Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Egypt Lake-Leto
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 household garbage should be bagged before placing it in the gray cart to prevent odors, pests, and litter. Do not overfill the cart; the lid must close tightly to be serviced.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Plastic bags and wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do NOT bag recyclables. All acceptable items must be placed loosely into the blue cart. Ensure all food and beverage containers are completely empty and rinsed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and empty plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Clean and empty aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean and empty glass bottles and jars
- ✓Dry paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Clean flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, film, or shrink wrap
- ✕Bagged recyclables
- ✕Styrofoam packing materials
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, clothing)
Yard Waste Bin
Limit of 2 cubic yards weekly (increases to 3 cubic yards from Feb-April). Use personal containers or bags (max 50 lbs each). Branches must be under 4 feet long and 6 inches in diameter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Tree limbs and branches
- ✓Shrub trimmings and palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Self-haul only (up to 10 cubic yards annually)
Placement
Do not leave bulky items at the curb. You must bring them to a designated Community Collection Center during operating hours and show a valid photo ID and your property tax bill.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, mattresses, tables)
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ Tires (limit of 12 per year)
- ✓ Bulky household junk
Not Accepted
- ✕ Dump trailers are not allowed (must unload by hand)
- ✕ Commercial construction waste
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals (unless at HHW events)
Residential customers receive 10 cubic yards of free bulky waste disposal per year. Once this limit is reached, standard commercial tipping fees apply at the transfer stations.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
There are no holiday make-up days for the collection of residential garbage, recycling, or yard waste. If your collection date falls on a holiday, services will simply resume on your next regularly scheduled collection day.
Yard Waste Exception
New Year's Day is an exception where garbage is NOT collected, but recycling and yard waste ARE collected on their normal schedule.
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the normal collection schedule still applies for Saturday and Monday routes.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Never bag your recyclables. While clean plastic grocery bags can be taken back to local supermarkets for recycling, placing them in your curbside blue cart can cause severe damage to the county sorting facility.
Empty and Dry is Essential
A half-full soda bottle or unrinsed juice carton will contaminate an entire load of clean paper and cardboard. Always empty and quickly rinse out your bottles and cans before tossing them in the recycling bin.
Beware of Tanglers
Garden hoses, electrical cords, and old clothing are considered 'tanglers'. They should never go in the blue recycling cart. If they cannot be donated, they belong strictly in your gray garbage cart.
Seasonal Information
Spring Cleanup
February - AprilDuring peak landscaping months, Hillsborough County temporarily increases the weekly yard waste set-out limit. Instead of 2 cubic yards, residents can set out up to 3 cubic yards (approximately eighteen 30-gallon containers) per week.
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberIf a tropical storm or hurricane warning is issued for Hillsborough County, immediately secure all gray and blue carts. Do not place any yard waste or branches at the curb, as high winds can turn them into dangerous projectiles.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
December - JanuaryLive Christmas trees are collected at the curb on your regular yard waste collection day. You must remove all lights, tinsel, and ornaments, and the tree must be cut into sections no larger than 4 feet long.
About Egypt Lake-Leto Waste Management
Navigating Residential Waste in Egypt Lake-Leto
Because Egypt Lake-Leto is an unincorporated census-designated place, its residential waste collection falls entirely under the jurisdiction of Hillsborough County Solid Waste. The county partners with franchised haulers to provide automated curbside service. Residents are issued a gray cart for household garbage (collected twice a week) and a blue cart for recycling (collected once a week). Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on your designated collection days, positioned at least three feet apart from each other, mailboxes, and parked cars.
Strict No-Bag Recycling Policy
Hillsborough County enforces a strict 'no plastic bags' policy for its curbside recycling program. When using your blue cart in Egypt Lake-Leto, all clean and empty paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and glass jars must be placed loosely inside. Bagging your recyclables in plastic grocery sacks or trash bags will result in the hauler leaving the cart unemptied, as loose plastic film frequently jams the county's sorting machinery.
Generous Yard Waste Limits for Florida Lawns
Florida's subtropical climate means rapid plant growth and frequent yard maintenance. Hillsborough County provides a very accommodating yard waste program, allowing Egypt Lake-Leto residents to set out up to 2 cubic yards (equivalent to about twelve 30-gallon containers) of yard debris each week. The rules require that all leaves, clippings, and small twigs be placed in personal bins, boxes, or bags weighing 50 pounds or less. Branches must be neatly stacked or bundled, and they cannot exceed 4 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter.
Handling Bulk Waste via Community Collection Centers
Unlike some neighboring municipalities, Hillsborough County does not offer a standard weekly or monthly curbside pickup for bulky items like furniture or appliances. Instead, Egypt Lake-Leto households are granted a 10-cubic-yard annual allowance to self-haul bulk waste and appliances directly to the county's Community Collection Centers (CCC) for free. To utilize this allowance, residents must simply show a valid photo ID and a copy of their property tax bill at the facility.
Drop-off Facilities
Northwest County Solid Waste Facility
8001 W. Linebaugh Ave, Tampa, FL 33625
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need special bags for my yard waste in Egypt Lake-Leto?
No, you do not need special bags. You can use your own personal trash cans, cardboard boxes, or standard garbage bags, as long as each container weighs less than 50 pounds. You have a weekly limit of 2 cubic yards.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or refrigerator?
Hillsborough County does not offer regular curbside bulk pickup. Residents must self-haul large bulky items or appliances to a Community Collection Center. You are provided an annual 10-cubic-yard free disposal allowance; just remember to bring your photo ID and a copy of your property tax bill.
Why didn't the hauler empty my blue recycling cart?
The most common reason for a missed recycling collection is that items were placed inside plastic bags. Hillsborough County strictly requires all recyclables to be placed loosely inside the blue cart. If they see plastic grocery or trash bags, they will leave the cart at the curb.
What happens if my garbage day falls on Thanksgiving or Christmas?
Hillsborough County does not provide make-up collection days for observed holidays. If your normal pickup falls on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or Labor Day, your service is skipped and will simply resume on your next regularly scheduled collection day.