Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Bradenton
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.
City-provided garbage cart Bin (Trash)
All household trash must be securely bagged to prevent windblown litter. Place your cart at the curb by 6:00 AM on your designated collection day, ensuring it is at least 3 feet away from parked cars, mailboxes, and utility poles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Plastic bags
- ✓Styrofoam
Drop-off only (No curbside bins) Bin (Recycling)
Curbside collection is suspended. Residents must bring clean, dry, and unbagged recyclables to a designated City of Bradenton Recycling Convenience Center. Insert items into the specialized slots.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Clean paper and mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Household trash
Yard Waste Bin
Place small vegetative debris into your repurposed blue 'Yard Waste Only' cart. Larger branches must be cut to 4 feet or shorter, tied into bundles, and weigh less than 50 pounds per bundle.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and branches
- ✓Palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand by appointment only
Placement
Items must be at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled day. You must call to schedule the pickup within 48 hours of setting the items out to avoid a $300 illegal dumping penalty.
Accepted
- ✓ Refrigerators (doors must be removed)
- ✓ Stoves, dishwashers, and washers/dryers
- ✓ Water heaters
- ✓ Furniture (couches, mattresses, chairs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and paint
- ✕ Contractor-generated construction debris
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Propane tanks
A flat fee of $10.00 per item is charged for bulk collection. This fee is not paid upfront but is instead added to your upcoming municipal utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a city-observed holiday falls on your scheduled pickup day, garbage and yard waste collections will typically be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday pickups move to Friday). Normal schedules resume the following Monday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard household trash.
Because recycling is now operating on a drop-off model, the city's Recycling Convenience Centers remain accessible 24/7 regardless of municipal holiday closures.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
The Pizza Box Rule
Greasy pizza boxes were a leading cause of the 60% contamination rate that ultimately ended Bradenton's curbside recycling program. Never place oil-stained or food-soiled cardboard into the recycling drop-off containers; throw them in your regular trash.
Plastic Bags Shut Down Recycling
When transporting your recyclables to a convenience center, do not leave them inside a plastic grocery or trash bag. Plastic bags jam the sorting machinery at the processing facility. Dump your recyclables into the bin slots loosely.
Clean and Dry is Mandatory
The city emphasizes that all aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic jars must be thoroughly rinsed and dried before dropping them off. Wet or sticky residue ruins massive loads of recyclable paper and cardboard.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberDuring named tropical storm or hurricane warnings, immediately stop all major yard pruning and secure your trash carts indoors. Do not place bulk items at the curb, as high winds turn unsecured piles into severe projectile hazards.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
Late December - JanuaryWith the influx of holiday deliveries, cardboard boxes accumulate quickly. You must break down and flatten all corrugated cardboard completely flat before taking it to a Recycling Convenience Center so the container slots do not jam.
Snowbird Season
Winter/SpringAs seasonal residents flock to Bradenton during the winter and early spring, the volume of residential waste surges. Always ensure your trash cart is out by 6:00 AM, as collection route times frequently fluctuate to accommodate heavier loads.
About Bradenton Waste Management
Curbside Recycling Suspended: The Drop-Off Model
In June 2022, the City of Bradenton made the difficult decision to indefinitely suspend its curbside recycling program due to a combination of severe driver shortages and incredibly high contamination rates (reaching 60%). Instead, the city transitioned to a drop-off model. Residents must now bring their clean, dry recyclables to one of over ten 'Recycling Convenience Centers' located throughout Bradenton. These locked containers feature specialized slots for cardboard and doors for glass, metals, and plastics, and are accessible 24 hours a day.
Repurposing Blue Bins for Yard Waste
When the curbside recycling program ended, the city found an innovative way to prevent the old blue recycling carts from going to waste. Residents were instructed to keep their blue bins, which were subsequently retrofitted with 'Yard Waste Only' stickers. Today, these blue carts are strictly used for collecting grass clippings, leaves, and small vegetative debris during regular yard waste collection days.
On-Demand, Fee-Based Bulk Pickup
Unlike some neighboring municipalities that offer free scheduled bulk sweep days, Bradenton operates an appointment-only bulk collection system. Residents looking to dispose of large items such as furniture, mattresses, or major appliances must place the items at the curb and then call Public Works at 941-708-6340. The city charges a flat rate of $10.00 per item, which is conveniently billed directly to your municipal utility account rather than requiring an upfront payment.
Strict Penalties for Illegal Dumping
Bradenton enforces highly strict regulations regarding its on-demand bulk trash program to keep city streets clean. If a resident places a bulk item at the curb, they have a strict 48-hour window to call the city and schedule the pickup. Failure to notify the Public Works department within this timeframe is classified as illegal dumping, and the city will attach a hefty $300 penalty fee directly to the offending household's utility bill.
E-Waste and Hazardous Material Disposal
Electronic waste, such as televisions and computers, along with household hazardous chemicals like wet paint and motor oil, are strictly prohibited from curbside collection. Bradenton residents can safely dispose of these materials at the Lena Road Landfill. Manatee County hosts a free Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and E-Scrap drop-off event at the landfill on the third Saturday of every month specifically for local residents.
Drop-off Facilities
Lena Road Landfill (Manatee County)
3333 Lena Road, Bradenton, FL 34211
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Bradenton have curbside recycling?
No. In June 2022, the city indefinitely suspended curbside recycling due to severe staffing shortages and high contamination rates. Residents must now take clean recyclables to one of the 10+ Recycling Convenience Centers located around the city.
What am I supposed to do with my old blue recycling cart?
When the curbside recycling program ended, the city repurposed the blue recycling carts into yard waste carts. They are now tagged with 'Yard Waste Only' stickers and should be used strictly for leaves, grass clippings, and small twigs.
How do I get rid of an old couch or refrigerator in Bradenton?
Bradenton operates an on-demand bulk pickup system. You must place the item at the curb and call Public Works at 941-708-6340 within 48 hours to schedule the pickup. You will be billed a flat $10.00 fee per item on your next utility bill.
What happens if I leave bulk trash at the curb without calling?
Failing to notify the Public Works department within 48 hours of placing bulk items at the curb is considered illegal dumping. The city strictly enforces this rule and will add a $300 penalty fee directly to your utility bill.