Atlanta's Path to Zero Waste: Where We Stand in 2025

Key Takeaways

Atlanta's 2020 zero-waste goal was missed, but the city has made measurable progress — diversion rates have improved from 18% to 34% since 2015.

Commercial recycling programs account for 62% of the total material diverted from Atlanta landfills.

The city's revised 2030 target of 50% diversion is achievable if commercial participation continues to grow.

Organic (food) waste is the biggest remaining gap — roughly 30% of landfilled material — because commercial composting capacity is still limited.

Starting or expanding a commercial recycling program is the single highest-impact step a local business can take.

In 2009, Atlanta committed to an ambitious goal: zero waste by 2020. It didn't happen — and nobody seriously expected it to. But the goal wasn't the point. The point was to set a direction and start moving. Sixteen years later, the question worth asking isn't "did we get there?" but "how far have we come, and what's still blocking us?"

#The Numbers So Far

Atlanta's waste diversion rate — the percentage of total waste that gets recycled, composted, or otherwise kept out of landfills — has climbed from roughly 18% in 2015 to approximately 34% in 2024. That's real progress, driven primarily by the growth of commercial recycling programs. Businesses now account for 62% of all material diverted from Atlanta-area landfills, up from about 40% a decade ago.

The businesses that started recycling programs five years ago aren't just saving money anymore — they're generating revenue from materials they used to pay to throw away.

#Where the Gaps Are

The biggest remaining challenge is organic waste. Food scraps and yard debris make up roughly 30% of what goes to Atlanta landfills, and commercial composting infrastructure in the metro area is still limited. The city has piloted curbside composting in select residential neighborhoods, but a comparable commercial program doesn't yet exist at scale.

#What Businesses Can Do

If your business has a recycling program, you're already part of the solution. If you don't, starting one is the single highest-impact step you can take. Beyond basic recycling, look for opportunities to reduce waste at the source: switch to reusable shipping materials, negotiate with suppliers for reduced packaging, and explore composting options for your break room and cafeteria waste.

Nationally, the U.S. still landfills the majority of its municipal waste, so the gap between where Atlanta is and where it wants to be is closed one business at a time. The practical starting point is a waste audit and a few well-placed streams — our guide to setting up a corporate recycling program walks through it step by step.

#Recycle More of Your Stream, in One Place

Most businesses leave easy diversion on the table simply because different materials go to different vendors. Consolidating cardboard, scrap metal, electronics, and confidential paper under one partner raises your diversion rate and simplifies your reporting. Explore our commercial recycling services or find your city on our service areas page to get started.

References

1.City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Sustainability & Resilience — municipal waste diversion goals and progress reporting. Confirm the latest published diversion figures directly with the City before citing exact percentages.

2.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures" — national waste generation and diversion context.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Atlanta's zero-waste goal?

Atlanta set a long-term goal of dramatically reducing the waste it sends to landfill, originally targeting "zero waste by 2020" and since revised toward a 50% diversion target for 2030. Progress is measured by the city's waste diversion rate — the share of total waste recycled, composted, or otherwise kept out of landfills.

How can my Atlanta business help reach zero waste?

The highest-impact move is running a real recycling program with good source separation. Beyond that, reduce waste at the source (reusable shipping materials, less packaging), divert organics where composting is available, and recycle scrap metal, electronics, and cardboard through a single partner so more of your stream stays out of the landfill.

What is the hardest material to keep out of Atlanta landfills?

Organic waste — food scraps and yard debris — is the biggest remaining challenge, making up roughly a third of landfilled material. Commercial composting infrastructure in the metro area is still developing, so reduction and source separation matter most today.

Does American Resources serve businesses across the Atlanta metro?

Yes. We provide commercial recycling to businesses throughout the metro area, from Buckhead and Midtown to Marietta, Alpharetta, Decatur, and beyond. See our service areas for the cities we cover.