Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Cape Coral
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.
Tan Bin (Trash)
Bag all trash before placing it in the tan cart. Lids must close completely. Set out after 5:00 PM the day before and before 6:00 AM (or 5:00 AM in summer). Keep 5 feet away from mailboxes and cars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small broken items
Green Bin (Recycling)
Place items loose in the green cart; never use plastic bags. Extra recycling can be placed in a clearly labeled cardboard box next to the cart (max 50 lbs).
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (broken down)
- ✓Paper and junk mail
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard
- ✕Medical waste
Yard Waste Bin
Put small yard waste in paper bags or a personal 40-gallon can. Bundle branches up to 50 lbs. Leave palm fronds unbundled in a neat, separate pile.
Accepted Items
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Branches (under 6 feet long and 4 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly, on your regular trash collection day.
Placement
Place items within 3 feet of the road, and at least 5 feet from fire hydrants, mailboxes, and parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household appliances (requires scheduling)
- ✓ Oversized cardboard
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor and construction debris
- ✕ Hazardous materials
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Move-out piles (requires special scheduled pickup and fee)
Standard residential bulk items are collected for free. However, massive 'Move-Out' piles are not part of regular service, must be specially scheduled, and may incur an extra removal fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, trash, recycling, and bulk service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the same one-day delay rule as regular garbage and recycling during holiday weeks.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no change to the weekday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Loose Recyclables Only
Never bag your recyclables. Plastic garbage bags wrap around the sorting equipment at the Lee County recycling facility. Always toss your clean bottles, cans, and paper loosely into the green cart.
Keep Hazardous Waste Out
Your tan garbage cart is strictly for standard household trash. Never throw hot ashes, automotive fluids, medical sharps, or rechargeable batteries into the bin, as these can cause fires inside the Waste Pro trucks.
Break Down All Cardboard
Bulky cardboard boxes can easily jam your green recycling cart. Flatten and cut down all boxes. If you have excess cardboard, place it in a separate, clearly labeled cardboard box next to your green bin.
Seasonal Information
Summer Heat Hours
May - SeptemberTo protect sanitation workers from the intense Florida heat, collection begins an hour early. All bins and bulk items must be at the curb by 5:00 AM from May 1st through September 30th.
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberWhen a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued for Lee County, immediately stop placing bulk waste or yard trimmings at the curb. Secure your tan and green carts inside your garage to prevent them from becoming dangerous projectiles.
Post-Storm Debris Recovery
As NeededFollowing a major weather event, the city will issue specific guidelines for storm debris. Standard Waste Pro collections may be temporarily paused to prioritize clearing roads of fallen vegetation and structural debris.
About Cape Coral Waste Management
Cape Coral's Unified Waste Collection Day
Living in Cape Coral means enjoying a highly efficient waste management system. The city, in partnership with Waste Pro, provides a convenient single-day collection model. This means your tan garbage cart, green recycling cart, yard trimmings, and bulk waste are all picked up on the exact same day each week. Residents simply need to verify their specific neighborhood's zone map to determine their designated weekly collection day.
Summer Heat Collection Hours
Florida's extreme summer temperatures require a unique adjustment to the sanitation schedule. To protect the health and safety of Waste Pro drivers and crews, Cape Coral enacts early collection hours from May 1st through September 30th. During these hotter months, all trash, recycling, and yard waste must be placed at the curb by 5:00 AM instead of the standard 6:00 AM. Residents are encouraged to set their carts out the night before, anytime after 5:00 PM.
Navigating Proper Cart and Bulk Placement
Properly positioning your carts prevents missed pickups. Place your tan and green bins with the wheels and handles facing your home. Keep a minimum of three feet of clearance between the carts, and at least five feet of distance from mailboxes, parked vehicles, trees, and fire hydrants. When setting out bulk items, ensure they are placed within three feet of the road edge and are entirely separated from your standard bins.
Handling Yard Waste and the Unique Palm Frond Rule
Cape Coral's tropical environment generates a significant amount of horticulture waste. While standard yard clippings and leaves should be placed in paper lawn bags or personal 40-gallon cans, palm fronds are treated differently. Because of their rigid structure, you do not need to cut, bag, or bundle palm fronds. Simply stack them in a neat, independent pile on the curb, completely separated from your other bagged yard waste.
Drop-off Facilities
North Cape Government Complex Bulk Drop-Off
1200 Kismet Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33909 (Access from NW 14th Ave)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put extra garbage bags outside my tan cart in Cape Coral?
Yes. If your tan cart is completely full, you are allowed to place extra household garbage in secured plastic bags right next to the cart. Just ensure that no individual bag weighs more than 50 pounds.
How do I dispose of a refrigerator or large appliance?
Large appliances, also known as 'white goods,' are picked up for free, but they require a special arrangement. You must call Waste Pro at 239-337-0800 to schedule the specific date and time for your appliance removal.
What are the rules for disposing of palm fronds?
Cape Coral has a unique rule for palm fronds. Do not cut, tie, or bundle them. You simply need to stack the palm fronds in a single, neat pile on the curb, ensuring they are completely separated from your other yard waste and garbage.
What time should my trash bins be out at the curb?
During standard months, bins must be at the curb by 6:00 AM. However, from May 1st through September 30th, the city switches to 'Summer Heat' hours, meaning your carts must be placed out by 5:00 AM. You can place them curbside as early as 5:00 PM the night before your collection day.