What Can & Can't Go in a Dumpster in DeKalb County, GA

7 min read · Guides

A roll-off dumpster handles the vast majority of what a home or job-site project throws off. But a specific set of materials is prohibited — some for safety, some because they can't be landfilled with regular waste. Putting them in the bin causes delays and fees, so here's the clear list, plus where the banned items should actually go in DeKalb County.

What you CAN put in

• Household junk, furniture, and general clutter
• Remodeling and construction debris — drywall, lumber, fixtures, cabinetry
• Flooring, carpet, and tile
• Roofing shingles and felt
• Yard waste, branches, and storm debris (kept separate where possible)
• Concrete, brick, dirt, and inert material (in a dedicated heavy-debris bin)
• Appliances with refrigerants removed

What you CANNOT put in

• Hazardous waste — paint, solvents, chemicals, motor oil, pesticides
• Electronics (e-waste) — TVs, monitors, computers
• Batteries — car batteries and lithium-ion / rechargeables
• Tires (the landfill takes these separately, for a per-tire fee)
• Appliances with refrigerants (fridges, freezers, ACs) unless the refrigerant is professionally removed
• Fluorescent bulbs and anything containing mercury
• Medical or biohazard waste
• Asbestos — requires licensed abatement, common in older DeKalb homes
• Wet paint (fully dried-out latex cans are sometimes acceptable — ask us)

Why these are banned

Two reasons. Some items — hazardous chemicals, asbestos, biohazards — are dangerous to handle and to landfill. Others, like electronics and batteries, are kept out of the regular waste stream so their materials can be recovered. The landfill will reject prohibited loads, so it's better to sort them out before the bin is filled.

Where the banned items should go in DeKalb County

DeKalb County runs strong diversion programs: permanent electronics-recycling drop-offs (including at the Seminole Road Landfill and the Central Transfer Station), household-hazardous-waste collection events every spring and fall for paint, chemicals, and batteries, and glass, shoe, and clothing recycling programs. Tires are accepted at the landfill for a per-tire fee. For appliances with refrigerants, a technician can evacuate the refrigerant so the metal shell can then go in the bin. Older homes should be tested for asbestos before renovation or demolition, with licensed abatement arranged first. If you're unsure about any item, just ask us before it goes in.

When in doubt, ask

A quick question before you toss something saves everyone the hassle of a rejected load or a disposal fee. We're happy to tell you where any tricky item should go — call (678) 515-5749.

Questions? We're a phone call away

Whatever your project, we're happy to talk it through and give you a straight, flat-rate quote. Call (678) 515-5749 — we answer our own phones.