Water and sewer
- To start Forsyth County water and sewer service, submit a New Service Request with a copy of your driver's license and a signed lease or purchase agreement, no more than two weeks before move-in. Then call (770) 781-2160 to schedule the connection and pay the deposit. Connections happen Monday through Friday only. Forsyth County Department of Water & Sewer: Start, Stop or Restore Water Service
- The Forsyth County Department of Water & Sewer business office is at 2435 Freedom Parkway, Suite 1200, Cumming, GA 30041. It is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and customers 62 and older can ask about a senior discount. Forsyth County Department of Water & Sewer
- Some addresses get water and sewer from the City of Cumming's utility, Cumming Utilities, rather than from the county. Cumming Utilities provides water, sewer and garbage service, publishes a Water and Sewer Service Area map, and is reached at (770) 781-2020. Cumming Utilities: Contact Us and Service Area Map pages
- Forsyth County has relied on a Lake Lanier water intake owned by the City of Cumming. It is now building its own intake, tunnel, pump station and transmission main, estimated at $188 million with completion expected in 2031. Forsyth County: Water Intake Facility
Electricity
- Electricity in Forsyth County comes from either Sawnee EMC or Georgia Power, depending on the address. The county tells residents to report outages directly to whichever of the two serves them. Forsyth County 911 Center: When to Call 911 vs. the Non-Emergency Line
- Sawnee EMC serves parts of seven counties set by Georgia's 1973 Territorial Act: Forsyth, Fulton, Dawson, Lumpkin, Cherokee, Hall and Gwinnett. To check whether an address is in its territory, email customerservice@sawnee.coop. Sawnee EMC: Service Area
- Sawnee EMC is headquartered at 543 Atlanta Road, Cumming, GA 30040. Customer service: (770) 887-2363. Sawnee EMC: Contact Us
- As of Aug. 31, 2026 Sawnee EMC served 205,171 meters, including 102,175 in Forsyth County. Sawnee EMC: Facts and Figures
Natural gas
- On the Atlanta Gas Light system, Atlanta Gas Light owns the pipes but no longer sells gas to customers. You buy gas from a state-certified natural gas marketer of your choice; the Public Service Commission still regulates AGL's delivery rates. Georgia Public Service Commission: Natural Gas
- The Georgia PSC has approved SCANA Energy as the Regulated Provider, which serves low-income customers and customers who cannot get gas service from other marketers. Georgia Public Service Commission: Regulated Provider
Trash and recycling
- Forsyth County government does not provide curbside trash pickup. Outside the City of Cumming, residents hire a private hauler (the county posts a list but endorses none) or use county drop-off centers. City of Cumming residents should call the City at (770) 781-2019. Forsyth County Recycling & Solid Waste: Waste Haulers
- Forsyth County runs three recycling and trash convenience centers for county residents: Tolbert Street (351 Tolbert Street, Cumming), Old Atlanta (3678 Old Atlanta Road, Suwanee) and Coal Mountain (3560 Settingdown Road, Cumming). They are open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Forsyth County: Recycling Centers
- Bagged household trash costs $0.50 a bag if you also bring recycling, or $1 a bag otherwise, with a five-bag daily limit and 32-gallon maximum bag size. The centers take cash only. Most recycling is free; electronics, paint and tires have fees. Forsyth County: Recycling Centers
Tolbert Street Recycling Center
county recycling / convenience center
351 Tolbert Street, Cumming, GA 30040
Residents only; bagged household trash $0.50 per bag with recycling or $1.00 without (5-bag limit, 32-gallon max, cash only); most recycling free; phone (770) 781-2176 (all centers move to 770-205-4573 starting Nov. 15). Electronics (TVs $12; other electronics $2 per item or $5 unlimited) are taken here only.
Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Sunday and County holidays (2026: Nov. 11, Nov. 26-27, Dec. 24-25).
Source: Forsyth County: Recycling Centers, checked 2026-10-19
Old Atlanta Recycling Center
county recycling / convenience center
3678 Old Atlanta Road, Suwanee, GA 30024
Residents only; bagged household trash $0.50 per bag with recycling or $1.00 without (5-bag limit, 32-gallon max, cash only); most recycling free; phone (770) 205-3010 (all centers move to 770-205-4573 starting Nov. 15).
Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Sunday and County holidays (2026: Nov. 11, Nov. 26-27, Dec. 24-25).
