How Do Holidays Affect Trash Pickup in Columbus, Georgia?

As a resident of Columbus, Georgia, you likely rely on the normal weekly trash and recycling pickup schedule. However, holidays can disrupt those regular collection days. Columbus Consolidated Government observes 11 holidays each year, many of which impact waste and recycling services. So when a holiday falls on or before your scheduled pickup day, how does that change when you need to set materials curbside?

This guide will walk through how major holidays affect your garbage and recycling schedules if you receive city services. We’ll also provide tips to ensure you never miss a pickup day.

Holiday Collection Changes

The City of Columbus posts an annual holiday schedule that outlines any trash and recycling collection changes around the major observed holidays, including:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day

On a holiday or day prior, waste collection services are suspended. Pickup resumes the following business day. To make up for the missed collection day, routes are shifted as follows:

• If the holiday falls on a Monday, Monday routes are picked up on Wednesday of that week.
• If the holiday falls on a Thursday or Friday, Friday routes are picked up on Wednesday of that week.

Recycling pickup also follows this same shifted schedule after a holiday.

Confirming Your Revised Pickup Date

With collection days moving around holidays, how can you find out exactly when your trash and recycling will be picked up? Here are some options:

• Check the published holiday schedule – The City’s Public Works department posts the holiday collection schedule online each year. Refer to this to see which day your pickup shifts to.

• Call 311 – Columbus 311 is the main phone number residents can call to ask questions and get information about city services. Tell the operator your normal collection day and the holiday date, and they can provide your adjusted date.

• View the collection map – The City provides an interactive map where you can enter your address and view upcoming collection dates.

• Check social media – Around major holidays, the Public Works department will often post reminders about schedule changes on their Facebook page.

• Contact your property manager – If your trash pickup is handled privately through a property manager, check with them directly about adjusted collection days.

Setting Out Trash and Recycling on Holiday Weeks

To ensure your waste and recycling are picked up without issue, be sure to:

• Follow the adjusted schedule – With routes shifting, your new collection day may not be your typical day. Avoid missing pickup by following the published holiday schedule.

• Set bins curbside by 6AM – Collection times can vary on adjusted days. Get cans curbside by 6AM to prevent being missed.

• Don’t overfill containers – With an extra day before pickup, take care not to overstuff bins. Lids should fully close.

• Hold excess trash if needed – Drivers won’t collect bagged waste set beside carts on holiday weeks. Wait until your next pickup to dispose of any excess.

• Prevent cart tipping – Position bins 3 feet apart away from objects like mailboxes and cars that can block the arm.

• Avoid contamination – Keep recycling clean and only place accepted materials in the bin. Contaminated bins won’t be collected.

Planning Ahead for Holiday Weeks

You can take a few simple steps around holidays to prevent trash issues:

• Hold off on major cleaning projects that produce extra waste until after your pickup occurs.

• Take the extra day before collection to drop off recyclables at a local recycling center.

• Use the delayed pickup day to audit what’s actually recyclable and ensure your bin isn’t contaminated.

• Review the holiday schedule at the start of each year so you know which weeks will be affected.

• Sign up for collection reminders through the City’s Rec Columbus app to get notices about schedule changes.

• If possible, wait until after the holiday to put bins curbside to avoid them sitting out an extra day.

• Check with nearby neighbors to coordinate covering or stowing carts so they aren’t exposed for extended time.

Holidays leading to shifts in the waste collection schedule are inevitable. But being prepared for these changes makes navigating them much easier. Just confirm your adjusted pickup date ahead of time and ensure carts are properly placed curbside on the revised day. Then you can continue enjoying a holiday while still having trash and recycling collected in a timely manner.