Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Fort Lauderdale
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.
Black Bin (Trash)
All trash and food waste must be securely bagged before being placed in the black cart to prevent odors and a dirty container. The lid must close completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small broken household items
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Follow the TAKE5 rules. Do not bag your recyclables; items must be placed loosely into the blue cart so they can be easily sorted at the facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper (junk mail, magazines, newspaper)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic containers (#1-7)
- ✓Metal cans (aluminum and steel)
- ✓Cardboard (flattened)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Garden hoses
- ✕Food waste
Yard Waste Bin
Do not bag yard waste inside the green cart. If you have excess leaves that do not fit in the cart, they must be bagged and placed in a separate pile.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves and grass clippings
- ✓Twigs and branches
- ✓Palm fronds cut to fit inside
- ✓Flowers, weeds, and roots
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Collected once a month on your scheduled service day.
Placement
Place bulk trash at your curb by 7:00 a.m. on your pickup day, but no earlier than 24 hours in advance. Keep away from parked cars, fences, storm drains, and power lines.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Tree limbs up to 12 feet long and 12 inches in diameter
- ✓ Palm fronds and large hedge cuttings
- ✓ Large household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tree stumps or sections longer than 12 feet
- ✕ Hazardous materials or liquids
- ✕ Dirt, sod, sand, pavers, concrete, and tiles
- ✕ Household garbage
Items placed out for collection more than 24 hours in advance or remaining on your curb for more than 24 hours after your scheduled pickup could result in a code violation citation.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Christmas Day is the only observed holiday in Fort Lauderdale where waste collections will not occur. There is no make-up day for curbside garbage collections.
Yard Waste Exception
If Christmas disrupts your schedule, curbside recycling and yard waste collections are typically serviced on the following Sunday.
There are no service interruptions for Thanksgiving Day or New Year's Day. Place your carts out on your normal scheduled day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Three Strikes for Recycling Contamination
Fort Lauderdale utilizes City employees and volunteers to inspect blue carts. If non-recyclable materials are found, the cart will be tagged and skipped. If your cart is flagged for contamination after three inspections, it may be permanently removed, and you will have to wait 90 days and complete an anti-contamination course to get it back.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
The number one contaminant in the TAKE5 program is plastic bags. Never place recyclables inside a garbage bag. The bags wrap around the gears at the sorting facility, causing massive delays and equipment damage.
Box Up Loose Glass for Bulk
While glass bottles go in the blue recycling bin, loose glass items from home renovations or broken furniture must be handled differently. If placing loose glass out for bulk collection, it must be put inside a sturdy, rigid container to protect sanitation workers from severe cuts.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberDuring South Florida's active hurricane season, residents must immediately stop placing bulk waste and unbagged yard debris at the curb when a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued. Secure all black, blue, and green carts indoors or in a garage so they do not become dangerous flying projectiles.
Holiday Tree Collection
JanuaryThe city offers a free, eco-friendly curbside collection for live holiday trees during the first three weeks of January. Trees must be stripped of all lights, ornaments, and tinsel, and placed out on your regularly scheduled yard waste collection day.
Summer Growth and Bulk Limits
Summer MonthsHeavy summer rains trigger rapid vegetation growth. Remember that oversized tree trimmings and palm fronds up to 12 feet long and 12 inches in diameter can be placed out for bulk pickup, provided the entire pile does not exceed the 10-cubic-yard limit.
About Fort Lauderdale Waste Management
Fort Lauderdale's Comprehensive Waste Services
In partnership with Waste Management (WM), Fort Lauderdale provides a robust residential waste collection program. To maintain a clean and beautiful coastal environment, the city offers twice-weekly garbage pickup using the black cart, alongside once-a-week recycling and yard waste collections. This frequent schedule ensures that tropical heat doesn't lead to lingering odors or pest issues in local neighborhoods.
The TAKE5 Recycling Initiative
To combat global and local recycling contamination, Fort Lauderdale strictly enforces its 'TAKE5' program. Residents are asked to place only five specific categories of items into their blue recycling carts: clean paper, glass containers, plastic containers numbered 1 through 7, metal cans, and flattened cardboard. Strict compliance keeps processing costs low and prevents entire truckloads of recyclables from being diverted to the landfill.
Rules for Cart Spacing and Placement
Proper cart placement is critical for the automated trucks operated by WM. All black, blue, and green carts must be placed curbside by 7:00 a.m. on collection day, but no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the evening before. Crucially, each cart must be positioned at least two feet away from other bins, vehicles, storm drains, and mailboxes, and must never block designated bike lanes.
Managing South Florida's Yard Waste
The lush, tropical climate of South Florida means residents generate significant yard debris. Fort Lauderdale designates the green cart specifically for leaves, grass clippings, weeds, roots, and palm fronds. Yard waste inside the green cart must never be bagged. However, if you have excess leaves that do not fit inside the cart, they must be bagged and placed in a separate pile next to your bins.
Monthly Bulk Pickup and Tire Disposal
For items too large for your standard carts, the city provides a once-a-month bulk trash collection. Residents can dispose of up to 10 cubic yards of material, including large tree limbs up to 12 feet in length. In a unique offering, Fort Lauderdale also permits residents to place up to two passenger or light truck tires (up to 20 inches) next to their black garbage cart on regular trash days for proper disposal.
Drop-off Facilities
Broward County Landfill
7101 SW 205th Avenue, Unincorporated Broward County, FL 33332
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my recycling cart is flagged for contamination in Fort Lauderdale?
Under the TAKE5 program, carts containing non-recyclable materials are tagged and left unserviced. You must remove the contamination before the next pickup. If your cart fails three inspections, it may be confiscated. You will then have to wait 90 days, sign a pledge, and complete an anti-contamination course to get it back.
How do I dispose of old vehicle tires?
Fort Lauderdale offers a highly convenient curbside tire collection. You can place up to two passenger or light truck tires (up to 20 inches) right next to your black garbage cart on your regularly scheduled garbage days. The limit is four tires per household per year.
Can I put loose leaves in my bulk trash pile?
No. While large tree trimmings and palm fronds up to 12 feet long can be placed out loosely for bulk pickup, all excess leaves must be bagged and placed in a separate pile next to your bulk items.
What time should I put my trash and recycling carts out?
All black, blue, and green carts must be placed curbside by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. However, to avoid citations, do not place them on the curb any earlier than 6:00 p.m. the evening before your collection.