What Fits, What Is Not Allowed, and Disposal Rules in Whitfield County

Before you load a roll-off, it helps to know what goes in, what stays out, where the box should sit, and where the debris ends up. This page pulls together the general rules most haulers follow and the local rules published by the City of Dalton and the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority. Rules change, so confirm anything important with the hauler, the city or the county. Call (762) 760-2101 to reach a local hauler. Dalton Dumpster Pros is a referral service operated by Recover Profits Now. We do not own trucks or containers; the independent hauler you are connected with quotes the job, delivers the box and hauls it away.

What usually goes in a roll-off

• Furniture, household goods and general junk
• Drywall, lumber, trim, doors and cabinets
• Carpet, pad, vinyl, laminate and hardwood flooring
• Asphalt shingles, felt and flashing
• Siding, fencing, decking and small outbuildings
• Brush, limbs and yard debris (some haulers want it separate)
• Concrete, brick, block and dirt, in a small box filled to a line

What is not allowed

• Liquid paint, stains, solvents and thinners
• Pesticides, pool chemicals and other household chemicals
• Motor oil, gasoline and other fuels
• Car batteries and other lead-acid batteries
• Propane tanks and other pressurized cylinders
• Asbestos-containing material, which has its own disposal rules
• Medical waste
• Drums of unknown or industrial liquids

Tires, mattresses and appliances are often allowed with an extra charge, or not at all, depending on the hauler. Appliances with refrigerant may need to be handled separately. Ask first.

Household hazardous waste in Whitfield County

The Solid Waste Authority accepts household hazardous waste at the Old Dixie Highway site on the third Saturday of each month, from 7 AM to 2 PM. The limit is 220 pounds per vehicle, and items must be in their original labeled containers. Electronics are also taken at Old Dixie; televisions and monitors carry a per-unit fee.

City of Dalton curbside limits

The City of Dalton's bulky item pickup serves single-family homes, by advance request through Public Works or SeeClickFix. It covers up to two cubic yards every two weeks free, alternating between the north and south parts of the city, and bills $30 per cubic yard over that. It takes furniture, mattresses, standard appliances, electronic waste, dried paint and bicycles.

The city does not collect discarded building materials, including sheetrock, lumber, roofing, plumbing fixtures and carpet, and it can charge a fine and a fee if they are put at the curb. Tires, liquid paint and hazardous materials are not accepted either. Commercial tree services, landscapers, grading contractors and building contractors must haul off their own debris. That is the main reason homeowners and contractors in the city rent dumpsters.

County drop-off sites

For residents who want to haul small loads themselves, the Solid Waste Authority runs four sites:

• Old Dixie Highway Landfill and Convenience Center, 4189 Old Dixie Hwy., Dalton. The only site that takes construction and demolition debris, including shingles, at $46.25 per ton.
• Westside, 1536 Miracle Dr., Rocky Face
• M.L. King, 1920 M.L. King Jr. Blvd., Dalton
• McGaughey Chapel, 819 McGaughey Chapel Rd., Cohutta

The published hours are 7 AM to 6 PM weekdays and 7 AM to 3 PM Saturday, though some smaller centers list a weekday closure, so check before you go. The centers serve Whitfield County residents; out-of-county visitors pay more, and commercial customers are directed to Old Dixie. Bagged household trash is limited to 10 bags per trip.

Where to put the dumpster

• Driveway first. A paved driveway is the usual spot. Boards under the rails help protect it.
• Firm, level ground. Whitfield County's red clay gets soft after rain. Avoid lawns after a wet spell.
• Clearance. The truck needs a straight approach and room overhead to tilt the container off. Watch for wires and branches.
• Keep off septic systems. Many homes outside Dalton are on septic. Never place a loaded box over a tank or drain field.
• Street placement. If the box must go in the street or right-of-way, check with the City of Dalton inside city limits, or with Whitfield County or Murray County outside them, about whether a permit is needed.
• HOAs. Some subdivisions limit how long a dumpster can stay. Check your rules.

Loading tips

• Heavy, flat items go on the bottom, spread across the floor.
• Fill gaps with smaller debris and bags.
• Keep everything below the top rail.
• Do not put anything on the open door end that will fall out when it is lifted.

Questions about a specific item? Call (762) 760-2101 and ask the hauler before you load it.