---
title: O.C.G.A. § 12-8-40.2. Yard trimmings disposal restrictions.
collection: code
id: 12-8-40.2
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 12-8-40.2 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-40.2
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-40.2.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-8-40.2/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t12-(v10)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=67595359_0#page=919
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
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current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES / WASTE MANAGEMENT / SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 12-8-40.2. Yard trimmings disposal restrictions.

(a) Each city, county, or solid waste management authority may impose restrictions on yard trimmings which are generated in or may ultimately be disposed of in its area of jurisdiction; provided, however, that under no circumstances shall yard trimmings be placed in or mixed with municipal solid waste, except at:

(1) Landfills restricted to construction or demolition waste;

(2) Inert waste landfills; or

(3) Lined municipal solid waste landfills having operating landfill gas collection systems directed to beneficial uses of landfill gas that promote renewable energy goals such as electrical power generation, industrial end use, or similar beneficial reuse.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, owners and operators of municipal solid waste landfills shall be prohibited from disposing of yard trimmings in municipal solid waste landfills.

(c) The Board of Natural Resources is authorized to develop guidelines to assist local governing authorities and others in the orderly stockpiling of yard trimmings at suitable sites, the chipping and composting of yard trimmings, and the distribution of the products resulting from such chipping and composting.

## History

Code 1981, § 12-8-40.2, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 412, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 3276, § 18; Ga. L. 1993, p. 399, § 15; Ga. L. 2005, p. 1247, § 13/SB 122; Ga. L. 2011, p. 283, § 4/HB 274.

## Law Reviews

For article on the 2011 amendment of this Code section, see 28 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 165 (2011). For article, ‘‘Conservation and Natural Resources: Waste Management,’’ see 28 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 165 (2011).

For note on 1992 amendment of this Code section, see 9 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 199 (1992).