Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Kendale Lakes
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 Cart Bin (Trash)
Bag all household garbage and yard waste before placing them in the cart. Place within 3 feet of the street and at least 5 feet from mailboxes or cars by 7 a.m. The wheels must face your home.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Bagged grass clippings
- ✓Bagged leaves and yard trimmings
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loose in the blue cart. Keep the cart lid completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cleaned aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (#1 and #2)
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Office paper and cereal boxes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Glass bottles (often rejected or treated separately in some zones)
- ✕Food-contaminated pizza boxes
- ✕Batteries and electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Small yard clippings must be bagged and placed inside the green waste cart. Larger branches and limbs require scheduling a bulky waste pickup.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings (bagged)
- ✓Leaves (bagged)
- ✓Small twigs (bagged)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 pickups per calendar year (up to 25 cubic yards each)
Placement
Place items curbside no earlier than 3 days prior and no later than 7 a.m. on the day of your appointment. Maintain a 15-foot vertical clearance from trees or wires.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and rolled carpets
- ✓ Mattresses (MUST be completely sealed in a plastic bag/sleeve)
- ✓ Large tree limbs (up to 5 feet long)
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, washers, etc.)
- ✓ Wooden fencing (up to 3 cubic yards)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor generated debris
- ✕ Automobile parts and tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste and paint
- ✕ Dirt, rock, or concrete
- ✕ Tree removal/land clearing debris
The two annual pickups are included in your tax bill. Exceeding your cubic yard limit or setting items out without an appointment can result in civil violation fines up to $100 or additional cubic-yard billing.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste collection is suspended only on these three holidays. For all other holidays (including Thanksgiving and New Year's Day), collection occurs on a normal schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
Not applicable as yard waste is combined with standard garbage; however, bulk pickups are not scheduled on these three holidays.
If your normal collection day falls on one of the three observed holidays, service will resume on your next regularly scheduled pickup day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Plastic Bags
Never throw your recyclables into plastic grocery bags. The flexible plastic wraps around the sorting gears at the Miami-Dade recycling facility, causing dangerous and expensive machine jams.
Keep the Grease Out
While a clean cardboard pizza box is highly recyclable, the greasy bottom half is not. Tear the box apart—toss the soiled half in your green trash cart and place the clean lid in your blue recycling cart.
Beware the 'Wishcycling' Trap
When in doubt, throw it out. Placing items like hoses, Christmas lights, or wires into the blue bin in hopes that they might be recyclable will result in a tagged cart from DSWM enforcement officers.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberDuring a hurricane watch or warning, suspend all yard trimming and do not place bulky waste at the curb. Secure your green and blue carts in a garage or tightly against your home to prevent them from becoming windborne.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
JanuaryThe county offers specialized Christmas tree recycling drop-offs at nearby Trash and Recycling Centers. Do not place whole trees inside your green cart or at the curb without scheduling it as part of your bulky waste allotment.
Spring Refresh
March - MaySpring is the most popular time to use the 25-cubic-yard bulky waste appointments. Wait times for pickups can increase during these months, so schedule your 311 appointment at least a week before you plan to haul items to the curb.
About Kendale Lakes Waste Management
Navigating Automated Waste Collection in Kendale Lakes
Because Kendale Lakes is an unincorporated community in Miami-Dade County, all residential waste services are handled directly by the county's Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM). Most single-family properties are provided with a green automated cart for household garbage. Unlike some Florida municipalities that separate yard waste, Miami-Dade allows residents to place bagged grass clippings and leaves directly into this green waste cart, with automated trucks servicing neighborhoods twice a week.
Miami-Dade's Strict Three-Strike Recycling Policy
Keeping the recycling stream clean is a major priority in South Florida. The county recently rolled out strict enforcement for the blue recycling carts. If Miami-Dade enforcement officers spot unaccepted materials—like plastic bags or food-soiled boxes—your cart gets a tag. Residents are given three chances to remove the non-recyclable items; failing to adapt can lead to skipped pickups or removed carts.
Maximizing Your Annual Bulky Waste Allotment
Kendale Lakes homeowners don't have to wait for a specific neighborhood cleanup day. The county grants each household two free bulky waste pickups every calendar year, allowing up to 25 cubic yards per pickup. If you're doing a massive spring cleaning or recovering from storm debris, you even have the option to combine both allocations into a single 50-cubic-yard pickup. However, everything must be scheduled in advance by dialing 311.
Storm Season Solid Waste Readiness
Tropical weather is an annual reality for Miami-Dade County residents. As hurricane season intensifies, the DSWM urges Kendale Lakes locals not to trim trees or place bulk waste on the curb once a storm watch or warning is issued. High winds turn loose debris and empty bins into dangerous projectiles. Make sure to schedule any large yard maintenance well before the peak of storm season.
Drop-off Facilities
Snapper Creek Trash and Recycling Center
2200 SW 117th Ave, Miami, FL 33175
Materials Accepted
West Dade Home Chemical Collection Center
8801 NW 58th St, Doral, FL 33178
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulky waste pickup in Kendale Lakes?
Since Kendale Lakes is serviced by Miami-Dade County, you can schedule your bulk pickup by calling 311, dialing 305-468-5900, or using the county's online Solid Waste bulky appointment portal. You get two 25-cubic-yard pickups per year.
Why didn't they pick up my mattress from the curb?
Miami-Dade County enforces a strict mattress rule to protect workers from bedbugs. Any mattress placed at the curb for bulky pickup must be completely fully encased in a plastic mattress bag or sleeve and sealed shut with weather-resistant tape. Unsealed mattresses will be left behind and can result in a $100 fine.
Do I need to separate my lawn clippings from my regular trash?
No. In the automated green cart system, Miami-Dade actually requires you to bag your grass clippings, leaves, and small yard trimmings and place them directly into your green garbage cart alongside your regular bagged household trash.
Will my trash be picked up on Thanksgiving Day?
Yes. Miami-Dade County Solid Waste only takes three days off per year: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Independence Day (July 4th), and Christmas Day. On Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, and all other holidays, you should place your carts out by 7 a.m. as usual.