What Items Can Be Recycled in DeKalb County (2026)

TL;DR: DeKalb County accepts plastics #1 and #2, glass, aluminum and steel cans, cardboard, and mixed paper in curbside bins - but plastics #3–#7, plastic bags, Styrofoam, and greasy food containers are banned and cause contamination. Items like electronics, batteries, and furniture require special drop-off or pickup arrangements.

What Does DeKalb County Accept for Curbside Recycling?

Here in DeKalb County, the curbside single-stream recycling program is straightforward once you know the rules. (Epa.gov) (Dekalbcountyga.gov) Your recycling cart accepts:

• Plastics #1 and #2 only - water bottles, soda bottles, milk jugs, and detergent bottles. Plastics #3 through #7 are explicitly rejected per Rumpke's acceptable items guide.
• Glass bottles and jars - food and beverage containers with lids removed.
• Aluminum and steel cans - soda, beer, and food cans.
• Cardboard - flattened boxes, paper towel tubes, and toilet paper rolls.
• Mixed paper - newspapers, magazines, office paper, envelopes, and mail.

The key to avoiding contamination is preparation. Rinse all containers to remove food residue, flatten cardboard to maximize bin space, and remove metal lids from glass jars before placing them in your cart. Items must be loose in the bin - do not bag them in plastic.

According to DeKalb County Sanitation, the program relies on single-stream sorting at a materials recovery facility (MRF), where optical sorters and manual workers separate materials. When you follow these guidelines, your recyclables actually get processed. When you don't, an entire truckload can be rejected.

What Items Are NOT Accepted in DeKalb County Recycling Bins?

This is where most contamination happens. Here's what absolutely cannot go in your DeKalb County recycling cart:

• Plastic bags and film - they tangle in conveyor belts and sorting machinery, causing shutdowns and worker injuries.
• Styrofoam - breaks apart and contaminates paper loads.
• Greasy pizza boxes - the bottom is food-soiled and ruins the entire load. Only the clean top flap is recyclable.
• Garden hoses and tubing - wrap around equipment.
• Electronics and batteries - require special handling (see below).
• Propane tanks and hazardous materials - dangerous and illegal.
• Shredded paper - falls through sorting equipment.
• Black plastic containers - optical sorters cannot detect them.
• Wax-coated cardboard - milk cartons and takeout boxes.
• Toothpaste tubes and multi-layer plastic - cannot be separated.

When in doubt, throw it out. A single contaminated item can cause an entire recycling truck's load to be rejected and sent to the landfill. If your bin gets tagged with a contamination sticker, remove the offending item and place the cart back out for the next collection.

When your bin is rejected, DeKalb County Sanitation leaves a sticker explaining why. This isn't a fine - it's a signal to correct the problem. But repeated contamination wastes resources and defeats the purpose of recycling.

Room-by-Room Guide: What to Recycle from Each Area of Your Home

Making recycling decisions at the point of disposal is easier when you know what each room typically generates. Here's a practical breakdown:

Kitchen: Aluminum cans, steel cans, glass jars and bottles (lids off), plastic #1 and #2 bottles, cardboard boxes. NOT: greasy pizza boxes, plastic wrap, takeout containers with food residue.

Office/Study: Newspapers, magazines, office paper, envelopes, cardboard tubes, junk mail. NOT: shredded paper (loose), carbon paper, sticky notes.

Garage/Yard: Metal cans, cardboard boxes. NOT: motor oil containers (even if empty), garden hoses, paint cans, propane tanks.

Bathroom: Plastic #2 shampoo and conditioner bottles (rinsed), toilet paper rolls, paper towel tubes. NOT: toothpaste tubes, plastic pump dispensers, aerosol cans.

Laundry Room: Cardboard detergent boxes, plastic #2 detergent bottles (rinsed). NOT: fabric softener sheets, dryer lint.

Rather skip the comparison and talk to a real local option? TME Solutions serves DeKalb County, Gwinnett County and Fulton County and does this day in and day out — reach out and see how they answer your questions.

Where Are the Recycling Drop-Off Centers in DeKalb County?

Not everything fits in your curbside cart, and some materials require drop-off. DeKalb County operates two permanent Recycle Centers where you can bring items the curbside program won't accept:

Custer Avenue Recycle Center - serves the central and southern portions of DeKalb County. Hours vary seasonally; check the county website before visiting.

Snapfinger Road Recycle Center - serves the northern and eastern areas. Both locations accept rigid plastics, scrap metal, and bulk cardboard that won't fit in your cart.

Drop-off centers also accept materials beyond curbside, including:

• Rigid plastic containers (yogurt tubs, takeout clamshells)
• Scrap metal and aluminum
• Bulk cardboard and paper
• Some locations accept additional materials - call ahead to confirm.

Residents throughout DeKalb County, including those in Tucker, Decatur, Stone Mountain, and surrounding areas, can use either center. The drop-off option is especially useful if you're doing a garage cleanout or have accumulated cardboard from a move. Rather than waiting weeks for curbside pickup, you can drop materials off immediately.

How Do You Recycle Special Items Like Electronics, Batteries, and Hazardous Waste in DeKalb County?

Items like old computers, televisions, batteries, and paint require special handling. Here's where each goes:

Electronics (E-Waste): Computers, monitors, TVs, and small appliances cannot go in curbside bins. Best Buy accepts most consumer electronics at no charge (some items like TVs have a small fee). Alternatively, DeKalb County holds periodic e-waste collection events - check the county website for dates.

