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Photo looking down a streak, lined with green recycling cans and trees that line the road.

Recycling Program

Close-up of mixed recyclable materials, including crushed plastic bottles and containers, colorful plastic lids, and metal cans.

Single-Stream Recycling Made Easy

Join DeKalb County's convenient single-stream recycling program and help protect our environment while reducing landfill waste.

Program Benefits

Environmental Impact:

  • Reduces landfill waste
  • Conserves natural resources
  • Saves energy in manufacturing
  • Reduces greenhouse gas emissions

Cost Savings:

  • Included in annual assessment fee
  • No additional cost for participation
  • Reduces overall waste management costs

Convenient Service:

  • Same-day collection with garbage
  • Single-stream system (all recyclables together)
  • Weekly curbside pickup
  • No sorting required
How to Join

New Customers:

  • Select recycling when establishing new service
  • Apply for New Service
  • Choose 45-gallon (free) or 65-gallon ($25 one-time fee) cart

Existing Customers:

  • Request Recycling Cart
  • Service included in current annual fee
  • Cart delivered within 5-10 business days
Cart Options

Standard 45-Gallon Cart (Free)

  • Perfect for: Most households
  • Capacity: 2-3 bags worth of recyclables
  • Color: Blue with recycling symbol
  • Cost: No charge

Upgraded 65-Gallon Cart (one-time $25 fee)

  • Perfect for: Large families or high-volume recyclers
  • Capacity: 4-6 bags worth of recyclables
  • Color: Blue with recycling symbol
  • Cost: One-time $25 upgrade fee
Large stack of newspapers with a blurred background of green, grey, and tan.
What Goes in Your Recycling Cart
Accepted Items

Paper Products:

  • Newspapers and inserts
  • Magazines and catalogs
  • Office paper and mail
  • Phone books and paperbacks
  • Cereal boxes and food boxes
  • Paper bags

Cardboard:

  • Corrugated cardboard boxes (flattened)
  • Up to 10 flattened boxes per week
  • Shoe boxes and shipping boxes
  • Pizza boxes (remove food residue)

Plastic Containers:

  • Bottles (#1 PETE - water, soda, juice)
  • Containers (#2 HDPE - milk jugs, detergent)
  • Yogurt cups and margarine tubs
  • Plastic caps and lids (leave on containers)

Metal Items:

  • Aluminum cans (soda, beer)
  • Steel/tin cans (food cans)
  • Metal caps and lids
Not Accepted

Glass:

  • Bottles and jars (use glass drop-off locations)
  • Mirrors and window glass
  • Light bulbs

Plastic Bags & Film:

  • Grocery bags
  • Trash bags
  • Plastic wrap
  • Bubble wrap
  • Take to grocery store drop-offs

Electronics:

  • Computers and phones
  • TVs and monitors
  • Batteries
  • Use e-recycling programs

Other Items:

  • Food waste and organic matter
  • Diapers and hygiene products
  • Styrofoam and foam containers
  • Hazardous materials
  • Textiles and clothing
How to Prepare Recyclables
Simple Steps
  1. Empty containers - No need to be spotless, just empty
  2. Keep lids on plastic bottles and containers
  3. Flatten cardboard boxes to save space
  4. No bagging - Place items loosely in cart
  5. No sorting – Keep all accepted items together
Pro Tips
  • Rinse containers if heavily soiled
  • Remove tape from cardboard boxes
  • Crush cans to save space
  • Keep materials dry when possible
Collection Information
Collection Schedule
  • Frequency: Once per week
  • Day: Same day as garbage collection
  • Time: Place cart out after 7:00 PM night before collection
  • Availability: Cart must be at curb by 7:00 AM collection day
  • Return: Bring cart in within 24 hours of servicing
Cart Placement
  • At the curb, not in street
  • 3 feet from other containers
  • Away from mailboxes and utilities
  • Accessible to collection truck
  • Handle facing street
  • View cart placement instructions
Special Recycling Programs
Glass Recycling Drop-off Program
Clothing & Shoe Recycling
  • Drop-off location: Central Transfer Station (3720 Leroy Scott Drive)
  • Partnership with: Green Zone Recycling
  • Accepts: Clothing, shoes, textiles
  • Mission: Reduce landfill waste, support second-hand markets
Electronics Recycling
Colorful display of cleaning supplies with red, yellow, white, and blue bottles and containers.
Hard-to-Recycle Items: CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials)

What they accept:

  • Paint and chemicals
  • Plastics #4, #5, #6
  • Household hazardous waste
  • Motor oil and batteries

Retail Drop-offs:

  • Grocery Stores: Plastic bags and film
  • Best Buy: Electronics and batteries
  • Home Improvement Stores: Paint and chemicals
  • Pharmacies: Medications

Locations:

Recycling Education

School Recycling Program:

  • Available to: All schools within the DeKalb County School District and private schools outside of the School District
  • Includes: Site assessment, containers, training
  • Benefits: Environmental education, cost savings
  • Contact: Ilana Daniel at imdaniel@dekalbcountyga.gov

Educational Resources:

Troubleshooting

Common Contamination Issues:

Cart Issues:

Recycling Tips for Maximum Impact

Best Practices:

  • Buy recyclable products when possible
  • Reduce first - use less, reuse more
  • Buy in bulk to reduce packaging
  • Choose recyclable packaging when shopping
  • Educate family members about proper recycling

Size Matters:

  • Items smaller than a credit card may fall through sorting equipment
  • Remove caps smaller than 3 inches
  • Flatten large cardboard to fit more in cart
Mixed Paper Drop-off Locations
Environmental Impact

By Recycling, You Help:

  • Save trees: 1 ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees
  • Conserve energy: Recycled aluminum uses 95% less energy
  • Reduce pollution: Less mining and manufacturing
  • Create jobs: Recycling industry employs thousands locally

DeKalb County Stats:

  • 182,000+ households served
  • Tons diverted from landfill annually
  • Environmental benefits calculated yearly
Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is recycling service mandatory?

A. No, recycling is optional but included in your annual assessment fee.

Q. Can I get a second recycling cart?

A. Yes, additional carts require a one-time $25 fee plus additional annual assessment fee.

Q. Can I recycle glass in my cart?

A. No, glass must be taken to designated drop-off locations countywide.

Q. Do I need to remove labels from containers?

A. No, labels are removed during the recycling process.

Q. What happens if I put wrong items in my cart?

A. Contaminated carts may not be collected.

Q. What about cardboard boxes?

A. Up to 10 flattened boxes are accepted. More boxes or any unflattened boxes require special collection fee.

Welcome Materials

New Recycler Package:

Contact Information

Customer Service

Phone: 404-294-2900

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-5:30 PM

Email Requests: sanitation@dekalbcountyga.gov

Response within 3 business days

Office Location3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur, GA 30032
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM

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