Atlanta Landfill, Dump & Recycling — Hours, Fees & What They Take
Atlanta is the most confusing disposal market we've mapped. The City of Atlanta doesn't run a landfill. Instead, single-family households get 12 scheduled bulk pickups a year, which cover furniture, appliances, mattresses and yard trimmings (not tires). The nearest public landfill is DeKalb County's Seminole Road, at $100 a ton. Fulton County runs no public drop-off; each of its 15 cities handles its own trash. Which city your house is in decides everything.
Here's what applies to you, by jurisdiction.
Your options, by jurisdiction
City of Atlanta — 12 bulk pickups a year
City Service
Department of Public Works, Office of Solid Waste Services — single-family residential customers
12 scheduled bulk collections a year at no extra charge; each one after that carries a fee under City Code 130-84 ($343.10 as of October 2026)
Book through ATL311 at atl311.com or (404) 546-0311
Collected on your regular weekly collection day (since February 16, 2026)
Every bulk collection must be scheduled
Takes: Furniture, Mattresses & box springs, Household appliances, Barbecue grills, Bulk yard trimmings (up to 4 ft long and 6 in. across, in a separate pile), More than 21 bags of yard trimmings
Won't take: tires, building materials, electronics, household hazardous waste, explosives, metal drums, gas cylinders, debris left by contractors you hired, or waste from business operations, new construction, demolition or rental properties. Put items out after 7 p.m. the night before, at least six feet from your carts, and not on the sidewalk or street. Improperly set-out items can bring a violation notice and fines up to $1,000.
The only public landfill in this list, and it takes construction debris. The Saturday hours to 4 p.m. are a real advantage. Small loads pay by weight, so a 500 to 600 lb pickup load costs $37.13. DeKalb residents on County collection can also book a fee-based bulky pickup: the County quotes a $115 minimum for a special collection.
DeKalb lists these as commercial disposal sites, so call before bringing a residential load. The East Transfer Station in Lithonia is temporarily closed. Construction debris goes to Seminole Road instead.
Accepts: Recycling, Items the City's curbside bulk pickup won't take
The City of South Fulton doesn't post opening hours online, only that the last customer is accepted 15 minutes before closing. Call before you go. It's for South Fulton residents, not the City of Atlanta.
Won't take: Propane tanks of any size; industrial or unknown chemicals; containers of 5 gallons or more.
Book an appointment at livethrive.org before you go. 2026 closures: Nov. 25 (closes early), Nov. 26–28, Dec. 24–28, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. A second location, CHaRM DeKalb in Decatur, is open Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Fulton County is home to 15 cities, each with its own sanitation service
If you live in Fulton, your city is the authority, not the county. Fulton County lists sanitation contacts for Alpharetta, Atlanta, Chattahoochee Hills, College Park, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Palmetto, Roswell, Sandy Springs, South Fulton and Union City. In the north, the City of Roswell's transfer station (1810 Hembree Road, Alpharetta; weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) takes household items from non-residents: $3 a bag of trash, $10–$20 for furniture items and mattresses. Construction debris there is for Roswell residents only.
Seminole Road Landfill (DeKalb): Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
DeKalb North Transfer Station: Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Central Transfer Station: weekdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Roswell Transfer Station: Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you live in the City of Atlanta, the 12 scheduled bulk pickups matter more than any gate: they come to your curb, and you don't need a weekday off to use them. For a Saturday trip, Seminole Road is open until 4 p.m.
What it costs to dump in Atlanta
For a normal household load, the cheapest route depends on your address.
City of Atlanta single-family home — 12 scheduled bulk pickups a year at no extra charge, collected from your curb. After 12, each pickup is $343.10 (as of October 2026).
Seminole Road Landfill (DeKalb) — $100 a ton for household waste ($99.80 for construction debris), with a sliding minimum from $16.50 for loads up to 250 lbs.
DeKalb transfer stations — $105 a ton, no construction debris.
Roswell Transfer Station — open to non-residents for household items at $3 a bag.
Construction debris — Seminole Road, a private transfer station or a roll-off. City bulk pickup won't take contractor debris.
The pattern: the City of Atlanta handles household items at the curb, and construction debris costs real money. If your load is mixed, putting the furniture and appliances on a bulk pickup and hauling only the debris is the biggest saving available here. Full statewide picture in our guide to what it costs to dump in Georgia.
Haul it yourself, or hire junk removal? — Atlanta
Atlanta makes driving it yourself hard work. City residents have no city landfill, Fulton residents have no county facility, and the nearest public landfill charges at least $16.50 a load. Two realistic routes:
Haul it yourself — cheapest by a long way if you have a vehicle and can lift it. The gate rates above are the whole cost.
Junk-removal crew — a crew does the loading and hauls it away — curbside and in-home collection are usually priced differently. Usually the better call for heavy furniture, appliances, a rental cleanout, or anything bulk pickup refuses.
Not sure which is cheaper for your load? Check an upfront junk-removal price and weigh it against the gate fee — no obligation either way.
Find a drop-off near you
Enter your ZIP or city for the nearest disposal sites across metro Atlanta.
Not one run by the City. The City of Atlanta gives single-family households 12 scheduled bulk pickups a year instead. The nearest public landfill is DeKalb County's Seminole Road Landfill, 4203 Clevemont Road, Ellenwood, at $100 a ton with a sliding minimum from $16.50 for loads up to 250 lbs, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where can I dump junk in Atlanta?
It depends on where you live. The City of Atlanta runs no landfill; it gives single-family households up to 12 scheduled bulk pickups a year through ATL311. DeKalb County's Seminole Road Landfill in Ellenwood charges $100 a ton with a sliding minimum from $16.50 for loads up to 250 lbs. Fulton County runs no public drop-off; each of its 15 cities handles its own trash.
How many free bulk pickups do Atlanta residents get?
Twelve a year for single-family residential customers, at no extra charge; each collection after the twelfth carries a fee under City Code 130-84 ($343.10 as of October 2026). Book at atl311.com or (404) 546-0311. Since February 16, 2026, pickups happen on your regular weekly collection day.
What does the DeKalb County landfill charge?
The County's 2026 fee sheet lists $100 a ton for household waste at Seminole Road and $99.80 for construction debris and yard trimmings. Loads under a ton pay a scale fee by weight: $16.50 up to 250 lbs, $24.75 to 500, $37.13 to 750, $55.69 to 1,000 and $83.53 to 1,999 lbs. Appliances with Freon are $50.40 each; tires start at $3.50.
What won't Atlanta bulk collection take?
Tires, building materials, electronics, household hazardous waste, explosives, metal drums, gas cylinders, debris left by contractors you hired, and waste from business operations, new construction, demolition or rental properties. It does take furniture, appliances, mattresses, grills and bulk yard trimmings.
What are the Seminole Road Landfill hours?
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday. It's at 4203 Clevemont Road, Ellenwood. Call (404) 687-4040.
Can I dump on a weekend in Atlanta?
Yes. DeKalb's Seminole Road Landfill is open Saturday until 4 p.m., and DeKalb's North Transfer Station in Chamblee Saturday until 12:30 p.m. (it doesn't take construction debris). City of Atlanta residents can also schedule bulk pickups instead of driving anywhere.
What is CHaRM in Atlanta?
The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials, run by the nonprofit Live Thrive at 1110 Hill St SE. It takes household hazardous waste, paint, electronics, mattresses, tires and recycling by appointment, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Many items are free for residents; TVs are $25 and paint is free for the first 20 pounds.
