Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Ensley
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.
Grey or Green Cart Bin (Trash)
Place your cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day. All trash must be bagged and fit inside the cart with the lid closed. Leave ample space around the cart for the automated truck arms.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Soiled paper products
Tan or Blue Cart (varies by specific route) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be completely clean, empty, and dry. Place items loosely into the recycling cart. Do not bag your recyclables, as bagged items go straight to the landfill.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Paper and junk mail
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (#1 and #2)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (check current local ECUA drop-off rules)
- ✕Food residue
- ✕Tanglers like hoses or cords
Yard Waste Bin
Use standard 32-gallon cans or bags (max 40 lbs each, up to 20 per week). Cut limbs under 6 feet and 40 lbs, stacked in up to two 6' x 6' x 6' piles. Place out by 5:30 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Pine straw and leaves
- ✓Tree limbs and branches
- ✓Palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your scheduled garbage day (by request only)
Placement
Place items at the curb no sooner than 48 hours before collection, before 6:00 a.m. Ensure the pile (up to two 6' x 6' x 6' piles) is clear of low-hanging wires, mailboxes, and traffic.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, desks, dressers)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Area rugs
- ✓ Small non-hazardous appliances
- ✓ Bicycles and large toys
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and building debris (sheetrock, fencing)
- ✕ Carpet
- ✕ Extra trash bags of regular garbage or clothing
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
Standard bulky waste pickup is included in your ECUA service fees. However, excess household garbage not considered 'bulk' may require an extra sanitation pickup fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection falls on an observed holiday, your pickup will typically shift to the following day. Collections for the remainder of the week will run one day behind.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk item collections will also follow the delayed holiday shift schedule.
Holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day generally do not disrupt ECUA service schedules, but always verify via the ECUA Customer Pipeline newsletter.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Battery Hazards in the Bin
Never place loose lithium-ion batteries or electronic toys containing them into your household trash or recycling carts. They can spark and cause dangerous fires inside the collection trucks and at the Perdido Landfill.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Recycling
Plastic grocery bags and garbage bags are the number one contaminant in ECUA's recycling stream. They tangle the sorting machinery at the material recovery facility. Always throw your recyclables in loose.
FOG Does Not Belong in the Trash
Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) should not be poured down the drain or thrown directly into the trash in liquid form. Soak up small amounts with paper towels, or harden grease in a sealed container before placing it in the garbage.
Seasonal Information
Winter / Holidays
December - JanuaryAfter the holidays, ECUA will collect your real Christmas trees as part of the normal yard waste pickup. Ensure all tinsel, ornaments, lights, and the tree stand are completely removed so the tree can be properly composted.
Spring / Summer Yard Care
March - AugustDuring peak lawn care months, yard waste volumes increase drastically across Escambia County. To ensure your yard debris is collected, make sure it is at the curb by 5:30 a.m., as routes often run slightly behind due to heavy weekend volumes.
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberIn the event of an approaching tropical storm or hurricane, immediately secure your ECUA roll carts inside a garage or shed. Cease all yard trimming activities, as loose branches can become dangerous projectiles in high winds.
About Ensley Waste Management
Navigating Waste Collection in Ensley
As an unincorporated census-designated place within Escambia County, Ensley’s residential waste, recycling, and yard trash services are exclusively provided by the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA). ECUA utilizes automated collection trucks, which means that all standard household garbage must fit securely inside the provided rolling carts with the lid closed to ensure service.
Proper Cart Preparation and Timing
To guarantee pickup, Ensley residents must place their garbage and recycling carts at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection day. The carts must be positioned with the arrows on the lid pointing toward the street. It is also important to leave several feet of clearance between the carts and any obstacles like mailboxes, utility poles, or parked cars to allow the mechanical arms of the trucks to operate safely.
Managing Yard Trash in Escambia County
ECUA provides generous yard waste collection for Ensley homes, accepting up to 20 plastic bags or standard 32-gallon trash cans of vegetative debris per week. Ensure each bag or can weighs no more than 40 pounds. If you are disposing of tree limbs or branches, they must be cut to six feet or less in length, weigh under 40 pounds per limb, and be neatly stacked in manageable piles measuring no more than 6' x 6' x 6'.
The 'Schedule-For-Pickup' Bulk Waste Program
Unlike cities with standard monthly bulk days, ECUA operates a highly convenient 'Schedule-For-Pickup' bulk waste service. Residents can dispose of large items like furniture, mattresses, and non-hazardous appliances weekly on their regular collection day, provided they call customer service at least 48 hours in advance to schedule the pickup. Building materials and household hazardous waste are strictly excluded from this service.
Specialized Bulk Recycling Requests
For environmentally conscious residents, ECUA also offers a Bulk Recycling program. This separate service requires a phone call to arrange the pickup of recyclable large items such as vehicle batteries, large electronics (TVs and computers), and appliances. These items should never be forced into your standard curbside recycling cart.
Drop-off Facilities
Perdido Landfill (Escambia County Waste Services)
13009 Beulah Road, Cantonment, FL 32533
Materials Accepted
Oak Grove Citizen's Convenience Center
745 N. Hwy 99, McDavid, FL 32568
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request a bulk trash pickup in Ensley?
You must schedule a bulk pickup by calling the ECUA Customer Service line at (850) 476-0480. Call at least 48 hours before your regular collection day to ensure your items are added to the route schedule.
Will ECUA pick up construction debris from my home renovation?
No, ECUA's bulky waste service does not accept construction or building debris, including sheetrock, fencing, and carpet. You must hire a private dumpster service or haul these materials yourself to the Perdido Landfill in Cantonment.
What should I do if my ECUA garbage cart was missed?
Some routes can run until 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. due to volume. Do not report a missed pickup until the morning after your scheduled collection day. If it was genuinely missed and was out by 6:00 a.m., call customer service at (850) 476-0480.
Does Ensley have a separate bulk recycling program?
Yes, ECUA offers a special Bulk Recycling program for items like car batteries, tires, appliances, large cardboard, and electronics (TVs, computers). You must call 850-476-0480 specifically to schedule a bulk recycling pickup, and these items should never be placed in your standard recycle cart.