Complaints about trash haulers in Cobb County have dropped significantly since reaching a peak in 2022, according to the Board of Commissioners at their recent work session. District Three Commissioner JoAnn Birrell noted that complaints to her and other commissioners have ‘drastically reduced’ from the daily volume they were receiving a couple of years ago.
Brian Warren, President of the Garbage Haulers Association of Cobb County, reported that only one complaint was submitted to the CobbTrashHelp.com website in 2025, down from five in 2024. He also highlighted improvements in service from American Disposal Services, which was previously a source of frequent complaints due to missed pickups and other issues. After being acquired by Waste Connections and undergoing rebranding with a new manager, the company has seen its daily calls drop from around 1,000 to approximately 250.
Improved Service Metrics
“And they haven’t had to cancel or had any missed routes in more than seven months,” Warren added. Commission chair Lisa Cupid praised these developments, stating, “A few years ago, we had packed rooms of people who were not happy about a lot of the hauling service in the county. We came together, we had a tough conversation to see what we could produce and today is a testament to that.”
The county had considered dividing pickup into four zones in 2022, with one hauler per zone, but this plan was dropped due to resident pushback. Warren also reported increased competition in previously underserved zip codes, with three or four new haulers actively marketing their services since last year. “Competition has significantly improved service in those areas,” he said, noting that the overall environment regarding sanitation in Cobb is the best it’s been in several years.
Jatunn Gibson, Agency Director for Public Services at Cobb County, provided context about the current waste management landscape. The county is served by 17 permitted trash companies that collect garbage from 232,000 households in unincorporated areas. Ten of these companies are members of the haulers group, which acts as a liaison between the county and waste haulers.
