Background

Augusta and Richmond County (pop. 197,872) form a consolidated city-county on Georgia’s eastern border. Augusta Solid Waste is the waste hauler for all of Augusta and the surrounding county (excepting the city limits of nearby Hephzibah and Blythe, however, Augusta’s suburbs over the South Carolina border are not included in this service area. Residents receive a 95-gallon single-stream recycling cart, and can choose between various-sized garbage carts to suit their needs. Augusta is serious about its weekly recycling collection, and complements it with a recycling education program for area schools and various drop-off points and regularly scheduled recycling events in town.

Materials recycled

Paper Newspapers and inserts, corrugated cardboard (flattened and cut to sizes 2×2 feet or smaller), junk mail, books, phonebooks, frozen food packaging, paperboard, paper bags, magazines, catalogs and mixed paper are accepted. Plastics All plastic bottles, containers and cartons are accepted. Metals Aluminum cans, tin/steel cans, empty aerosol cans, aluminum foil (clean and balled up) and metal lids and caps are accepted. Glass Glass is not accepted at the curb. Please see drop-off information under Other Programs.

Frequency

Augusta recycles at the curb on a weekly basis — same day as refuse, bulk waste and yard waste collection. Carts must be placed curbside by 6 a.m. on collection day and should be spaced 3 feet apart. A collection day lookup tool is available online.

Other programs

Glass bottles and containers are not collected at the curb, but can be dropped off at the Augusta Solid Waste facility (4330 Deans Bridge Rd.; Monday through Friday, from 5 to 5, and Saturday, from 6 a.m. to noon) and other designated points around town. These items must be sorted by color with lids/caps removed. Tires, electronics, used oil and mixed metals can also be taken to the Solid Waste facility for proper recycling. Monthly tire recycling events are held in Richmond County. Check out the city’s community calendar for the next event. Christmas trees are recycled on regular curbside collection day the first two weeks in January each year. Environmental Alternatives, based in Augusta, accepts many household hazardous materials. Call 706.737.8433 for details and associated fees. Yard waste is collected weekly on the same pick-up day as curbside recyclables. Residents can collect yard waste in paper yard waste bags, kraft bags, open-top cans or containers clearly labeled “Yard Waste.” Containers must be no larger than 32 gallons and no heavier than 50 pounds. Accepted organics include lawn clippings, leaves, brush, tree limbs and other biodegradable yard matter.

More information

Visit the Augusta Solid Waste website for more recycling program info.