Recycling in Georgia
Where to recycle, donate or get rid of things in 24 cities and towns across Georgia. Pick your city, or search for your item. We also pick up anywhere in the state.
Find your city or county
Bibb County
Chatham County
- Savannah10
Clarke County
- Athens16
Cobb County
DeKalb County
Dougherty County
Floyd County
- Rome4
Fulton County
Gwinnett County
Hall County
Houston County
Lowndes County
Muscogee County
Richmond County
- Augusta11
Georgia rules
- Since July 1, 2023, Georgia imposes a $1.00 tire management fee on each new replacement tire, charged to the distributor that sells it to a Georgia tire retailer or directly to the ultimate consumer. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Subject 391-3-4: Solid Waste Management (incl. Rule 391-3-4-.04 General and Rule 391-3-4-.19 Scrap and Used Tire Management) (opens in new tab)
- The tire fee does not apply to tires with a rim size under 12 inches, tires from human-powered devices, or tires used only for agriculture (farm truck tires are still charged). Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Subject 391-3-4: Solid Waste Management (incl. Rule 391-3-4-.04 General and Rule 391-3-4-.19 Scrap and Used Tire Management) (opens in new tab)
- A 2023 amendment to O.C.G.A. 12-8-40.1(h) moved responsibility for collecting and remitting the $1 new-tire fee from retailers to distributors as of July 1, 2023. Source: Georgia EPD: Georgia Tire Fee Collections 2023 (opens in new tab)
More Georgia rules (28)
- EPD says whether a retailer passes the $1 fee on to customers or itemizes it on the receipt is a business decision. Source: Georgia EPD: Tire Fee Collection FAQs (opens in new tab)
- Tires that come on a new vehicle are not new replacement tires and are not subject to the fee. Source: Georgia EPD: Tire Fee Collection FAQs (opens in new tab)
- The new-tire fee funds the state Solid Waste Trust Fund, which pays for scrap tire cleanup, statewide recycling initiatives and abandoned landfill management. Source: Georgia EPD: Solid Waste Trust Fund (opens in new tab)
- Whole scrap tires may not be landfilled in Georgia; the ban has applied since December 31, 1994. Source: Georgia EPD: Scrap Tire Q&A for Cities and Counties (PDF, revised May 2014) (opens in new tab)
- No one may store more than 25 scrap tires anywhere in Georgia, apart from listed exceptions such as permitted disposal sites, tire retailers and farms. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Subject 391-3-4: Solid Waste Management (incl. Rule 391-3-4-.04 General and Rule 391-3-4-.19 Scrap and Used Tire Management) (opens in new tab)
- Tire retailers and distributors may store up to 1,500 scrap tires if they are secured in a locked enclosure or otherwise protected from unauthorized access. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Subject 391-3-4: Solid Waste Management (incl. Rule 391-3-4-.04 General and Rule 391-3-4-.19 Scrap and Used Tire Management) (opens in new tab)
- Anyone who generates scrap tires in Georgia (including tire retailers, auto dealers, garages and local governments) needs an EPD scrap tire generator ID number and must manifest tires to an approved final destination. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Subject 391-3-4: Solid Waste Management (incl. Rule 391-3-4-.04 General and Rule 391-3-4-.19 Scrap and Used Tire Management) (opens in new tab)
- Scrap tire generators include tire retailers, retreaders, automobile dealers, used tire dealers, garages, service stations and city, county and state governments. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Subject 391-3-4: Solid Waste Management (incl. Rule 391-3-4-.04 General and Rule 391-3-4-.19 Scrap and Used Tire Management) (opens in new tab)
- Unless exempt, anyone collecting or transporting scrap or used tires needs an EPD tire carrier permit and may take scrap tires only to a point of final disposition. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Subject 391-3-4: Solid Waste Management (incl. Rule 391-3-4-.04 General and Rule 391-3-4-.19 Scrap and Used Tire Management) (opens in new tab)
- A private individual hauling no more than 10 of their own tires (or more with a purchase receipt) is exempt from the tire carrier permit. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Subject 391-3-4: Solid Waste Management (incl. Rule 391-3-4-.04 General and Rule 391-3-4-.19 Scrap and Used Tire Management) (opens in new tab)
- EPD publishes a list of permitted tire carriers so people can check whether a hauler is permitted. Source: Georgia EPD: Common Scrap and Used Tire Questions (opens in new tab)
- Suspected tire dumps and other scrap tire complaints are reported to the EPD compliance specialist for the county. Source: Georgia EPD: Common Scrap and Used Tire Questions (opens in new tab)
- EPD reimburses local governments for transporting and recycling scrap tires from rights-of-way, scrap tire day events and local cleanups (STAR program). Source: Georgia EPD: Common Scrap and Used Tire Questions (opens in new tab)
- Georgia's solid waste rules specifically prohibit five wastes from solid waste disposal facilities: lead acid batteries, liquid waste in landfills (with exceptions), regulated hazardous waste, radioactive waste and PCB waste. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Subject 391-3-4: Solid Waste Management (incl. Rule 391-3-4-.04 General and Rule 391-3-4-.19 Scrap and Used Tire Management) (opens in new tab)
- Lead acid batteries may not be disposed of at any solid waste disposal facility in Georgia, and anyone who disposes of or accepts a prohibited waste violates the rules. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Subject 391-3-4: Solid Waste Management (incl. Rule 391-3-4-.04 General and Rule 391-3-4-.19 Scrap and Used Tire Management) (opens in new tab)
- Georgia is not on The Battery Network's (formerly Call2Recycle) list of states with battery recycling laws (Connecticut, Illinois, Nebraska, New York, Vermont, Washington, Washington D.C., Wisconsin). Source: The Battery Network (formerly Call2Recycle): home page and state recycling laws list (opens in new tab)
- State and federal law exempt homeowners from hazardous waste rules, so household hazardous waste may legally go in the garbage, but only as solids: garbage trucks may not pick up liquid waste. Source: Georgia EPD: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
- EPD says household hazardous waste should not be poured down the drain, and liquids may not go in the trash. Source: Georgia EPD: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
- EPD says reuse and recycling options for household hazardous waste in Georgia are extremely limited. Source: Georgia EPD: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
- EPD points residents to CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials) in Atlanta and Athens, which accepts many household hazardous wastes (some fees may apply). Source: Georgia EPD: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
- EPD tells residents to ask their city or county recycling or waste department about local amnesty days. Source: Georgia EPD: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
- EPD describes solidifying liquids (for example with cat litter or oil dry) so they can go out with regular household garbage. Source: Georgia EPD: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
- EPD lists old cans of paint among typical household hazardous waste and names Atlanta Paint Disposal as a resource that accepts latex paint for a fee. Source: Georgia EPD: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
- PaintCare's state list (California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington) does not include Georgia: there is no PaintCare paint stewardship program in Georgia. Source: PaintCare: Paint recycling and drop-off locations (state list) (opens in new tab)
- PaintCare runs paint recycling programs only in states with paint stewardship laws. Source: PaintCare: Paint recycling and drop-off locations (state list) (opens in new tab)
- The Mattress Recycling Council operates statewide mattress recycling only in California, Connecticut, Oregon and Rhode Island; Georgia has no state mattress program. Source: Mattress Recycling Council (opens in new tab)
- MRC operates recycling programs only in states that have passed mattress recycling laws. Source: Mattress Recycling Council (opens in new tab)
- With no Georgia mattress law, there is no MRC/Bye Bye Mattress program for mattresses or box springs in Georgia. Source: Mattress Recycling Council (opens in new tab)