Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Clearwater
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.
Black Barrel Bin (Trash)
Place the barrel within 2 feet of the curb with the handle facing away from the street between 7:00 PM the night before and 7:00 AM on collection day. Keep 3 feet of clearance from all obstacles. The lid must close.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged raw garbage and food waste
- ✓Styrofoam and shredded paper (bagged)
- ✓Paper plates, tissues, and towels
- ✓Small household electronics (NO rechargeable batteries)
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be clean, dry, and placed loosely inside the blue cart. Never put recyclables inside a plastic garbage bag. Ensure the lid is closed to keep materials dry.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (#1-7)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans (including empty aerosols)
- ✓Mixed paper (office paper, magazines, mail)
- ✓Flattened cardboard and cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, films, and wraps
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Shredded paper
- ✕Food scraps and tissues
- ✕Electronics and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Bag or box loose grass/leaves (max 50 lbs) or use a non-city 32-gallon can. Cut limbs to 4-foot lengths and bundle. Stumps/logs over 4 inches thick must also be cut to 4 feet and stacked neatly.
Accepted Items
- ✓Tree branches and brush
- ✓Leaves and grass clippings
- ✓Stumps
- ✓Natural vegetative waste
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a week on your regular collection day.
Placement
Place items at the curb no more than 24 hours prior to service, and by 7:00 AM on the collection day. Keep items clear of overhead wires, trees, poles, mailboxes, and vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Washers and dryers
- ✓ Sofas and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large bulky household furniture
- ✓ Oversized tree limbs (cut to 4-foot lengths)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor-generated tree debris or landscaping waste
- ✕ Hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Motor vehicle tires
- ✕ Construction and demolition materials
Up to 40 cubic yards per year is included. Larger amounts, or excess beyond the annual limit, may be subject to additional time and disposal charges. Call ahead for appliance pickups.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Clearwater solid waste offices close for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your collection day falls on one of these holidays, your pickup will typically be shifted to Wednesday of that holiday week. All other collection days usually remain on their normal schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk item pickups that normally occur on the affected holiday will follow the same shifted schedule as the regular garbage route.
Because collection shifts do not cascade forward through the entire week, always verify your specific holiday collection day by calling (727) 562-4920.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Loose is the Law for Recyclables
Never place your recyclables inside plastic grocery bags or garbage bags. Plastic film wraps around the gears at the material recovery facility and shuts down operations. Place items completely loose in your blue cart.
Shredded Paper Goes in the Trash
Although office paper is highly recyclable, shredded paper is not accepted in Clearwater's blue carts. The tiny paper shreds cannot be properly sorted by the equipment. Put shredded paper in your compost or the black trash barrel.
Keep Rechargeable Batteries Out
Never toss rechargeable batteries or lithium-ion devices into either of your curbside bins. They pose a massive fire hazard when compressed inside collection trucks. Take them directly to the Pinellas County Hazardous Collection Center.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberDuring severe tropical storm or hurricane warnings, immediately bring all solid waste carts indoors. Do not place yard waste or bulk debris at the curb, as high winds will turn uncollected materials into dangerous projectiles.
Winter Holidays
December - JanuaryClearwater residents can place real Christmas trees at the curb on their regular service day for collection. Ensure you remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and stands. Do not try to stuff the tree inside your blue recycling bin.
Summer Rainy Season
June - SeptemberTo protect local waterways from harmful runoff during the heavy summer rains, Pinellas County strictly prohibits fertilizing lawns from June through September. Furthermore, ensure grass clippings are properly bagged (under 50 lbs) to keep storm drains clear.
About Clearwater Waste Management
Automated Black Barrel Garbage Collection
Clearwater's Solid Waste division manages single-family curbside garbage using a dedicated black barrel system. Collection is automated, which means residents need to place the barrel within two feet of the curb with the handle facing toward the house. To avoid missed pickups, keep your cart at least three feet from recycling bins, mailboxes, and parked cars, and ensure the lid is fully closed. Any raw garbage or lightweight materials must be securely tied in plastic bags before going into the barrel.
Managing Your 40 Cubic Yard Bulk Allowance
When tackling a major home cleanout, residents can take advantage of the city's generous bulk trash allowances. Each household receives up to 40 cubic yards of bulk collection annually. You can place four to five large items, such as sofas or mattresses, at the curb alongside your regular trash on your designated collection day. While furniture doesn't require an appointment, you must call the Solid Waste department in advance if you're disposing of major appliances.
Navigating Electronic Waste and Battery Hazards
E-waste disposal in Clearwater comes with very specific safety guidelines. Residents are actually permitted to throw small household electronics directly into their black garbage barrel, provided they do not contain rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. If the device has a rechargeable battery, it must be removed. If the battery cannot be safely detached, the entire device must be dropped off at the Pinellas County Household Electronics and Chemical Collection Center to prevent catastrophic truck and facility fires.
The 'Simplify to 5' Blue Cart Recycling Program
The city's blue cart recycling program follows a strict 'Simplify to 5' philosophy. To reduce contamination, only five categories of materials should ever enter the blue bin: plastic bottles and jugs (numbers 1 through 7), glass jars, metal cans, mixed paper, and flattened cardboard. Flimsy plastics, tanglers, and Styrofoam are strictly banned. All approved recyclables must be placed loosely in the cart, as plastic garbage bags will completely ruin the sorting machinery.
Drop-off Facilities
Clearwater Solid Waste & Recycling Complex
1701 N. Hercules Ave., Clearwater, FL 33765
Materials Accepted
Pinellas County Household Electronics and Chemical Collection Center
2855 109th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33716
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the limit for bulk trash in Clearwater?
The city allows up to 40 cubic yards of bulk waste per calendar year for each single-family home. A good rule of thumb is to set out 4 to 5 pieces of furniture or similarly sized large items per week alongside your regular trash to stay within reasonable limits.
Do I need to schedule a bulk pickup for my old couch?
No advance scheduling is required for standard furniture like couches or mattresses. Just place them at the curb by 7:00 AM on your normal collection day. However, if you are disposing of large appliances like a refrigerator or major electronic equipment, you must call (727) 562-4920 ahead of time.
Can I throw an old television or computer in my black trash barrel?
Yes, but with one critical condition: it must NOT contain a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. If you can remove the rechargeable battery, do so and throw the device in the black barrel. If the battery cannot be removed, you must take the device to the Pinellas County Household Electronics and Chemical Collection Center.
What does the 'Simplify to 5' recycling rule mean?
Clearwater uses the 'Simplify to 5' program to reduce recycling contamination. You should only put five main categories of items in your blue cart: plastic bottles and jugs (#1-7), glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, mixed paper, and flattened cardboard. Everything else should go in the trash.