Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Apopka
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.
Black Bin (Trash)
Must be placed curbside by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. If near wooded areas, avoid setting out the night before to deter bears.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste and kitchen scraps
- ✓Styrofoam and packaging
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Broken ceramics and glass
Gray Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected every other Wednesday based on your specific route. Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the gray cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and catalogs
- ✓Junk mail and office paper
- ✓Milk and juice cartons
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Pizza boxes
- ✕Polystyrene (Styrofoam)
- ✕Clothing, textiles, or carpet
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Hoses, wires, and tanglers
Yard Waste Bin
Branches must be under 4 feet long and 6 inches in diameter, tied in bundles weighing under 30 lbs. Loose yard waste must be in bags or personal cans (under 30 lbs). Max 4 cubic yards per week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Tree branches and palm fronds
- ✓Small shrubs and organic debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Varies by item type: Furniture on Yard Waste Day; Appliances/Electronics by Wednesday appointment.
Placement
Place items curbside away from mailboxes, trees, and overhead utility lines. Do not block the sidewalk or street.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and dressers (Yard waste day)
- ✓ Standard household refrigerators (Doors removed)
- ✓ Dishwashers, washers, and dryers
- ✓ Televisions and large electronics
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous household waste
- ✕ Liquid paints and chemicals
- ✕ Commercial construction or demolition debris
- ✕ Automobile parts and oil
A $16.11 fee applies for Freon removal from refrigerators. Additionally, yard waste piles exceeding 4 cubic yards will be assessed an excess bulk fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The City of Apopka collects garbage, recycling, and yard waste on all standard holidays throughout the year except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulky services are suspended on Thanksgiving and Christmas just like standard trash.
Unlike many cities that shift schedules by one day, Apopka does not provide make-up days for Thanksgiving and Christmas. If your day falls on these holidays, your bins will simply be collected on your next regular scheduled day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Pizza Boxes Are Trash
Despite being made of cardboard, pizza boxes are heavily soaked with grease, cheese, and food residue. This contaminates the paper pulping process, so Apopka requires all pizza boxes to go in the black trash cart.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Gray Cart
Never collect your recyclables in plastic garbage bags or toss loose grocery bags into the gray bin. Thin plastic films jam the mechanical sorting screens at the local recycling facility.
Beware of Tanglers
Garden hoses, electrical cords, and wire hangers are notorious 'tanglers.' They wrap around the sorting gears at the plant and shut down operations. Keep them strictly out of your gray recycling cart.
Seasonal Information
Post-Holiday Winter
December to JanuaryYou can easily dispose of your real Christmas tree in Apopka by removing all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and the stand, and placing the bare tree at the curb on your regularly scheduled yard waste collection day.
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberIf a severe tropical storm or hurricane approaches Orange County, immediately halt all yard trimming. Secure your black and gray carts indoors and do not place bulky items at the curb, as they can become severe projectile hazards.
Major Holidays
November and DecemberApopka crews work almost every holiday to ensure clean streets, with the strict exceptions of Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. There are no make-up days for these two holidays; service resumes on your next regularly scheduled pickup day.
About Apopka Waste Management
The Black and Gray Cart Setup in Apopka
The City of Apopka provides exclusive municipal waste collection for residents located within the official city limits. When you open a new utility account, the city issues a color-coded bin system: a black cart designated for standard household trash and a gray cart reserved for single-stream recycling. Because collection schedules alternate, residents are strongly encouraged to download the ReCollect app or use the city's online portal to memorize their specific rotation.
Beware of Black Bear Activity
Central Florida's natural environments frequently bring wildlife into suburban neighborhoods. If your Apopka home is located near heavily wooded areas or conservation lands, the Solid Waste Division explicitly recommends waiting until the morning of your collection day to place your carts at the curb. Putting fragrant food waste out the night before is a proven attractant for local black bears, which can lead to toppled carts and hazardous messes in the street.
Free Backyard Composters for Residents
In an incredible effort to reduce organic waste in local landfills, the City of Apopka offers a unique environmental perk: free backyard compost bins. A limited supply of NPL 300 The Earth Machine composters is made available to residents at no charge. Although the city does not deliver them, interested households can call 407-703-1731 to request one and start transforming their kitchen scraps and grass clippings into nutrient-rich soil.
Navigating Appliance and Electronic Wednesdays
Disposing of bulky items in Apopka requires paying attention to the specific type of material you are throwing away. Standard large furniture, like old sofas and mattresses, can simply be placed curbside on your assigned yard waste day. However, appliances, televisions, and electronics are prohibited on standard routes and must be scheduled for a special pickup strictly on Wednesdays. Refrigerators require the doors to be removed and carry a $16.11 Freon extraction fee.
Strict Bagging Rules for Grass and Leaves
Maintaining a pristine Florida lawn generates a significant amount of yard debris. Apopka municipal code strictly prohibits blowing grass clippings or raking leaves directly into the street or down storm drains, as this heavily pollutes local lakes. All loose leaves and grass clippings must be either bagged or placed in personal garbage cans (not the city-issued black or gray carts) and must weigh less than 30 pounds per container.
Drop-off Facilities
Orange County Household Hazardous Waste
Various locations via Orange County Solid Waste Hotline (407-836-6601)
Materials Accepted
WM Vista Landfill
242 W Keene Rd, Apopka, FL 32703
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What holidays does the City of Apopka stop collecting trash?
The City of Apopka works on most holidays and only suspends residential solid waste collections on two specific days: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. There are no make-up days; your items will be picked up on the next regularly scheduled day.
How do I throw away an old refrigerator in Apopka?
You cannot leave appliances out on normal trash days. You must call the city to schedule a special Wednesday pickup. You are required by law to remove the refrigerator doors for safety, and there is a $16.11 Freon removal fee.
Can I get a composter for my backyard from the city?
Yes! The City of Apopka provides a limited number of free NPL 300 Earth Machine composters to residents. You must call 407-703-1731 to request one, though you will have to arrange to pick it up yourself.
What should I do if my Apopka house is near the woods and bears get into my trash?
If you live in an area with heavy black bear activity, the city strongly advises that you do not place your black garbage cart at the curb the night before collection. Instead, wait and place it out by 7:00 a.m. on the morning of your pickup to minimize attracting wildlife.