Gainesville bulk trash pickup
Two streams: Curbside trash (occasional oversized/outdoor cleanup — separate from household garbage trucks): ≤1 cy/week and ≤4 cy/month without extra.
Verified 2026-10-15 · gainesville.org
At a glance
| Brush | Limbs/cuttings ≤5 ft length, ≤50 lb, separate from other materials, ≤1 cy/week. |
|---|---|
| Limits | Yard (Guidelines): grass/small shrubbery in plastic bags or suitable containers with bagged leaves Feb–Sep; Oct–Jan unbagged leaves via City vacuum (Street Maintenance 770-532-0379; Leaf Collection page zones/schedules). |
| Not allowed | Glass in recycle cart. |
| Curbside | Garbage & recycling curbside by 6:30 a.m. collection day (rain or shine). Checklist Verified 2026-10-15 · gainesville.org |
Schedule
Curbside
Curbside checklist
City rules before collection day. Confirm with the city if anything looks off.
When
Garbage & recycling curbside by 6:30 a.m. collection day (rain or shine).
Where
Curbside at street; 3 ft from any object; not blocking pedestrian/vehicular traffic; in front of originating property; outside fences/enclosed areas.
Limits
Yard (Guidelines): grass/small shrubbery in plastic bags or suitable containers with bagged leaves Feb–Sep; Oct–Jan unbagged leaves via City vacuum (Street Maintenance 770-532-0379; Leaf Collection page zones/schedules).
Not allowed
Glass in recycle cart.
Bags
Household garbage bagged inside City cart. Recyclables loose/clean in recycle bin (no trash). Yard per seasonal rules above.
Not yet confirmed: Fees and fines.
Verified 2026-10-15 · gainesville.org
Add curbside reminder to Google CalendarFind your day
Verified 2026-10-15 · gainesville.org
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Full details for Gainesville: every rule, with sources
- Trash
- City of Gainesville Solid Waste Division. Residential city-limits service automatic with City water/sewer (can't opt out). Exceptions with no city sanitation (FAQ): Cresswind at Lake Lanier, Copper Springs, Sandridge Commons, The Bluffs at Lanier, Chicopee Crossing. Day by address — Service Map / call 770-532-0493. City-issued garbage can only; household garbage bagged, securely tied, inside cart (bags on lid/ground aren't collected). Curbside by 6:30 a.m. collection day. Max 96 gal/pickup; extra 96-gal cart $15/mo. Combined garbage/recycling/landfill fee $32.10 on water bill (Guidelines PDF / Fees FAQ). Medical waiver available for front-door service (Solid Waste page).
- Recycling
- Weekly same day as garbage; city-issued recycling bin. By 6:30 a.m. Accepted (Recycling page / Guidelines): aluminum & tin cans (rinse; flatten optional); scrap metal <5 lb and <18 in; newspapers/magazines; plastics #1 & #2; broken-down cardboard. No glass in single-stream (Hall County drop sites for glass). Wash cans/plastics; no trash in recycle bins. Non-recyclables left in bin.
- Bulk pickup
- Two streams: (1) Curbside trash (occasional oversized/outdoor cleanup — separate from household garbage trucks): ≤1 cy/week and ≤4 cy/month without extra fees; overages / attic-basement-tenant-eviction cleanouts are resident responsibility (Curbside FAQ). Leaves/grass/packing/loose blowables must be bagged for this stream. (2) White goods & special pickups — schedule ahead 770-532-0493; per-occurrence fee on next water bill (amount by item; isn't published as fixed $ list). White goods examples: AC, dryers, dishwashers, e-waste (computers/monitors/TVs/stereo), microwaves, refrigerators, stoves, trash compactors, washers, water heaters. Don't set out before arranging. Guidelines also: large appliances/furniture/mattresses etc. For a fee with advance call.
- Curbside: when
- Garbage & recycling curbside by 6:30 a.m. collection day (rain or shine).
- Curbside: where
- Curbside at street; 3 ft from any object; not blocking pedestrian/vehicular traffic; in front of originating property; outside fences/enclosed areas.
- Curbside: limits
- Trash ≤96 gal/pickup (extra cart $15/mo). Curbside trash stream ≤1 cy/week / ≤4 cy/month before extra fees. Yard (Guidelines): grass/small shrubbery in plastic bags or suitable containers with bagged leaves Feb–Sep; Oct–Jan unbagged leaves via City vacuum (Street Maintenance 770-532-0379; Leaf Collection page zones/schedules). Limbs/cuttings ≤5 ft / ≤50 lb, kept separate, ≤1 cy/week (overages → additional fees on water bill).
- Curbside: brush
- Limbs/cuttings ≤5 ft length, ≤50 lb, separate from other materials, ≤1 cy/week.
- Curbside: not allowed
- Glass in recycle cart. City won't collect (Guidelines / Curbside FAQ examples): building materials, dirt/rocks/bricks, move-in/out debris, remodeling/construction debris (plumbing fixtures, cabinets, doors, windows, roofing, lumber, siding, carpet, etc.), tires, auto parts, acid/flammables/corrosives/household hazardous waste/bio-medical, blocks, explosives, liquids, stumps, wet paint — and many other EPD-restricted items. Eviction/tenant cleanouts resident responsibility.
- Curbside: bags
- Household garbage bagged inside City cart. Recyclables loose/clean in recycle bin (no trash). Yard per seasonal rules above.
- Curbside: fees and fines
- Not yet confirmed
- Holidays
- New Year's Day 2026 (2026-01-01): shift not yet confirmed
- Mlk 2026 (2026-01-19): shift not yet confirmed
- Memorial Day 2026 (2026-05-25): shift not yet confirmed
- Independence Day 2026 (2026-07-03): shift not yet confirmed
- Labor Day 2026 (2026-09-07): shift not yet confirmed
- Veterans Day 2026 (2026-11-11): shift not yet confirmed
- Thanksgiving 2026 (2026-11-26): shift not yet confirmed
- Christmas Eve 2026 (2026-12-24): shift not yet confirmed
- Christmas 2026 (2026-12-25): shift not yet confirmed
Neither garbage nor recycling on City-observed holidays — hold until following day (Solid Waste FAQ; CivicSend notices list +1 day delay pattern, e.g. Memorial Day Mon May 25 → Tue for Mon routes). Holidays named on Solid Waste FAQ: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day. 2026 Holiday Garbage & Recycling Schedule PDF linked from the Recycling page — date keys below from City 2026 employee holiday schedule + CivicSend solid-waste notices (Independence observed Fri Jul 3, 2026 on employee schedule; Christmas Eve/Day Dec 24–25). Re-open holiday PDF
- Hauler
- City of Gainesville Solid Waste Division (Public Works)
- Contacts
- Solid Waste & Recycling 770-532-0493; Fax 770-535-6884; 263 Alta Vista Road Suite B, Gainesville, GA 30501; Street Maintenance (leaves) 770-532-0379; Water Resources customer service 770-535-6878
- Find your day
- Solid Waste Service Map (address → collection day) or call 770-532-0493
- Sources
- Trash and recycling: gainesville.org
Bulk: gainesville.org
Holidays: gainesville.org
Curbside: gainesville.org - 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