Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Horizon West
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.
Green Lid Cart Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be securely bagged to prevent wind-blown litter and deter pests. The cart lid must be completely closed. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day with the handle facing the house.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Plastic bags and films
Blue Lid Cart Bin (Recycling)
Orange County uses a 'Think 5' recycling program. All items must be empty, clean, and dry. Recyclables must be placed loosely in the cart, NEVER in plastic bags. Do not overfill the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (#1-#5)
- ✓Clear to-go cups (no lids/straws)
- ✓Metal cans (tin, steel, aluminum)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard and clean paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or wrap
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wires)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Scrap metal or auto parts
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste is limited to 3 cubic yards per week. Use your own personal cans (up to 50 gallons) or bags, keeping each under 60 pounds. Branches must be cut to 4 feet or less in length and tied in bundles weighing less than 40 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Small tree branches
- ✓Shrub trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular garbage collection day.
Placement
Place items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. Keep bulk items at least three feet away from your roll carts, mailboxes, parked vehicles, and low-hanging branches.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and couches
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Tables and chairs
- ✓ Large bulky furniture
- ✓ Oversized household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ Refrigerators and freezers (Freon-containing devices)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil)
- ✕ Automotive parts
There is no additional fee for standard weekly bulk collection up to 3 cubic yards. However, items excluded from the program (like appliances with freon) require specialized private removal.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Orange County Utilities only observes two holidays a year. If your normal collection day falls on or after Thanksgiving or Christmas, your service will be pushed forward by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday pickups move to Friday, Friday to Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and large item collection schedules follow the same one-day delay as standard garbage and recycling during these two holiday weeks.
Services run completely normally on all other holidays, including Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and New Year's Day. Ensure your carts are out by 6:00 a.m. on those days.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Plastic Bags
The number one contaminant in Horizon West's recycling stream is bagged recyclables. The sorting facility will throw away entire bags of good recycling because they cannot open them safely. Bring your plastic grocery bags to the Publix at Hamlin or a local Target for store drop-off instead.
Leave the Lids on Plastics, Off Glass
Orange County's 'Think 5' rules have specific requirements for lids: you can leave the caps and lids on your plastic bottles and jugs, but you must remove the metal or plastic lids from glass jars before tossing them in the blue-lid cart.
Keep the Greasy Pizza Boxes Out
Cardboard is highly recyclable, but once it absorbs grease from your Friday night pizza delivery, the paper fibers are ruined. Tear off the clean top half of the box to recycle, and throw the greasy bottom half into the green-lidded garbage cart.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberDuring an active tropical storm or hurricane watch, stop placing yard waste or large bulk items at the curb. Secure your green and blue carts in your garage to prevent them from becoming dangerous projectiles in high winds.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
Late December to JanuaryLive Christmas trees can be placed curbside on your designated yard waste collection day. Trees taller than six feet must be cut in half. Ensure all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and the tree stand are completely removed.
Spring Landscaping Rush
March to MayAs the weather warms and residents refresh their landscaping, remember that the county strictly enforces a 3 cubic yard weekly limit on yard waste. If you hire a professional landscaper, they are legally required to haul away the debris themselves.
About Horizon West Waste Management
Navigating the Recent County-Wide Schedule Shift
Because Horizon West is an unincorporated master-planned community, all residential waste services fall under Orange County Utilities. In late 2025, the county completely overhauled its collection routes to improve efficiency. As a result, almost every household in Horizon West experienced a schedule change, and many residents now have their green-lidded garbage carts and blue-lidded recycling carts emptied on entirely different days. Always use the county's parcel lookup tool to verify your current days.
Managing Moving Boxes in a Booming Community
Horizon West remains one of Central Florida’s fastest-growing residential hubs. Between the new construction near Hamlin Town Center and the constant influx of new families, moving boxes are the number one waste issue. Orange County strictly enforces a 'no overflow' rule for recycling. All cardboard must be completely flattened and placed loosely inside the blue recycling cart so the lid can close. Oversized cardboard piles left on the curb will be bypassed by the automated trucks.
Wildlife Encounters and Cart Placement
Bordering conservation lands, rural Lake County, and the back edge of Walt Disney World, Horizon West neighborhoods frequently experience wildlife activity, including raccoons, coyotes, and occasional black bears. To prevent scattered trash, Orange County code dictates that roll carts should not be placed at the curb any earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before your scheduled collection day. Ensure carts have a three-foot clearance from mailboxes, parked cars, and other carts.
The Generous Weekly Large Item Pickup
Unlike municipalities that charge extra or require a phone call for bulky waste, Orange County offers a convenient weekly large item collection. Horizon West residents can place up to three cubic yards of bulk waste—roughly the equivalent of three standard kitchen stoves—at the curb on their regular garbage day. However, this does not apply to new home construction debris or major remodeling waste, which must be hauled away privately.
Drop-off Facilities
Porter Transfer Station
1326 Good Homes Road, Orlando, FL 32818
Materials Accepted
Orange County Landfill
5901 Young Pine Road, Orlando, FL 32829
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the trash pickup days in Horizon West recently change?
Yes. In late 2025, Orange County Utilities introduced a standardized routing system. As a result, almost all households in Horizon West saw a change in their pickup schedule. Garbage and recycling are now collected on separate days for many residents. You can verify your new schedule using the county's online address lookup tool.
Can I put my old refrigerator on the curb in Horizon West?
No. Orange County Utilities does not collect Freon-containing devices like refrigerators, freezers, or air conditioners as part of the weekly large item pickup program. You must arrange for a private hauler, retailer take-back program, or specialized appliance recycler to handle these items.
How do I throw away moving boxes in Horizon West?
All corrugated cardboard boxes must be completely flattened and placed inside your blue-lidded recycling cart. The lid must close. If you have just moved to a new home and have more boxes than the cart can hold, you must break the disposal up over several weeks or take the excess to the Porter Transfer Station.
Will my trash be picked up on Memorial Day or the 4th of July?
Yes. Orange County only halts collection on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. For all other holidays—including Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, and New Year's Day—your green and blue carts will be emptied on their normal schedule. Make sure they are at the curb by 6:00 a.m.