Check Smyrna Recycling Rules Before You Load the Car
The City of Smyrna Recycling Center handles ordinary recyclables plus glass, electronics, paint, oils, rechargeable batteries, fluorescent tubes and several specialty materials that cannot go in normal curbside recycling. It is not a public dump, so matching your item to the correct service before leaving home can prevent a rejected trip.
Fast Answer: Smyrna Recycling Center Address, Hours and Phone
The City of Smyrna Recycling Center is at 3475 Lake Drive, Smyrna, GA 30082. Current official hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Thursday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The facility is closed Sunday and Monday.
The center is operated by the City of Smyrna and supported by Keep Smyrna Beautiful. It is open to both residents and non-residents, operates mainly as a self-service drop-off facility and does not pay customers for materials brought for recycling.
Complete Smyrna recycling guide
- Center overview
- Hours and closures
- How to use the center
- Accepted materials
- Not accepted
- Fees and payment
- Paint recycling
- Glass recycling
- Electronics recycling
- Specialty plastics
- Curbside vs. drop-off
- Large items
- Yard waste and construction debris
- Tours and community programs
- Before-you-drive checklist
- Map
- FAQs
Smyrna Recycling Center Overview
The Lake Drive facility is a municipal drop-off recycling center operated by the City of Smyrna. It is especially useful for people without curbside service and for items that Smyrna’s normal curbside recycling program does not accept.
Lake Drive Center
Use this facility for accepted paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, metals, electronics, rechargeable batteries, oils, paint and other listed specialty items.
Curbside Recycling
City Sanitation handles residential weekly recycling, replacement bins, service schedules and missed curbside collections.
Large Trash
Furniture, mattresses and other oversized trash use a large-item work order or an eligible City amnesty event rather than the recycling center.
Residents and non-residents may use the center
The City’s current recycling-center page describes the Lake Drive facility as open to all. Residency becomes important for other City programs, such as the Bulky Trash Amnesty Day, which is limited to City of Smyrna residents.
Smyrna Recycling Center Hours and 2026 Closures
| Day | Current Hours | Planning Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Closed | Do not plan a Sunday drop-off. |
| Monday | Closed | Normal Monday service is not listed. |
| Tuesday | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM | Regular drop-off day. |
| Wednesday | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM | Regular drop-off day unless a City closure applies. |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM | Later opening and closing than other operating days. |
| Friday | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM | Verify holiday-week closures before visiting. |
| Saturday | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM | Weekend drop-off option; presort before arriving. |
Remaining 2026 recycling-center closures
| Date | Holiday Observed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | Veterans Day |
| Thursday, November 26, 2026 | Thanksgiving |
| Friday, November 27, 2026 | Day After Thanksgiving |
| Thursday, December 24, 2026 | Christmas Eve |
| Friday, December 25, 2026 | Christmas Day |
Use the current City schedule, not an old map listing
The current City of Smyrna and Keep Smyrna Beautiful pages list Thursday hours as 10:00 AM–6:00 PM. Older directory listings may still show a different Thursday schedule.
How to Use the Smyrna Recycling Center
Presort the load before leaving home
Keep paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, metals, electronics, paint and specialty items separated so you can use the correct collection area.
Enter and park in the designated area
The City instructs visitors to park along the building or covered area and follow the center’s on-site layout.
Use the correct recycling bins
The center is primarily self-service. Place each accepted material into the proper bin rather than leaving mixed material together.
Ask staff about special items
Paint, electronics and unusual materials may need specific handling or payment before drop-off.
Do not expect a buyback payment
The City states that the center does not pay visitors for materials brought for recycling.
Accepted Items at Smyrna Recycling Center
The current City material guidance covers ordinary recyclables as well as several specialty categories that cannot go in Smyrna’s curbside recycling program.
