Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Florida Ridge
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.
WM Trash Cart (95-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Carts must be placed curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. All bagged materials must fit entirely inside the trash cart with the lid fully closed. Place carts at least 3 feet apart and 3 feet away from mailboxes or cars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household trash
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-hazardous municipal solid waste
WM Recycling Cart (65-gallon) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely into the cart. Do not bag your recycling in plastic grocery bags, as they jam the sorting machinery.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Metal cans (aluminum and steel)
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
- ✕Glass bottles and jars (unless specifically updated by county policy)
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed inside the 95-gallon Yard Waste cart. No small piles on the ground will be collected. Resident-owned containers will not be serviced. The cart lid does not need to be fully closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Small branches
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaf trimmings
- ✓Plant debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your designated trash collection day
Placement
Place bulk items at least 3 feet away from your WM carts, mailboxes, and trees by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day to ensure the automated truck arms have clearance.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, mattresses)
- ✓ White goods and appliances (stoves, washers, refrigerators)
- ✓ Lawn equipment (gas and oil removed)
- ✓ Bicycles
- ✓ Vehicular tires (up to 25 inches, on or off the rim)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Carpets and rugs
- ✕ Bulk yard waste (too large for cart)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste
The 4 weekly household bulk items are included in your annual tax assessment. However, bulk yard waste that does not fit in the cart is NOT included. You must hire a private contractor, haul it yourself, or pay WM $25 per cubic yard for removal.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
There is no collection on observed holidays. Collection service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the holiday week, resulting in Saturday collections for homes usually serviced on Fridays.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste, recycling, and bulk trash all follow the exact same one-day holiday delay schedule as standard household garbage.
Residents can always verify exact holiday schedule impacts by visiting www.WMFloridaHoliday.com for real-time updates regarding Indian River County routes.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
The most common recycling contaminant in Indian River County is the plastic grocery bag. Bagged recyclables are sent to the landfill. Always toss your paper, cans, and plastics loosely into your 65-gallon recycling cart.
No Carpets in the Bulk Pile
While Florida Ridge residents enjoy a generous 4-item weekly bulk limit, carpets and rugs are specifically excluded from curbside pickup. Attempting to throw these away at the curb will result in a missed collection tag.
Don't Pile Yard Debris on the Ground
With the new automated system, the trucks rely on mechanical arms. Small loose piles of branches or leaves left next to your yard waste cart will be ignored. If it fits in the cart, it must go in the cart.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberDuring active storm threats to the Treasure Coast, residents should monitor WMFloridaStorm.com for Indian River County collection updates. If high winds are forecasted, secure all three WM carts indoors to prevent them from becoming dangerous projectiles.
Winter Holidays
November - JanuaryThanksgiving Day and Christmas Day are observed holidays for Waste Management. If your normal collection day falls on or after these holidays, your service will be pushed back by one day, with Friday routes being collected on Saturday.
Snowbird Season
October - AprilBecause the universal service is billed directly through property taxes, part-time seasonal residents cannot pause service. Ensure your carts are properly stored away from the curb when you are residing out of state to avoid code enforcement warnings.
About Florida Ridge Waste Management
Universal Curbside Collection in Florida Ridge
Because Florida Ridge is an unincorporated community in Indian River County, all residential waste services are managed through the county's Universal Curbside Collection Service franchise with Waste Management (WM). Starting in late 2025 and continuing through 2026, residents benefit from a standardized system where the cost of weekly carted trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulk pickup is conveniently included directly in their annual non-ad valorem property tax assessments.
Strict Cart-Only Yard Waste Rules
A major shift for Florida Ridge homeowners is the enforcement of cart-only yard waste collection. Small branches, trimmings, and grass clippings must be placed entirely inside the WM-issued 95-gallon Yard Waste cart. Waste Management will no longer collect small, loose piles left on the ground, nor will they empty personal, resident-owned containers. However, the lid on the yard waste cart does not need to be fully closed for it to be serviced.
Generous Weekly Bulk Item Allowances
The updated Indian River County waste program is incredibly generous when it comes to bulk trash. Every single-family household in Florida Ridge can place up to four bulk items at the curb every single week without calling ahead. This includes large furniture, white goods like washing machines, grills, and even vehicle tires up to 25 inches in diameter. Be mindful that carpets and rugs are strictly excluded from this free curbside program.
Customizing Your Household Carts
Every household comes standard with one trash, one recycling, and one yard waste cart. If you find your family generates more waste, you can customize your fleet. Additional recycling carts are provided by WM completely free of charge. If you need a second trash or yard waste cart, you can purchase one for a $100 one-time delivery fee, plus a $10 monthly collection surcharge. Homes are capped at a maximum of four combined trash and yard waste carts.
Drop-off Facilities
Indian River County Landfill
1325 74th Ave SW, Vero Beach, FL 32968
Materials Accepted
South Indian River County Customer Convenience Center
950 1st Place SE, Vero Beach, FL 32962
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bulk items can I throw away each week in Florida Ridge?
Under the Universal Curbside Collection Service for unincorporated Indian River County, residents can place up to four (4) bulk trash items at the curb every week. This includes furniture, appliances, and even vehicle tires up to 25 inches. However, carpets and rugs are strictly excluded.
Do I need to bag my yard waste?
No, but all small yard waste like grass clippings, leaves, and small branches must be placed directly inside your WM-issued 95-gallon Yard Waste cart. Small loose piles on the ground or personal resident-owned containers will no longer be collected.
Can I get a second trash cart for my home?
Yes. If you need more capacity, you can order an additional trash or yard waste cart from Waste Management for a one-time fee of $100, plus an ongoing $10 monthly collection charge. However, additional recycling carts can be requested at no extra cost.
What do I do with oversized yard debris that won't fit in the cart?
Bulk yard waste that is too large for the cart will not be picked up automatically with your regular trash. You can either self-haul it to the Indian River County Landfill, take it to a Customer Convenience Center (if branches are under 3 inches in diameter), or call WM at 772-569-1776 to schedule a special pickup for a fee of $25 per cubic yard.