Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Alafaya
Florida residential routes generally operate Monday through Friday. Your specific household collection depends on your local county zoning map.
State Mandate
Do not mix yard trimmings with regular household garbage.
County-Issued Cart (Green Lid) Bin (Trash)
Place carts at the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before and no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Ensure carts are kept away from utility boxes, mailboxes, and parked cars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged refuse
County-Issued Cart (Blue Lid) Bin (Recycling)
Remember to 'Think 5' and keep all items completely loose in the blue-lidded cart. Do not bag your recyclables, and ensure all containers are completely empty and dry.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in resident-provided cans, bags, or bundled. Limbs, fronds, and stumps must be cut to 3 feet or less. Each can, bag, or bundle must weigh under 60 pounds. Do not mix with garbage.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Tree limbs
- ✓Stump pieces
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a week (on your scheduled garbage day)
Placement
Place large items neatly at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day, maintaining clearance from utility boxes, meters, and your roll carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household junk
- ✓ Standard appliances (without Freon)
- ✓ Up to four passenger car tires
Not Accepted
- ✕ Freon-containing devices (refrigerators, freezers)
- ✕ Items that fit in the green cart
- ✕ Commercial waste
- ✕ Hazardous materials
Bulk pickup up to 3 cubic yards is included in your standard Orange County solid waste assessment. Oversized piles may be subject to non-collection or require a private hauler.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Orange County Utilities only suspends collection on two holidays: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk item collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard garbage.
When either of these holidays falls on a regular scheduled day, all collection services will move one day forward for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday collections move to Friday, Friday to Saturday).
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Never bag your recyclables in plastic grocery bags, and do not place empty plastic bags in your recycling cart. These soft plastics severely jam the sorting machinery at the Orange County recycling facility.
Do Not Hide Small Items in Bulk Piles
If an item is small enough to fit inside your green-lidded garbage cart with the lid completely closed, it must go inside the cart. Loose, small items placed on the ground will not be collected as part of your bulk waste allowance.
Separate Your Piles at the Curb
Never mix yard waste, bulk household items, and standard garbage carts together in one messy pile. Each waste type is collected by a different specialized truck and must have a clear separation at the curb.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberWhen a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued for Orange County, immediately suspend all heavy yard pruning. Do not place bulk items or yard debris at the curb, as high winds can transform them into dangerous projectiles. Secure all roll carts indoors.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
Late December to JanuaryLive Christmas trees can be placed at the curb on your regularly scheduled yard waste collection day. You must remove the stand and all decorations. Any tree taller than six feet must be cut in half before placement.
Summer Peak Heat
May to SeptemberIntense summer heat can cause bagged garbage to generate severe odors in your green cart. Ensure all household waste, especially food scraps, is tightly bagged before tossing it in the cart to deter pests and reduce foul smells.
About Alafaya Waste Management
County-Managed Collection for Alafaya Residents
Because Alafaya is an unincorporated community in East Orange County, residential trash and recycling services are governed entirely by the Orange County Utilities Solid Waste Division. Homeowners are assigned automated roll carts—a green-lidded cart for household garbage and a blue-lidded cart for single-stream recycling. The county runs an integrated program that collects trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulk items on a highly structured weekly schedule.
The 3-Cubic-Yard Weekly Bulk Allowance
Unlike many municipalities that require pre-scheduling or charge extra fees for bulky waste, Orange County allows Alafaya residents to place large household items at the curb every week on their designated garbage day. There is a strict limit of three cubic yards per week, which is roughly equivalent to the size of three standard stoves or one small pickup truckload. Notably, up to four passenger car tires are also accepted alongside your weekly bulk pile.
Strict Regulations on Freon Appliances
While the county’s bulk pickup is generous, it comes with specific environmental limitations regarding white goods. Refrigerators, freezers, and any other devices containing Freon gas are completely banned from curbside collection. Alafaya residents must independently haul these specialized appliances to a county facility or hire a private junk removal service to ensure the ozone-depleting refrigerants are extracted safely.
Florida Yard Waste and Palm Frond Sizing
Maintaining lawns and palm trees in Central Florida generates constant vegetative debris. Orange County mandates that all loose yard waste be placed in your own personal trash cans or paper bags. If you have thicker branches, palm fronds, or small stumps, they must be meticulously cut down to pieces no longer than three feet and tied securely into bundles. Each individual bag, can, or bundle cannot exceed 60 pounds.
Hazardous Waste Access at Young Pine Road
Household chemicals, old paint, pesticides, and electronics cannot be discarded in your green curbside cart. Fortunately, Alafaya residents live incredibly close to the Orange County Landfill on Young Pine Road. This facility operates a free, dedicated drop-off center where locals can safely dispose of up to 25 gallons of paint and chemicals per vehicle, protecting the region’s delicate aquifer and local wetlands.
Drop-off Facilities
Orange County Landfill and Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off
5901 Young Pine Road, Orlando, FL 32829
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides trash collection in Alafaya, Florida?
Alafaya is an unincorporated area, meaning its solid waste services are provided directly by Orange County Utilities. Residents use county-issued green-lidded carts for garbage and blue-lidded carts for single-stream recycling.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator in Orange County?
Orange County curbside collection does not accept Freon-containing devices like refrigerators or freezers. You must either hire a private hauler to remove it or transport the appliance directly to the Orange County Landfill or a designated transfer station.
What is the limit for weekly yard waste in Alafaya?
There is no strict cubic yard limit for yard waste, provided it is prepared correctly. However, all palm fronds, limbs, and stumps must be cut to three feet or less, and every bundle, personal can, or paper bag must weigh less than 60 pounds.
Will my trash be picked up on Thanksgiving Day in Alafaya?
No. Orange County Utilities suspends all curbside collection services on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If your regular pickup falls on one of these holidays, your service will simply shift one day forward for the rest of that week.