Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Apollo Beach
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone (2 times per week)
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone (1 time per week)
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone (1 time per week)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside collection fees in Apollo Beach are administered by Hillsborough County as a non-ad valorem assessment on your annual property tax bill rather than a monthly utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Annual (Included in Property Taxes)
Accepted Methods
Property Tax Bill (Online, Mail, In-Person, Mortgage Escrow)
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior Citizen Discount (65+), Solid Waste Hardship & Affordability Credit, and free backdoor collection service for residents with disabilities.
Gray Cart Bin (Trash)
Bag all trash before placing it in the gray cart to prevent odors and litter. The lid must close completely. Place carts at the curb with the lid arrows pointing toward the street no later than 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Soiled paper products
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and packaging
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loosely into the blue cart. Never bag your recyclables. Cardboard must be broken down so it doesn't get wedged inside the cart during automated dumping.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clean plastic food and beverage containers
- ✓Dry paper, magazines, and newspaper
- ✓Flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Bagged recyclables
- ✕Styrofoam and egg cartons
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wire hangers)
- ✕Batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Limit of 2 cubic yards per week (increases to 3 cubic yards in Feb, Mar, and Apr). Use your own cans, bags, or boxes. Do not place yard waste in your gray or blue county carts. Each container must not exceed 50 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Tree limbs (under 4 feet long and 6 inches thick)
- ✓Shrub trimmings
- ✓Palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Request (Paid) or Self-Haul (Free Allowance)
Placement
If you schedule a paid special curbside pickup, place items at the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the day before the confirmed appointment, maintaining a 3-foot clearance from roll carts and mailboxes.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and indoor/outdoor furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Scrap metal
- ✓ Tires (strict limits apply)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Commercial construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Biomedical waste
- ✕ Explosives
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals (curbside)
Self-hauling is free (up to 2 tons annually) for residents paying the solid waste assessment. Curbside special pickups require an upfront fee, which varies based on the volume and type of the material.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Hillsborough County does not provide make-up days for skipped garbage collection. If an observed holiday falls on your scheduled pickup day, your service is simply canceled and will resume on your NEXT regularly scheduled collection day.
Yard Waste Exception
On New Year's Day, household garbage service is skipped, but recycling and yard waste are actually collected as usual. For all other listed major holidays, yard waste collection is completely canceled.
County solid waste administrative offices and Community Collection Centers are typically closed on major observed holidays.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberIf a tropical storm or hurricane warning is issued for the Tampa Bay area, secure your gray and blue roll carts inside a garage or sturdy shed. Suspend all major tree pruning, as curbside vegetative debris can become dangerous projectiles in high winds.
Post-Storm Recovery
As NeededFollowing a major weather event, do not mix your standard yard waste (like fallen branches) with structural debris (like broken fencing, siding, or roofing). Wait for specific instructions from Hillsborough County regarding emergency FEMA debris sweeps.
Winter Holidays
December to JanuaryLive Christmas trees can be collected at the curb on your regular yard waste day. You must remove all lights, ornaments, and tinsel, and cut the tree into sections no larger than four feet in length to meet collection requirements.
Local Tips & Community Info
Turn Your Leftovers into Local Loot: Apollo Beach's Cash for Cans & More!
Did you know you can get a little bit of cash back for your aluminum cans and plastic bottles right here in the Apollo Beach area? While many recycling programs focus on keeping things out of the landfill, some places actually pay you to bring in certain items. Look into local scrap yards or redemption centers around Hillsborough County. They often take metals like aluminum and copper, and sometimes even offer money for specific types of plastic. It's a great way to reduce waste and put a few extra dollars in your pocket, especially if you find yourself with a lot of empties after a party or event.
Give Your Gently Used Stuff a Second Life in Apollo Beach!
Before you toss something that’s still perfectly good, think about giving it a new home! Apollo Beach and its surrounding areas have some fantastic places that would love your donations. Consider checking out the Salvation Army Thrift Store in nearby Ruskin, or see if the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Brandon has anything you can drop off. These organizations are always looking for furniture, clothing, household items, and building materials that can be resold to support their missions. It's a win-win: you declutter your space, and someone else gets a great deal on something they need.
Keeping Our Shores Spick and Span: Tackling Unwanted Junk in Apollo Beach
Nobody likes seeing trash dumped where it doesn't belong, especially in beautiful Apollo Beach. If you ever spot illegal dumping happening or come across a pile of junk that’s been left behind, it’s good to know who to tell. For the most part, your local waste management services in Hillsborough County handle these situations. You can usually report illegal dumping by calling the Solid Waste Department at (813) 272-5680. They’re the ones who can arrange for proper cleanup and help keep our community looking its best. Sometimes, there are also community clean-up events organized by local groups – keeping an eye out for those is a great way to get involved and make a direct impact.
Drop-off Facilities
South County Solid Waste Facility (Community Collection Center)
13000 U.S. Highway 41, Gibsonton, FL 33534
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who manages garbage pickup for homes in Apollo Beach, FL?
Because Apollo Beach is an unincorporated community, residential trash, recycling, and yard waste services are managed directly by Hillsborough County Solid Waste Services, utilizing contracted franchise haulers.
What happens if my trash day falls on Thanksgiving in Apollo Beach?
Hillsborough County does not schedule make-up collection days for holidays. Because Thanksgiving is an observed holiday, your Thursday collection will be canceled entirely, and you must wait until your next regularly scheduled garbage day.
How do I get rid of an old couch or mattress?
You have two options in Apollo Beach: you can request a paid 'Special Curbside Pickup' from the county, or you can haul it yourself to the South County Solid Waste Facility in Gibsonton. Residents paying the solid waste assessment can utilize this self-haul drop-off for free up to annual limits.
Where can I safely dispose of paint or pool chemicals?
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is strictly prohibited in your gray and blue curbside bins. You can take items like paint, solvents, and pool chemicals to the South County Solid Waste Facility in Gibsonton, but this specific HHW drop-off is only available on the second Saturday of each month between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.