Source: Forsyth County: Recycling Centers, checked 2026-10-19
Coal Mountain Recycling Center
county recycling / convenience center
3560 Settingdown Road, Cumming, GA 30028
Residents only; bagged household trash $0.50 per bag with recycling or $1.00 without (5-bag limit, 32-gallon max, cash only); most recycling free; phone (770) 781-2071 (all centers move to 770-205-4573 starting Nov. 15). Tires ($3 each, $15 on the rim; limit 6 per week) are taken here only.
Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Sunday and County holidays (2026: Nov. 11, Nov. 26-27, Dec. 24-25).
Source: Forsyth County: Recycling Centers, checked 2026-10-19
Household Hazardous Waste Recycling and Disposal Event
Organizer date for 2026Drop off paint, cleaners, oils, fuels, batteries, electronics, pesticides and other household hazardous waste at no charge (a $5 donation is suggested). Online pre-registration is required and opens at 9 a.m. on Oct. 19 at keepforsythcountybeautiful.org.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.
Add to calendar: Google Apple / Outlook (.ics)
Source: Forsyth County news: Registration to Recycle Household Hazardous Waste Opens Oct. 19 (Oct. 14, 2026), checked 2026-10-19
Bring One for the Chipper (Christmas tree recycling)
Dates for the 2026-27 season have not been posted. The 2025-26 drop-off ran Dec. 26 through Jan. 31.Keep Forsyth County Beautiful's annual Christmas tree recycling. Trees become lake fish habitat or mulch, and free wood chips are available at Coal Mountain Park.
Source: Forsyth County news (Dec. 16, 2025), checked 2026-10-19
Questions
Does a Cumming address mean I live in the City of Cumming?
Not always. Many addresses with a Cumming mailing city are outside the city limits in unincorporated Forsyth County. For example, Sharon Forks Library at 2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming, is outside the city, according to the Census Bureau's geocoder. The city covers only about 7 square miles. City limits affect things like trash service and city utilities.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Geocoder; Forsyth County Recycling & Solid Waste
Who provides water in Forsyth County?
It depends on the address. Water and sewer come from either the Forsyth County Department of Water & Sewer, (770) 781-2160, at 2435 Freedom Parkway, or the City of Cumming's utility, Cumming Utilities, (770) 781-2020, which publishes a service area map. Ask your seller or landlord which one serves the home before move-in.
Source: Forsyth County Department of Water & Sewer; Cumming Utilities
How do I start water service in Forsyth County?
For county water, submit a New Service Request online with a copy of your driver's license and a signed lease or purchase agreement, no earlier than two weeks before your start date. Then call (770) 781-2160 to schedule the connection and pay the deposit by Visa or Mastercard. Connections are made Monday through Friday only.
Who provides electricity in Forsyth County?
Either Sawnee EMC or Georgia Power, depending on the address. Sawnee EMC, based at 543 Atlanta Road in Cumming, served 102,175 meters in Forsyth County as of Aug. 31, 2026. To check whether an address is in Sawnee's territory, email customerservice@sawnee.coop or call (770) 887-2363.
Source: Sawnee EMC; Forsyth County 911 Center (outage reporting)
How does natural gas service work in Forsyth County?
In the Atlanta Gas Light area, AGL owns and maintains the pipes but does not sell gas. You choose a state-certified natural gas marketer, and the Georgia Public Service Commission publishes the list of approved marketers. SCANA Energy is the PSC-approved Regulated Provider for low-income customers and those who cannot get service elsewhere.
Source: Georgia Public Service Commission: Natural Gas; Regulated Provider
Does Forsyth County pick up trash?
No. Forsyth County government does not provide curbside trash pickup. Outside the City of Cumming, residents hire a private hauler (the county posts a list but endorses none) or use the county's three convenience centers. City of Cumming residents should call the City at (770) 781-2019. An HOA may require a specific hauler.
Source: Forsyth County Recycling & Solid Waste: Waste Haulers
Where are the Forsyth County recycling centers?
There are three: Tolbert Street (351 Tolbert Street, Cumming), Old Atlanta (3678 Old Atlanta Road, Suwanee) and Coal Mountain (3560 Settingdown Road, Cumming). They are open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, for county residents only. Bagged trash is $0.50 a bag with recycling or $1 without, cash only.
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organizers have the final word: Forsyth County Government