Solid Waste & Sanitation

 NEW RATES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2021

Due to increases the County is charged for final disposal of waste items, an increase in some fees is necessary.  Effective October 1, 2021, the fees for the following types of waste brought to the Morgan County Transfer Station will be:

• General garbage/rubbish/bulky items                           $50.00 per ton
• C & D (Construction Debris)                                         $55.00 per ton                       (No Commercial Hauler or Contractors)
• Tires - Car/Passenger Trucks                                      $ 4.00 each
• Tires - Tractor Trailer                                                   $10.00 each
• Tires - Farm Tractor                                                    $25.00 each
• Tires - Skidder                                                             $350.00 each

The County currently operates 13 trash compactors, a transfer station, an inert landfill, and monitors two closed landfills.   

The compactor sites are located throughout the County to provide County residents with convenient locations to dispose of bagged household trash.  

The Transfer Station, conveniently located just outside of Madison, provides a central location that residents can dispose of most items to include furniture, appliances, tires, metal, electronics, paint, and used oil.  Unlike a landfill, a transfer station is a central location for trash to be collected and then taken to a landfill.  All trash from the compactor sites is brought to the Transfer Station and then loaded into tractor trailers.  The County maintains a contract with Republic Service to haul the tractor trailers to the Oak Grove Landfill in Barrow County.   To help offset the cost of maintaining the compactor sites and the transfer station, the County allows private and public trash collectors to bring in their loads.

The inert landfill, jointly located at the Transfer Station, gives residents a location to dispose of yard debris, tree limbs, and other organic material. 

The property the Transfer Station is located at also has 2 closed municipal solid waste landfills.  These landfills are CLOSED and INACTIVE, but continue to be actively monitored by the County and inspected by the Georgia Environmental Protection Agency for compliance with all laws and regulations.  

Trash Compactor Locations

County residents can drop-off their bagged household trash for no fee at the following compactor locations:

ONLY BAGGED HOUSEHOLD TRASH can be taken to the compactor locations.  All other items must go to the Transfer Station.  Do not leave trash or other items on the ground.  

CAUTION:  SOME COMPACTORS START AND STOP AUTOMATICALLY.  DO NOT CLIMB IN DUMPSTERS!

                                                        Recycling

Recycle boxes are provided at each of the compactor sites above.  The following items can be placed in the recycle bins:

• Clean cardboard and paper - items that are wet, have mold, food scraps, wrapped in plastic, etc....can't be recycled.  Boxes must be broken down to lay flat
• Aluminum cans - must be empty and can't be dropped off in any type of bag!
• Plastics 1 -  PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate) such as soda, water, and other beverage bottles; cooking oil containers; jars for popular food items.   
• Plastics 2 - HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) such as milk jugs, shampoo bottles, cleaning product containers, and detergent bottles.   
• Please note the following items are not accepted for recycling:
  • Otherwise recyclable materials deposited in the bin inside of a bag or box
  • Glass
  • Plastic 3 -  PVC such as plastic tubing, plastic trays, toys and furniture
  • Plastic 4 - LDPE such as grocery bags, bread bags and produce bags. 
  • Plastic 5 - PP such as containers for yogurt, sour cream, and butter.
  • Plastic 6 - PS such as Styrofoam products
• Please do your part and do not mix trash or other non-recycling items in the recycle bins.  If too many unacceptable items are mixed in, the Recyclers will not accept the bins.  

                                           Transfer Station

The Transfer Station is located at 2480 Athens Hwy, Madison, Georgia.  The station is open Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The Transfer Station accepts most items for disposal.  The current fee schedule for the Transfer Station is:

• General garbage/rubbish/bulky items                      $65.00 per                                       (From Commercial Haulers)
• General garbage/rubbish/bulky items                       $42.00 per ton
•   C & D (Construction Debris)                                   $42.00 per ton                            (No Commercial Hauler or Contractors)
• Inert Materials                                                           $42.00 per ton
• Tires - Car/Passenger Trucks                                   $ 2.06 each
• Tires - Tractor Trailer                                                $4.12 each
• Tires - Farm Tractor                                                  $20.60 each
• Tires - Skidder                                                           $300.00 each
• Televisions                                                                 $5.00 each
• Car Batteries                                                              $5.00 each
• Metal - Including appliances                                       FREE
• Paint                                                                            FREE
• Used Motor Oil/Used Cooking Oil                               FREE

The following items are not accepted at the Transfer Station due to EPD regulations

• Flammable liquids/gases
• Gas tanks including propane and LP
•  Animals
• Currently, we can't accept pesticides or chemical waste.