Refuse (Bulky Items) Collection Policy
Refuse Collection is for Single-Family/Residential homes only. Multi-family apartments receive no rubbish pickup service.
NOTE - As of 8/17/2020 residents MUST have advanced authorization to put out rubbish/refuse for collection. Residents may call ahead to Dalton Public Works or use the SeeClickFix service online via a mobile app or on the city's SeeClickFix page.
The City will pick up a maximum of two (2) cubic yards (about the size of a long-bed pickup truck bed) of refuse every two (2) weeks free of any charge. (Note: This service is furnished only when the homeowner does the work themselves. Private contractors must depose of all items themselves) Pickup occurs in the northern part of the city one week, and the southern part of the city the next. See the 2020 schedule and map for pickup in the table at the bottom of the page.
For refuse pickups larger than 2 cubic yards, a fee will be assessed by the City Finance Department and an invoice issued to residents. The fee is $30/cubic yard for each 1 cubic yard above the volume limit.
Items Allowed for Pickup
Items allowed for pickup include: household furniture, mattresses/box springs, white goods (standard appliances), electronic waste, dried paint, bicycles (and other common outdoor items), other items not specifically prohibited by 94-29(e).
Items Not Allowed For Pickup
* Construction/Remodeling Debris -The City shall not be responsible for collecting or hauling discarded building materials, dirt, broken concrete, asphalt, bricks, rock or debris resulting from repairs, remodeling, or construction waste (including, but not limited to, plumbing fixtures, sinks, bathtubs, shower stalls, toilets, cabinets, doors, windows, trim, sheetrock, insulation, wood paneling, water/sewer piping, wire, roofing material and debris, lumber, plywood, subfloor, siding, plastic pails or buckets 5-gallons or larger, pallets, landscape timbers, crossties, lattice, fencing of any type, carpet, ceramic tile and other floor coverings).
Such material must be disposed of by the contractor, tenant, or owner of the property in accordance with any applicable local, State or Federal laws. A fine and a fee will be charged if these materials are placed curbside for City pickup. For your convenience, we are maintaining a list of permitted solid waste collection/hauler services in Whitfield County that can haul off these items or provide a dumpster. View the list in the table at the bottom of the page.
* Cardboard Boxes - Cardboard boxes shall only be collected when broken down and placed in the City issued recycling bin. Cardboard shall not be placed out as part of refuse collection. Several cardboard only recycling dumpsters are strategically located throughout the City for residents to use. See the map of cardboard recycling dropoff locations.
* Packing Material/Loose Debris - Packing peanuts, Styrofoam, air cushions, bubble wrap, shredded paper, wrapping materials, foam, and other similar material and other loose debris not contained in an all-weather container shall not be placed out as part of refuse collection. These items (other than recyclable paper products) shall be placed in household garbage.
* Tires or vehicle wheels.
* Paint and paint-related products in a liquid form.
* Hazardous and environmentally sensitive material, including but not limited to, wet paint, automotive parts, acid, explosive material, batteries, flammable items, dangerous or corrosive material, medical waste, needles, or any waste requiring special disposal procedures by the Rules of Solid Waste Management of the State of Georgia Department of Natural Resources or other local, State or Federal laws.
Multi-Family/Commercial:
* No refuse pickup service, except for inert materials such as brush and leaves which can be taken to Brooker Landfill.
