Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for East Lake
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.
Varies by Hauler (Often Green, Gray, or Black) Bin (Trash)
Bag all regular household trash to prevent wind-blown litter and pest issues. Ensure your cart's lid is fully closed, and place the bin at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service days, maintaining at least three feet of clearance from mailboxes and vehicles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Varies by Hauler (Often Blue) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely into the recycling cart. Do not bag your recyclables. Rinse out all food residue from cans and bottles before disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Clean cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Paper, newspaper, and mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must typically be bagged, or branches must be bundled (often restricted to 4 feet in length and under 50 pounds). Do not mix yard waste with household garbage; Pinellas County aims to convert this material into mulch.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches
- ✓Palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Varies (By Request or Contract)
Placement
Place bulk items curbside only after scheduling with your private hauler. Ensure the items are kept at least 3 feet away from mailboxes, regular bins, and vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (varies by hauler)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household Hazardous Waste
- ✕ Electronics
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Wet paint
- ✕ Vehicle parts
Many haulers include a limited number of free bulk pickups per year in their service, but extra or excessively large loads may incur an additional fee. Confirm rates directly with your provider.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a major holiday falls on a weekday and the Pinellas County Disposal Complex closes, private haulers typically delay collection by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collections follow the same holiday delay schedule as standard trash, though specific pickup days depend entirely on your private hauler.
Because East Lake residents use various private haulers, always verify your specific holiday schedule directly with your chosen waste company (e.g., WM, Waste Pro, Waste Connections).
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Bagging is Banned
Never place your recyclables inside a plastic garbage bag. Keep items loose in your recycling cart. Plastic bags get tangled in the county's sorting machinery and can cause entire truckloads to be rejected.
Flatten the Cardboard
Break down all cardboard boxes so they lay perfectly flat. Not only does this save space in your bin, but it also ensures the automated arms of the collection trucks can empty your cart seamlessly without items wedging inside.
No Tanglers Allowed
Keep garden hoses, Christmas lights, extension cords, and wire hangers out of your recycling. These 'tanglers' are severe hazards to the recycling facility's conveyor belts and should be thrown in the standard garbage if they cannot be donated.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberSecure your trash and recycling carts indoors or in a garage when a tropical storm or hurricane is approaching. Never put bulk items or yard debris at the curb prior to a storm, as high winds can turn these objects into dangerous projectiles.
Winter Holidays
December to JanuaryRemember the 'Nice and Naughty' recycling list from Pinellas County. Plain wrapping paper and cardboard boxes are nice and recyclable, but foil wrapping, ribbons, bows, and tinsel belong on the naughty list and must go in the regular garbage.
Spring Cleaning
March to MayPinellas County converts thousands of tons of yard waste into free mulch. Keep your yard debris out of the regular trash bin; instead, bag it or bundle it according to your private hauler's specifications for dedicated yard waste diversion.
About East Lake Waste Management
Residential Trash Collection in East Lake
Because East Lake is situated in unincorporated Pinellas County, waste management operates on a private subscription basis rather than a municipal contract. Residents are responsible for selecting and setting up their own curbside collection service with one of the county-licensed haulers, such as Waste Management (WM), Waste Connections, Waste Pro, or Solar Sanitation. Collection days, cart provisions, and specific pickup times will depend directly on the specific company you choose to handle your household garbage.
Uniform Recycling Rules Across Pinellas County
While your private hauler handles the physical pickup, what goes into your recycling bin is strictly dictated by Pinellas County's unified solid waste guidelines. The county processes recyclables through a central system that prioritizes a clean, single-stream approach. East Lake residents should only place clean paper, flattened cardboard, glass bottles, metal cans, and plastic jugs in their bins. Plastic bags, tangled cords, and Styrofoam are notorious contaminants that can jam the sorting equipment at the county's Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
Bulk Trash and Oversized Items
Disposing of large items like old furniture, mattresses, or appliances in East Lake requires coordination with your chosen waste hauler. Since there are no universally scheduled neighborhood bulk pickup days in this unincorporated area, you must call your provider directly to schedule a special collection. Many private haulers include a limited number of annual bulk pickups in their standard residential contracts, but volume restrictions and preparation rules (such as removing refrigerator doors) will vary from company to company.
Hazardous Waste and Environmental Stewardship
East Lake is surrounded by beautiful natural preserves, making proper disposal of chemicals vital to protecting local waterways like Lake Tarpon and Brooker Creek. You cannot throw household hazardous waste (HHW) such as wet paint, motor oil, pool chemicals, or lithium batteries into your regular trash. Pinellas County operates a Household Hazardous Waste Center where residents can drop off these dangerous materials for free. Occasionally, the county also hosts mobile HHW collection events directly in East Lake, often utilizing the parking lot of East Lake High School.
Drop-off Facilities
Pinellas County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Center
2855 109th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33716
Materials Accepted
Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex
3095 114th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33716
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for garbage collection in East Lake, Florida?
Because East Lake is an unincorporated community in Pinellas County, there is no single municipal trash provider. Residents must independently set up a subscription with a county-licensed private hauler, such as Waste Management, Waste Connections, Solar Sanitation, or Waste Pro.
Can I get a replacement trash bin directly from Pinellas County?
No. Pinellas County does not provide residential trash or recycling carts to homes in unincorporated East Lake. If your bin is damaged, stolen, or broken, you must contact your specific private subscription hauler to request a replacement or repair.
How do I dispose of a broken television or laptop in East Lake?
Electronics should not be placed in your curbside bins. You can safely dispose of e-waste at the Pinellas County Household Hazardous Waste Center in St. Petersburg, or you can wait for one of the county's designated mobile chemical collection events, which occasionally take place near East Lake High School.
What holidays will disrupt my trash pickup schedule in East Lake?
While exact schedules depend on your private hauler, most routes are delayed by one day if the Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex is closed. The main landfill complex traditionally closes on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.