| Category | Accepted Examples | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | Junk mail, newspapers, magazines, phonebooks and office paper | Keep paper clean and free from food contamination. |
| Cardboard | Corrugated boxes and brown paper bags | Flatten cardboard before drop-off. |
| Glass | Food-grade glass bottles and jars | Rinse and remove tops. |
| Standard plastics | Clean #1 and #2 consumer plastic containers | Clean, dry, empty and remove tops. |
| Hefty ReNew materials | Eligible plastic bags, wraps, dinnerware, foam products, packaging and qualifying harder-to-recycle plastics | Use the program’s official orange bags. |
| Metals | Aluminum cans and foil, stainless steel, ferrous and nonferrous metals and qualifying metal appliances | Call first for unusual appliances or mixed-material items. |
| Electronics | TVs, monitors, cords, cables, wires, laptops, cell phones and assorted electronics | TV and monitor fees apply. |
| Batteries | Rechargeable batteries | Keep separate from ordinary recycling. |
| Automotive / household liquids | Motor oil, antifreeze and cooking oil | Keep liquids in secure containers and separate from other material. |
| Lighting | Fluorescent tubes | Protect tubes from breaking during transport. |
| Other specialty items | Books, inkjet cartridges, wearable clothing and cigarette butts | Use the appropriate collection container at the center. |
| Paint | Oil paint, latex paint and stains | Original labeled non-leaking container required; fees apply. |
Basic preparation rules
- Containers must be clean, dry and empty.
- Rinse cans, bottles and jars.
- Flatten cardboard.
- Keep paper free of food contamination.
- Remove tops from plastic containers and glass jars.
- Aerosol cans must be completely empty.
Items Not Accepted at Smyrna Recycling Center
Many items that contain recyclable material still cannot be dropped at the Lake Drive center. The City’s published list identifies the following common exclusions.
Common Material Exclusions
- Plastic #3
- Rigid or industrial plastic toys and containers
- Six-pack rings
- Plastic shower curtains
- Plastic tablecloths
- Windows and mirrors
- Drinkware
- Cookware
- Vases and ashtrays
- Candles and other non-container glass
Special Items Not Accepted
- Propane tanks
- Most mercury-containing devices
- Alkaline or single-use batteries
- Household cleaners
- Medical waste
Large or Disposal Items
- Freon/coolant appliances
- Wood
- Non-metal furniture
- Mattresses
- Toilets
- Child car seats
- Carpet
- Christmas trees
- Tires
- Yard waste
- Construction waste
- Trash
- CDs, DVDs and other software/media
The rejected-item list is not exhaustive
The City’s own material sheet says its list contains common examples rather than every possible item. If your material is not clearly covered, call 770-431-2869 before driving.
Smyrna Recycling Center Fees and Payment Methods
Most ordinary recycling categories do not have a published drop-off charge, but the City specifically identifies TVs, monitors and paint as fee items. The current facility page lists cash, card and check as accepted payment methods.
TVs and monitors
The City confirms that fees apply to TVs and monitors, but the main public facility page does not publish a universal TV/monitor amount. Call the center before bringing multiple screens or when the current fee affects your decision.
No recycling buyback
The center does not pay visitors for recyclable material. Even valuable recyclable commodities brought to Lake Drive are treated as recycling drop-offs rather than a scrap-buyback transaction.
Paint Recycling Rules and Current Container Fees
The Smyrna Recycling Center accepts oil paint, latex paint and stains under its paid paint program. Containers must be original, clearly labeled and non-leaking.
| Container Size | Current Published Fee | Important Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 5-gallon bucket | $25 | Fee is based on container size, not the amount of paint remaining. |
| 2-gallon bucket | $10 | Use the original clearly labeled container. |
| 1-gallon can | $5 | Container must not leak. |
| Less than 1 gallon | $2 | Do not mix or consolidate paint. |
Paint preparation requirements
- Keep paint in the original container.
- Make sure the original label is readable.
- Do not bring leaking cans.
- Do not mix different paints together.
- Do not consolidate several containers into one larger container.
These products are not part of normal paint recycling
The City’s paint guidance excludes products including chemicals, paint strippers, mineral spirits, lacquer, roof tar, marine coatings, tank or pipe coatings, cleaners, gasoline, lead paint and specialty coatings.
Glass Recycling in Smyrna: Use Lake Drive, Not the Curbside Bin
Glass is one of the most important differences between Smyrna’s curbside program and its recycling center. The City does not accept glass through curbside recycling, while Lake Drive accepts clean food-grade glass bottles and jars.
Food-Grade Bottles and Jars
Rinse food and beverage glass, remove tops and place it in the appropriate glass collection area.
Other Glass Products
Windows, mirrors, drinkware, cookware, vases, ashtrays, candles and other non-food-container glass are not accepted.
Electronics Recycling in Smyrna
The accepted-material list includes televisions, monitors, cords, cables, wires, laptops, cell phones and assorted electronics. TVs and monitors are fee items.
Before recycling a device
- Back up important files.
- Sign out of Apple, Google and other linked accounts.
