacts | 311; 706-653-4000; Tree for Fee 706-225-4661. Verified 2026-10-15 · columbusga.gov |
Curbside
Curbside checklist
City rules before collection day. Confirm with the city if anything looks off.
When
Household garbage carts at curb before 7:00 a.m. collection day.
Where
Curbside; ≥3 ft from other carts/objects; wheels to curb / handles to house for blue cart.
Limits
All garbage inside city black/brown cart only; second brown cart $55. Commercial: one 96-gal cart $336/year (else private dumpster). Tree-for-fee billed per load/ton as above.
Not allowed
Trash outside city cart; glass in blue cart; construction waste in bulk; mixed bulk piles; off-right-of-way service not provided.
Bags
Garbage in city cart (bagged as practical); recyclables loose in blue (no plastic bags).
Verified 2026-10-15 · columbusga.gov
Add curbside reminder to Google CalendarFind your pickup day
Verified 2026-10-15 · columbusga.gov
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Day Observed 2026 | 2026-07-03 | — |
| Labor Day 2026 | 2026-09-07 | — |
| Columbus Day 2026 | 2026-10-12 | — |
| Veterans Day 2026 | 2026-11-11 | — |
| Thanksgiving 2026 | 2026-11-26 | — |
| Day After Thanksgiving 2026 | 2026-11-27 | — |
| Floating Holiday 2026 | 2026-12-24 | — |
| Christmas 2026 | 2026-12-25 | — |
Verified 2026-10-15 · columbusga.gov 1, columbusga.gov 2
Private junk pickup
Same-week haul for furniture or a cleanout in Columbus. Not affiliated with Town Rulebook or your city — you book directly.
Opens the vendor site. We do not book or take payment.
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Full details for Columbus: every rule, with sources
- Trash
- City Public Works Integrated Waste. Weekly household garbage in City-issued black or brown cart only (policy effective Sept 9, 2024 — nothing outside cart collected). All streams (garbage, recycling, yard waste, bulk) on the same day by address map on Resources page / Columbus GA Recycles app. Carts at curb before 7:00 a.m. collection day; ≥3 ft from recycling cart, cars, mailboxes; wheels to curb. Second brown cart $55 via 311 (no extra collection fee). Missed can (city fault): 311 / 706-653-4000.
- Recycling
- Blue 65-gal cart weekly same day. Loose only (no plastic bags): plastic, paper, cardboard, tin, aluminum cans. No glass curbside (drop-off / Sustainability Center). Keep recyclables inside cart; wheels on curb, handles to house; 3 ft clearance.
- Bulk pickup
- Large appliances and furniture collected once/week same day as yard waste — no construction waste curbside (Pine Grove Landfill). Bulk solid waste and large yard-waste piles require 311 scheduled pickup; mixed piles not collected. Cut-down trees: Tree for Fee via 706-225-4661 — $50/load collection + $76.50/ton tip (reduced % if on reduced garbage fee); allow ~1 week.
- Curbside: when
- Household garbage carts at curb before 7:00 a.m. collection day.
- Curbside: where
- Curbside; ≥3 ft from other carts/objects; wheels to curb / handles to house for blue cart.
- Curbside: limits
- All garbage inside city black/brown cart only; second brown cart $55. Commercial: one 96-gal cart $336/year (else private dumpster). Tree-for-fee billed per load/ton as above.
- Curbside: brush
- Yard waste collected same day as garbage (green/yard stream per city map); large piles and cut trees need 311 / Tree for Fee — do not mix with bulk furniture piles.
- Curbside: not allowed
- Trash outside city cart; glass in blue cart; construction waste in bulk; mixed bulk piles; off-right-of-way service not provided.
- Curbside: bags
- Garbage in city cart (bagged as practical); recyclables loose in blue (no plastic bags).
- Curbside: fees and fines
- Collection-Information HTML
- Holidays
- Independence Day Observed 2026 (2026-07-03): shift not yet confirmed
- Labor Day 2026 (2026-09-07): shift not yet confirmed
- Columbus Day 2026 (2026-10-12): shift not yet confirmed
- Veterans Day 2026 (2026-11-11): shift not yet confirmed
- Thanksgiving 2026 (2026-11-26): shift not yet confirmed
- Day After Thanksgiving 2026 (2026-11-27): shift not yet confirmed
- Floating Holiday 2026 (2026-12-24): shift not yet confirmed
- Christmas 2026 (2026-12-25): shift not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed. Check your city.
- Hauler
- City of Columbus Public Works Integrated Waste
- Contacts
- 311; 706-653-4000; Tree for Fee 706-225-4661
- Find your day
- Resources collection day map / Columbus GA Recycles app
- Sources
- Trash and recycling: columbusga.gov
Bulk: columbusga.gov
Holidays: columbusga.gov 1, columbusga.gov 2
Curbside: columbusga.gov - Verified
- 2026-10-15
Town Rulebook is independent and not affiliated with any city or hauler. Schedules change — always confirm with your city. About & disclaimer