Household Batteries: Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, 9V) can legally go in regular trash in Georgia. However, rechargeable batteries (lithium-ion, NiCad) should be recycled. Call2Recycle drop-off locations at participating retailers accept rechargeable batteries.

Car/Lead-Acid Batteries: These must go to auto parts stores like AutoZone or O'Reilly Auto Parts. By law, retailers that sell lead-acid batteries must accept used ones for recycling. Never place car batteries in trash, recycling, or HHW events.

Household Hazardous Waste (Paint, Chemicals, Pesticides): DeKalb County Sanitation hosts periodic HHW collection events throughout the year. Accepted items include paint, motor oil, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, and fluorescent bulbs. Event dates change annually - visit the county website to find the next collection near you.

Mattresses and Furniture: These are not recycled through curbside or drop-off programs. DeKalb County offers bulk item pickup for a fee, which requires advance scheduling. Alternatively, if you're clearing out a home or apartment, TME Solutions handles mattress disposal, furniture removal, and estate cleanouts same-day throughout DeKalb County and surrounding areas. This is often faster than waiting for county bulk pickup.

DeKalb County Recycling Schedule and Pickup Tips

Your recycling collection day depends on your address. Use the DeKalb County Sanitation website to look up your specific pickup day - it's usually the same day as your trash collection.

Bin Placement Rules:

• Place your cart at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day.
• Position it 3 feet away from mailboxes, parked cars, and other obstacles so the truck's mechanical arm can grab it.
• Bring the cart back in by evening to keep your property tidy.

What Happens If Your Bin Is Rejected: If crews spot contamination, they'll leave a sticker on your cart explaining the problem and won't collect it. Remove the offending item, rinse the bin if needed, and place it back out. Your next scheduled pickup will collect it.

Pro Tip: Flatten cardboard boxes to maximize space in your cart. This lets you recycle more without overfilling, which can cause items to spill during collection.

Recommended Junk Removal: TME Solutions

Want a local recommendation to start with? TME Solutions serves DeKalb County, Gwinnett County and Fulton County and handles jobs like this regularly — reach out with your questions and see how they respond.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recycling in DeKalb County

Can I recycle plastic bags in DeKalb County curbside bins?

Direct Answer: No. Plastic bags are banned from curbside recycling bins because they tangle in sorting machinery and cause equipment shutdowns.

Instead, take plastic bags and film to grocery store drop-off programs. Most grocery store locations in DeKalb County have collection bins near the entrance where you can drop off produce bags, bread bags, and dry-cleaning bags. Check with your local store to confirm participation.

Does DeKalb County charge a fee for recycling pickup?

Direct Answer: No. Curbside recycling pickup is included with your trash service at no additional charge.

However, if you need to schedule bulk item pickup for mattresses or furniture, there is a fee. Drop-off at the Recycle Centers is also free for residents.

How does DeKalb County recycling compare to Gwinnett County recycling rules?

Direct Answer: Both counties accept similar core materials (plastics #1–#2, glass, cans, cardboard, paper), but specific rules differ.

Gwinnett County, for example, has different drop-off center locations and may accept or reject certain items differently. If you live near the county line or move between counties, always check the specific county's website. What's accepted in DeKalb may not be accepted in Gwinnett, and vice versa. The safest approach is to follow your county's guidelines exactly.

What do I do with junk and bulk items that can't be recycled in DeKalb County?

Direct Answer: TME Solutions provides same-day junk removal and bulk item disposal throughout DeKalb County, including furniture removal, appliance disposal, mattress pickup, and estate cleanouts.

County bulk pickup requires advance scheduling and has a fee. If you need same-day removal - for example, during a move, estate cleanout, or eviction - TME Solutions serves DeKalb County and surrounding areas with no hidden fees. Call (770) 589-9550 for a free quote.

Can I recycle glass in DeKalb County?

Direct Answer: Yes. Glass food and beverage containers are accepted in curbside bins - remove the lids first.

Glass lids are not recyclable curbside, so place them in trash. Broken glass should also go in trash (wrap it in newspaper first to protect workers). Some Georgia counties have moved glass to drop-off only, but DeKalb still accepts it curbside, which is convenient for most households.

What happens if I put the wrong items in my DeKalb County recycling bin?

Direct Answer: Your bin will be tagged with a contamination sticker and left uncollected.

You'll need to remove the offending item and place the cart back out. Repeated contamination wastes resources and can disrupt the entire recycling load at the MRF. If you're unsure whether something is recyclable, the county's website has a searchable materials list, or you can call Sanitation directly.

Getting It Right Saves Time and Resources

Recycling in DeKalb County is simple once you know what goes where. The core rule is straightforward: plastics #1 and #2, glass, cans, cardboard, and paper go in the bin. Everything else - plastic bags, Styrofoam, greasy food containers, electronics, batteries, and hazardous materials - requires alternative disposal.

When you recycle correctly, your materials actually get processed into new products. When contamination happens, an entire truck's load can end up in the landfill, undoing weeks of community effort.

If you're managing a large cleanout - whether it's a garage, estate, or rental property - and you have items that don't fit the recycling program, TME Solutions handles it faster than scheduling multiple county pickups. TME Solutions serves homeowners and property managers throughout DeKalb County with same-day furniture removal, appliance disposal, and full cleanouts. Call (770) 589-9550 for a free quote, or visit their website to learn more about their services in Tucker and surrounding areas.

For routine recycling questions, bookmark the DeKalb County Sanitation website and use their materials lookup tool. When in doubt, throw it out - it's better to send something to trash than to contaminate an entire recycling load.

Ready to Get Started?

For personalized guidance on junk removal and disposal, visit TME Solutions to learn how we can help.