- Remove SIM cards or memory cards you want to retain.
- Factory-reset phones, tablets and computers when practical.
- Keep cords contained rather than loose around the load.
Protect personal data
Recycling a device does not automatically mean the recycler provides certified secure data destruction. Remove personal information yourself or arrange an appropriate data-destruction service when sensitive information is involved.
For additional device preparation guidance, see the site’s electronic recycling center guide.
Plastic Bags, Foam and Hefty ReNew Materials
Flexible plastic bags, wraps, foam and certain harder-to-recycle plastics do not belong loose in the ordinary #1 and #2 plastic collection. Smyrna participates in the Hefty ReNew program for eligible specialty plastics.
Program examples can include qualifying plastic bags and wraps, plastic dinnerware, foam products, plastic packaging and certain harder-to-recycle plastics. These items must be placed in the official program’s orange bags.
The orange bag matters
Do not substitute a normal trash bag. The designated orange bag helps identify the specialty material stream during handling and processing.
Smyrna Curbside Recycling vs. Lake Drive Drop-Off
City curbside recycling is provided by the Smyrna Sanitation Division. The center and curbside program overlap on some basic materials, but several important items use only one of the two routes.
| Need | Correct Route | Current Local Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Normal weekly recyclables | City curbside collection | Use your scheduled residential recycling day. |
| Glass bottles and jars | Lake Drive center | Glass is not accepted in Smyrna curbside recycling. |
| Electronics | Lake Drive center | Do not put electronics into the curbside recycling stream. |
| Paint | Lake Drive center | Eligible paint is accepted for a fee. |
| Plastic grocery/takeout bags | Not curbside | Use an eligible specialty route such as the applicable Hefty ReNew program. |
| Missed recycling pickup | Public Works / Sanitation | Call 770-431-2850 or use Smyrna 311. |
| Missing recycling bin | Public Works / Sanitation | Request a replacement or additional bin from the City. |
Current curbside acceptable materials
The City lists #1 and #2 plastics, aluminum cans, steel cans, cardboard, pizza boxes, paper-based food-serving packaging, mixed paper, magazines, mail, phone books, newspapers, food boxes and beverage containers among curbside recyclables.
Current curbside exclusions
Glass, grocery or takeout plastic bags, batteries, paint cans, Styrofoam containers and aerosol spray cans are listed as unacceptable in Smyrna curbside recycling.
Furniture, Mattresses, Appliances and Other Large Items
Furniture, mattresses and ordinary bulky trash are not normal Lake Drive recycling-center material. Smyrna uses a separate large-item collection process.
City large-item work order
Current City sanitation guidance says large items such as furniture, appliances and mattresses require a work-order request. The City charges $30 per large item.
Residents can submit a City service request or contact Public Works at 770-431-2850.
Collection timing
The City sanitation page says large-item collection is scheduled for Thursdays after an approved request. No large-item collection occurs during holiday weeks.
Freon appliances require another route
The City says it no longer picks up refrigerators, freezers or air-conditioning units through normal large-item collection. These appliances also are not accepted at the Recycling Center when they contain Freon or coolant.
Yard Waste, Construction Debris and Other Non-Recycling Materials
Yard debris and construction waste should not be taken to the Lake Drive Recycling Center. They use separate City or private disposal routes.
Yard waste
Leaves, grass and other yard material use the City’s yard-waste collection rules rather than the recycling-center drop-off system. Holiday weeks can affect yard-waste service.
Construction material
Drywall, concrete, tile, roofing material, wood, rocks, dirt and other construction debris are the property owner’s responsibility and are not normal City recycling-center or household-trash items.
Recycling Center Tours and 2026 Community Programs
Monthly Public Tours
The City currently advertises public recycling-center tours on the third Friday of each month from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Registration is offered through the official City center page.
Bulky Trash Amnesty Day
The next listed event runs from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Smyrna Public Works, 2190 Atlanta Road. It is free for qualifying City of Smyrna residents who provide proof of residency.
Bulky Amnesty Day accepted examples
- Sofas, chairs, tables, desks, dressers and cabinets
- Non-Freon appliances
- Large toys and basketball hoops
- Lawn furniture
- Mattresses and box springs
- Bookshelves
- Metal fencing
- Carpet
- Mirrors and lamps
- Selected auto parts such as doors and frames
- Gas grills
- Electronics
Items excluded from the Bulky Amnesty event
- Tires
- Construction debris
- Lawnmowers
- Propane tanks
- Paint and other household hazardous waste
- Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners containing Freon
The event is not a replacement for normal recycling
Electronics can also be recycled during normal Lake Drive operating days. The October event is mainly useful for eligible bulky items that do not belong in normal recycling-center bins.
