Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Citrus Park
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 Bin (Trash)
All regular trash must be securely bagged before going into the gray cart to prevent odors and litter. The cart lid must completely close, and bins must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Soiled paper and diapers
- ✓Plastic grocery bags
- ✓Cords, hoses, and tanglers
- ✓Light bulbs and ceramics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do NOT bag your recyclables. All items must be placed loosely into the blue cart. Ensure all bottles, cans, and newly accepted to-go cups are empty, clean, and dry.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Dry paper and junk mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Plastic and paper to-go cups
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Bagged recyclables
- ✕Food residue and liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Garden hoses and cords
Yard Waste Bin
Use your own reusable cans, boxes, or bags (do not use plastic bags for limbs). Bundles must be under 4 feet long and 6 inches in diameter. No single container may exceed 50 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Shrub and tree trimmings
- ✓Untreated wood
- ✓Palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Self-haul year-round or on-demand for a fee
Placement
If you pay for a special pickup, place the items at the curb following the operator's exact instructions. Otherwise, you must transport the items directly to a facility like the Northwest County CCC.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ Large appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Electronics
- ✓ Scrap metal and tires (at drop-off sites)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Commercial construction waste
- ✕ Biohazardous materials
- ✕ Explosives
- ✕ Large tree stumps
Self-hauling to a CCC is covered by your annual solid waste assessment (up to a specific tonnage limit). Requesting an at-home pickup requires calling (813) 272-5680 to arrange payment.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a county-observed holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of that week will be pushed back by one day (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday). If the holiday falls on a weekend, there are no delays.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as the gray and blue cart collections.
Always ensure your carts are at the curb by 6:00 a.m. even on a holiday make-up day, as route times often vary significantly from normal schedules.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
The number one cause of recycling contamination in Hillsborough County is plastic bags. Never bag your recyclables, and do not throw loose plastic grocery bags into the blue cart. If you have plastic bags, put them in the gray trash cart or return them to a local supermarket.
Send Tanglers to the Gray Cart
When cleaning out the garage, remember that garden hoses, extension cords, rope, and wire hangers are dangerous 'tanglers.' They wrap around the sorting gears at the recycling facility. These must always go into your gray garbage cart.
Empty and Dry is Essential
A half-full soda can or unrinsed milk jug can leak and ruin an entire bin of clean paper and cardboard. Always pour out excess liquids, give the container a quick rinse, and shake it dry before tossing it into the recycling.
Seasonal Information
Spring Overhaul
February to AprilDuring the active spring growing season, Hillsborough County boosts the weekly yard waste limit for Citrus Park residents from 12 containers to 18 containers (or 3 cubic yards). Take advantage of this window for major tree pruning and lawn overhauls.
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberStorm prep is critical in coastal Florida. If a tropical storm or hurricane warning is issued for Hillsborough County, immediately stop all tree trimming. Do not place yard debris or carts at the curb, as high winds turn loose items into dangerous projectiles.
Winter Holidays
Late December to JanuaryAfter Christmas, residents can dispose of live Christmas trees by placing them curbside on their standard yard waste collection day. You must remove all ornaments, tinsel, lights, and stands first. Do not place the tree in a plastic bag.
About Citrus Park Waste Management
Navigating Solid Waste in Unincorporated Citrus Park
Because Citrus Park is an unincorporated community in Hillsborough County, its residential waste collection is managed directly by the county's Solid Waste Management Division. Residents utilize a dual-cart automated system: a gray roll cart designated for bagged household garbage and a blue roll cart for loose recyclables. To ensure seamless automated pickup, both carts must be placed curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled service days with the lid arrows pointing toward the street and a mandatory three-foot clearance from mailboxes and cars.
New Recycling Perks: To-Go Cups Now Accepted
Hillsborough County continues to evolve its waste diversion programs to match modern consumer habits. Recently, the county officially expanded its recycling list to include both plastic and paper to-go cups. For Citrus Park residents, this means your morning coffee cups and iced tea containers can now go straight into the blue cart, provided they are completely empty and free of liquid residue. Remember, recyclables must always remain loose and unbagged.
Self-Hauling Bulk Items to the Northwest County Facility
Unincorporated Hillsborough County does not provide automatic, free curbside bulk pickup for large furniture or appliances. Instead, Citrus Park residents can take advantage of the highly convenient Northwest County Solid Waste Facility located just minutes away on West Linebaugh Avenue. This Community Collection Center (CCC) allows residents to self-haul old mattresses, couches, and electronics at no extra out-of-pocket cost, as the disposal fees are already covered under your annual property tax solid waste assessment.
Maximizing the Spring Yard Waste Allowance
Florida's subtropical climate means landscaping is a year-round chore, but spring brings the heaviest pruning. Typically, the county enforces a strict two-cubic-yard weekly limit (about twelve 30-gallon bags) for curbside yard waste. However, from February through April, Hillsborough County proactively increases this limit to three cubic yards, allowing Citrus Park homeowners to set out up to eighteen containers of leaves, branches, and clippings per week without penalty.
Drop-off Facilities
Northwest County Solid Waste Facility (CCC)
8001 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, FL 33625
Materials Accepted
Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility
6209 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away an old couch in Citrus Park?
Because Citrus Park is in unincorporated Hillsborough County, you do not receive free curbside bulk pickup. You can haul your old couch to the nearby Northwest County Solid Waste Facility on Linebaugh Ave for free disposal, or you can call (813) 272-5680 to schedule a curbside pickup for an extra fee.
Can I recycle my paper coffee cup in the blue bin?
Yes! Hillsborough County recently updated its recycling guidelines to officially accept both plastic and paper to-go cups in residential blue carts. Just ensure the cup is completely empty and dry before tossing it in.
What happens if my trash day falls on Thanksgiving?
Hillsborough County shifts collection days for major weekday holidays. If your normal pickup falls on Thanksgiving Thursday, your carts will be collected on Friday. Friday customers will have their waste collected on Saturday.
Are there any specific rules for setting out my yard waste?
Yes. Yard waste must be placed in your own reusable containers, cardboard boxes, or heavy-duty bags (never use plastic bags for branches). Branches must be cut to less than 4 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter, and no single container can weigh more than 50 pounds.