Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Brent
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.
Green Cart Bin (Trash)
All household trash must be securely bagged inside the green cart to prevent windblown litter. Carts must be placed at the curb by 5:30 a.m. on collection day with the lid fully closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small, non-hazardous household items
Tan Cart Bin (Recycling)
Items must be completely empty, rinsed, and placed loosely into the tan cart. Bagged recycling is treated as contamination and may cause your cart to be rejected by the driver.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastics #1 and #2
- ✓Flattened cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Styrofoam (Polystyrene)
- ✕Food waste and greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Garden hoses and extension cords
- ✕Medical waste or needles
Yard Waste Bin
Place in 32-gallon cans or yard bags (max 40 lbs). Cut limbs cannot exceed 6 feet in length or 40 pounds in weight. Stack loose limbs in piles no larger than 6' x 6' x 6'.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and pine straw
- ✓Small prunings and twigs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Requires Prior Scheduling)
Placement
Place approved items at the curb before 5:30 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Ensure the pile is free of overhanging tree limbs, overhead wires, or cable boxes.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, chairs, and mattresses
- ✓ Desks, dressers, and large furniture
- ✓ Rugs and carpet pads
- ✓ Bicycles and large household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and building debris
- ✕ Fencing and landscape timbers
- ✕ Bags of regular household garbage
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paints
Standard residential bulk pickup is included in your ECUA service rate at no extra charge, provided you follow the 2:00 p.m. scheduling requirement and material guidelines.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When these three major holidays disrupt the week, all ECUA sanitation schedules are delayed by one day for the remainder of the week (e.g., Thursday collections move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular household garbage.
Minor holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day do NOT generally affect ECUA residential sanitation collection routes.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Leave the Plastic Bags at the Store
The most destructive contaminant in Brent's tan recycling carts is the plastic grocery bag. They wrap around the sorting gears at the ECUA recycling plant, forcing expensive manual shutdowns. Put all recyclables loosely in the bin.
A Clean Bin is a Green Bin
Ensure that all aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic jugs are thoroughly rinsed out before recycling. Leftover soda or food residue can ruin an entire batch of clean paper and cardboard.
No Construction Materials in the Brush
When placing yard waste at the curb, make sure it is 100% vegetative. Mixing treated lumber, fencing, drywall, or roofing tiles with your leaves and branches will cause your pile to be tagged and rejected.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season Prep
June to NovemberWhen a tropical cyclone threatens the Pensacola area, secure your ECUA carts indoors immediately. Do not generate new yard waste piles if a storm is approaching, as high winds will scatter the debris across Brent neighborhoods.
Post-Holiday Grease Disposal
December to JanuaryDuring winter holiday cooking, never pour fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down your sink drain. ECUA provides free FOG exchange drop-off sites to prevent major sewer backups and pipe bursts in Brent.
Summer Landscaping Boom
May to SeptemberBecause yard waste volumes spike during the rainy summer months, ECUA trucks may occasionally run behind schedule. Leave your compliant yard bags and bundles at the curb; crews will typically catch up by the following day.
About Brent Waste Management
Waste Management in the Brent Community
Situated just north of downtown Pensacola, the Brent CDP relies on the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) for comprehensive solid waste services. Every single-family home is outfitted with a green garbage cart and a tan recycling cart. ECUA drivers run routes early to beat the Florida heat, so Brent homeowners are required to place their bins at the edge of the street by 5:30 a.m. on their assigned pickup morning.
Navigating the Call-Ahead Bulk Waste System
If you are clearing out an old bedroom or replacing appliances in your Brent home, take note of ECUA's bulky waste protocol. The utility requires residents to formally schedule bulk collections by 2:00 p.m. the day before their standard route day. Simply placing a couch or mattress on the curb without contacting customer service via phone or email will result in the items being left behind with a non-compliance tag.
Turning Brent's Yard Debris into Compost
Florida's intense growing season yields plenty of grass clippings and palm fronds. ECUA collects this yard waste weekly, provided it is placed in 32-gallon trash cans or heavy-duty paper or plastic bags weighing under 40 pounds. Instead of dumping this organic material in the landfill, ECUA processes it alongside biosolids to produce 'Emerald Coast bloom,' a nutrient-rich compost product available to the public.
Keeping Toxins Out of Escambia County's Waterways
You should never toss hazardous materials like wet latex paint, pool chemicals, or old car batteries into your ECUA carts. To protect the local groundwater around Brent, residents must transport household hazardous waste (HHW) directly to the Perdido Landfill in Cantonment. The Escambia County Waste Services department processes these dangerous items safely and free of charge for local homeowners.
Drop-off Facilities
Perdido Landfill (Escambia County Waste Services)
13009 Beulah Rd, Cantonment, FL 32533
Materials Accepted
ECUA Compost Retail Facility (Ellyson Industrial Park)
9255 Sturdevant St, Pensacola, FL 32514
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulk trash pickup in Brent?
You must actively schedule your bulk pickup with ECUA. Call or email Customer Service by 2:00 p.m. the day before your regular collection day. Your scheduled bulk items will then be picked up on your standard garbage day.
What colors are the garbage and recycling carts for Brent residents?
ECUA provides Brent residents with green carts for regular household garbage and tan carts for single-stream recycling.
Does my yard waste need to be bagged in Escambia County?
Small yard waste like grass clippings and pine straw must be contained in a standard 32-gallon trash can or heavy-duty yard waste bags. Each bag or can must weigh 40 pounds or less. Larger limbs can be bundled as long as they are under 6 feet long.
Can I throw old appliances out with regular bulk waste?
Large appliances (white goods) like refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines fall under ECUA's 'Bulk Recycling Program.' You must contact customer service separately to schedule these items so they can be routed to the proper recycling stream.