Before You Drive: Smyrna Recycling Checklist
Identify the exact item
Do not treat every recyclable-looking object as accepted. Different glass, plastics, appliances and household chemicals have different rules.
Check the correct service
Decide whether the material belongs at Lake Drive, curbside recycling, large-item collection or another disposal facility.
Verify today’s hours
Normal hours can be overridden by City holiday closures or other operating notices.
Presort everything
Keep glass, paper, cardboard, metals, electronics, oils, paint and specialty plastics separate.
Clean and empty containers
Rinse containers and remove food or liquid residue before arriving.
Flatten cardboard
The City’s preparation guidance specifically asks visitors to flatten cardboard.
Remove container tops
Remove tops from plastic containers and glass jars before placing them in the appropriate stream.
Use official orange bags for qualifying specialty plastics
Do not mix Hefty ReNew materials loose with the standard #1 and #2 plastic stream.
Bring payment for fee items
Paint, TVs and monitors may require payment. The City lists cash, card and check as accepted methods.
Call about unusual items
If your material does not clearly appear on an official accepted or unaccepted list, call the center at 770-431-2869 before loading it.
Map to Smyrna Recycling Center on Lake Drive
The official address is 3475 Lake Drive, Smyrna, GA 30082. The embedded map is useful for navigation, but operating hours, fees and material rules should be verified through the City or Keep Smyrna Beautiful.
Related Recycling Help
Electronic recycling
Use the electronic recycling center guide for electronics preparation and personal-data safety.
Check recycling hours
Use the recycling center hours guide when planning a time-sensitive drop-off.
City recycling centers
See the city recycling center guide for broader drop-off planning advice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Smyrna Recycling Center
Where is Smyrna Recycling Center?
The City of Smyrna Recycling Center is at 3475 Lake Drive, Smyrna, GA 30082.
What are Smyrna Recycling Center hours?
The current schedule is Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Thursday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday and Monday closed.
Is Smyrna Recycling Center open on Sunday?
No. The center is closed Sunday and Monday.
Can non-residents use the Smyrna Recycling Center?
Yes. The City currently describes the Lake Drive facility as open to residents and non-residents.
Does Smyrna Recycling Center accept glass?
Yes. It accepts food-grade glass bottles and jars. Windows, mirrors, drinkware, cookware, vases and other non-food-container glass are not accepted.
Can glass go in Smyrna curbside recycling?
No. The City’s curbside program lists glass as unacceptable, so food-grade bottles and jars should use the Lake Drive drop-off center instead.
Does Smyrna Recycling Center accept electronics?
Yes. The accepted-material list includes TVs, monitors, cords, cables, wires, laptops, cell phones and assorted electronics. Fees apply to TVs and monitors.
Does Smyrna Recycling Center accept paint?
Yes. Oil paint, latex paint and stains are accepted for a fee when they are in original, clearly labeled and non-leaking containers.
How much does paint recycling cost in Smyrna?
The current published fees are $25 for a 5-gallon bucket, $10 for a 2-gallon bucket, $5 for a 1-gallon can and $2 for a container smaller than one gallon.
Does Smyrna Recycling Center pay for cans or scrap metal?
No. The City states that the center does not pay visitors for materials dropped off for recycling.
Can I recycle plastic bags or foam at the center?
Eligible flexible plastics, bags, foam and qualifying specialty plastics can use the Hefty ReNew program when placed in the required official orange bags.
Where do Smyrna residents dispose of mattresses and furniture?
These are not normal recycling-center items. Current City sanitation guidance requires a large-item work order and lists a $30 fee per item. Eligible Smyrna residents can also use City Bulky Trash Amnesty events when scheduled.
When is the next Smyrna Bulky Trash Amnesty Day?
The next currently listed event is Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Smyrna Public Works, 2190 Atlanta Road. Proof of City residency is required.
Does Smyrna Recycling Center offer public tours?
Yes. The City currently advertises public tours on the third Friday of each month from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, with registration available through the official recycling-center page.
Official Sources for Current Smyrna Recycling Information
Hours, fees, accepted materials, City closures and special-event requirements can change. Verify time-sensitive details with the responsible City source before making a special trip.