Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Fish Hawk
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 must be securely bagged before it is placed in the gray cart to prevent odors, pests, and litter. The lid must close completely. Set the cart out by 6:00 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Plastic grocery bags
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✓Soiled paper and diapers
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do NOT bag recyclables. Items must be placed loosely into the blue cart. Ensure all bottles, cans, and newly accepted to-go cups are empty, clean, and completely 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
Place yard waste in your own reusable cans, cardboard boxes, or heavy-duty bags (no plastic bags for branches). Bundles must be under 4 feet long and 6 inches in diameter, weighing no more than 50 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and pine needles
- ✓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 nearby 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 biggest recycling contaminant 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, throw them in the gray trash cart or return them to a supermarket.
Send Tanglers to the Gray Cart
Garden hoses, extension cords, ropes, and wire hangers are dangerous 'tanglers' that wrap around the mechanical sorting gears at the recycling facility. These items 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 bin.
Seasonal Information
Spring Overhaul
February to AprilDuring the active spring growing season, Hillsborough County boosts the weekly yard waste limit for Fish Hawk residents from 12 containers to 18 containers (or 3 cubic yards). This is the best time for major tree pruning.
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberStorm prep is critical in 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 Fish Hawk Waste Management
Sanitation Guidelines for the Fish Hawk Community
Because Fish Hawk is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, residential waste services are managed entirely by the county’s Solid Waste Management Division. Homeowners use a dual-cart automated system: gray roll carts for bagged garbage and blue roll carts for unbagged, loose recyclables. To guarantee service, both carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Ensure the arrows on the lids face the street and that there is a minimum three-foot clearance around each bin.
To-Go Cups Now Accepted in Hillsborough Recycling
Hillsborough County recently expanded its recycling program to adapt to modern habits, which directly benefits Fish Hawk residents. Both plastic and paper to-go cups are now officially accepted in your blue recycling cart. Whether it is an iced coffee cup or a fast-food soda cup, it can be recycled as long as it is completely empty, clean, and dry. Never bag your recyclables, as plastic bags ruin the sorting machinery.
Managing Heavy Bulk Waste Without Curbside Pickup
Unincorporated Hillsborough County communities like Fish Hawk do not receive free, automatic curbside pickup for bulky items like old furniture, mattresses, or large appliances. Instead, residents can utilize the county's Community Collection Centers (CCCs) for free self-hauling. The Hillsborough Heights facility in Seffner and the South County facility in Gibsonton are popular options. Disposal is covered by your annual solid waste tax assessment, provided you bring a photo ID and matching tax bill.
Taking Advantage of the Spring Yard Waste Boost
Maintaining a lawn in Florida means dealing with year-round yard debris. Normally, the county strictly limits curbside yard waste collection to two cubic yards per week (roughly twelve 30-gallon bags or bundles). However, from February through April, Hillsborough County automatically bumps this limit up to three cubic yards. Fish Hawk residents can use this window to place up to eighteen containers of spring clippings and branches at the curb without penalty.
Drop-off Facilities
South County Solid Waste Facility (CCC)
13000 US Hwy 41, Gibsonton, FL 33534
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 or mattress in Fish Hawk?
Because Fish Hawk is in unincorporated Hillsborough County, there is no free curbside bulk pickup. You can haul your old couch to a Community Collection Center (like Hillsborough Heights or South County) for free disposal, or 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.