Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Brandon
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.
Gray Cart Bin (Trash)
Everything must fit inside the cart with the lid fully closed. Tilt the cart and roll it to the curb by 6:00 AM on collection days. Arrows on the lid must point toward the street.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Windows, mirrors, and ceramics
- ✓Clothing and textiles
- ✓Cords, wires, and hoses
- ✓Small appliances
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do NOT bag recyclables—leave them completely loose. Ensure all containers are clean and dry, and cut or flatten all cardboard so it easily fits inside the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and empty plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Clean and empty aluminum and metal cans
- ✓Clean and empty glass bottles and jars
- ✓Dry paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Dry flattened cardboard and paperboard boxes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or bagged recyclables
- ✕Plastic film or shrink wrap
- ✕Food or liquid waste
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Place in your own cans, boxes, or bags (max 50 lbs each). Weekly limit is 2 cubic yards. Limbs must be less than 4 feet long and 6 inches in diameter. Place within 6 feet of the curb.
Accepted Items
- ✓Branches and limbs
- ✓Brush and shrub trimmings
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Untreated wood
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand by special request only, or self-haul.
Placement
If you schedule a special curbside pickup, place the items at the curb by 6:00 AM on your assigned special collection day, keeping them clear of your regular carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (couches, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Scrap metal and bulky waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Commercial construction or demolition debris
- ✕ Medical waste
- ✕ Automobile parts
A special curbside pickup costs a nominal fee of $30 to $50 per item. To avoid this fee, residential customers can deliver bulky waste themselves to a Community Collection Center for free, up to their annual assessment limit.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Unlike many municipalities, Hillsborough County has NO holiday make-up days for residential collection. If your regular collection date falls on an observed holiday, your services will be skipped and will resume on your next regularly scheduled collection day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling follow the exact same rule: no make-up days. They will simply be collected on the next regular service day.
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the normal schedule usually applies for Saturday and Monday collections. Always verify through the county's online schedule tool.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Your Recyclables
The fastest way to ruin a load of recycling is to put it in a plastic garbage bag. Plastic bags jam up the spinning screens at Hillsborough County's material recovery facility. Keep your recyclables completely loose in the blue cart.
Toss Tanglers in the Trash
Garden hoses, extension cords, Christmas lights, and rope are considered 'tanglers.' They wrap around recycling equipment and halt operations. These items are strictly garbage and must be thrown in your gray cart.
Follow Yard Waste Size Limits
If you trim your trees, you must cut the branches down to size. Any limb placed at the curb must be less than 4 feet in length and under 6 inches in diameter. Oversized logs will be left behind by the collection crews.
Seasonal Information
Spring Growing Season
February, March, and AprilTo accommodate the heavy spring growing season, Hillsborough County temporarily increases the weekly curbside yard waste limit from 2 cubic yards to 3 cubic yards (up to eighteen 30-gallon containers) during February, March, and April.
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberIf a severe tropical storm or hurricane approaches the Tampa Bay area, secure your carts indoors or tie them down. Suspend all major tree pruning, as uncollected yard waste can become hazardous flying debris.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
December - JanuaryLive Christmas trees can be placed at the curb for collection on your regular yard waste day. However, you must remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and the tree stand. Fake trees or flocked trees must go in the regular trash.
About Brandon Waste Management
Automated Curbside Services in Brandon
Because Brandon is an unincorporated community, its residential solid waste collection is managed directly by Hillsborough County Solid Waste Services. The county utilizes a standardized, automated cart system requiring all residential customers to use a designated gray roll cart for garbage and a blue cart for recycling. Since the garbage trucks use mechanical arms to lift and empty the carts, residents must place their carts at least three feet away from other bins, mailboxes, and vehicles by 6:00 AM on the scheduled collection day.
Strict Lid Policies and Handling Excess Waste
Hillsborough County enforces a strict 'lid closed' policy. This means all household garbage must fit completely inside your gray cart, and the lid must close flat. Extra garbage bags left on top of or next to your gray cart will not be collected. If you have bulky waste like furniture or excess garbage that doesn't fit, you cannot leave it at the curb for normal pickup. You must either call Customer Service to schedule a special pickup for a $30 to $50 fee per item or self-haul your items to a Community Collection Center.
Maximizing the Community Collection Centers (CCC)
Brandon residents who pay the annual Solid Waste assessment on their property taxes have an excellent free alternative for bulk disposal. You can deliver bulky waste, appliances, scrap metal, and up to 2 tons of yard waste per year to county-operated Community Collection Centers, such as the nearby Hillsborough Heights facility in Seffner. Just remember to bring your photo ID and a copy of your Hillsborough County property tax bill to prove your residency and access your annual disposal quota.
Keeping the Blue Cart Contamination-Free
The single most important rule for Hillsborough County's curbside recycling program is: Do NOT bag your recyclables. Brandon residents must place clean, dry, and empty plastic bottles, aluminum cans, glass containers, and cardboard loosely into the blue cart. Flimsy plastic bags and garbage bags easily get tangled in the sorting equipment at the local recycling plant, causing costly breakdowns and forcing perfectly good recyclables into the landfill.
Drop-off Facilities
Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility (CCC)
6209 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584
Materials Accepted
South County Solid Waste Facility
13000 US Hwy 41, Gibsonton, FL 33534
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who picks up my trash in Brandon, FL?
Because Brandon is an unincorporated community, its waste services are managed by Hillsborough County Solid Waste Services. The county contracts with private hauling companies to perform the daily automated collections for household garbage, recycling, and yard waste.
How do I get rid of bulk waste like an old couch in Brandon?
Bulk waste is not collected for free on regular trash days. You have two options: you can call Hillsborough County Solid Waste at (813) 272-5680 to schedule a special curbside pickup for a fee of $30 to $50 per item, or you can self-haul the items to a Community Collection Center (like the one in Seffner) for free disposal.
Are there holiday make-up days for trash pickup in Hillsborough County?
No. Hillsborough County does not offer holiday make-up days for residential garbage, recycling, or yard waste. If your normal collection day falls on an observed holiday, your waste will simply be collected on your next regularly scheduled collection day.
Can I put extra trash bags next to my gray cart?
No. The county enforces a strict 'lid closed' policy. All household garbage must fit completely inside your gray cart with the lid closed securely. The automated trucks will not pick up loose bags left on top of or beside the cart.