Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Largo
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 or Black (varies by neighborhood standard) Bin (Trash)
Must be placed curbside at least 3 feet away from mailboxes, cars, and other carts. Lids must close completely. Items smaller than bulky waste dimensions must go inside.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste and kitchen scraps
- ✓Small broken furniture
- ✓Small electronics
- ✓Bagged pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam and plastic bags
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables. All containers must be rinsed and dried, and strictly devoid of lids and caps. Cardboard must be flattened.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics labeled #1-7 (cleaned, dry, no caps)
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and steel cans (including clean foil)
- ✓Colored glass bottles and jars (no lids)
- ✓Flattened uncoated cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper, junk mail, and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or films
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Clothing or textiles
- ✕Plastic or metal lids and caps
- ✕Pizza boxes with heavy grease/food residue
Yard Waste Bin
Collected weekly on recycling day. Must be bagged, bundled, or placed in a container. Loose items are not collected. Max weight 50 lbs per bundle.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves and plant trimmings
- ✓Small branches (under 6 inches diameter and 4 feet long)
- ✓Weeds and cut flowers
- ✓Grass clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to four (4) complimentary collections per residential household annually.
Placement
Place items at least 3 feet from carts, mailboxes, and vehicles, and a mandatory 10 feet away from overhead wires to allow the boom arm safe access.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and couches
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large dressers
- ✓ Yard waste piles between 5 and 10 cubic yards
Not Accepted
- ✕ Small appliances (vacuums, lamps)
- ✕ Small chairs or end tables
- ✕ Chemicals or hazardous materials
- ✕ Contractor-generated construction debris
The first four bulky pickups up to 10 cubic yards are free. Exceeding the volume limit or annual count will result in additional hauling fees added to your utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collections that fall on a recognized City holiday are typically pushed to the following day, delaying service for subsequent days in that week by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling shifts exactly as standard trash does on holiday weeks.
Text 'LARGORECYCLES' to 727-425-4004 to receive exact schedule modifications and delay alerts straight to your phone during holiday weeks.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Remove Lids and Caps Before Recycling
Unlike some cities, Largo explicitly requires you to remove and throw away all plastic and metal lids or caps from bottles and jars before placing the containers in your recycling cart.
No Tanglers or Plastic Liners
Never put your recyclables in plastic garbage bags. Plastic liners act as 'tanglers' in the sorting facilities, jamming up the mechanical gears and shutting down recycling operations.
Keep Contractor Debris Out of Yard Waste
If you hire a professional landscaping or tree service company, they must haul away their own debris. The city will not collect massive tree trunks or commercial land clearing waste at the curb.
Seasonal Information
Post-Holiday Winter
December to JanuaryLargo offers free curbside pickup for live Christmas trees following December 26th. Simply remove all lights, ornaments, and tinsel, and place the bare tree at the curb on your normal collection day through January.
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberIn the event of a named storm or hurricane warning for Pinellas County, immediately stop placing bulk waste or uncollected yard debris at the curb, as high winds can turn these items into dangerous projectiles.
Spring Cleaning
March to MayTake advantage of your four allotted annual bulky waste pickups during your spring clean-out. Just remember that hazardous spring-cleaning chemicals like old pool chlorine or paint must go to Pinellas County Hazardous Waste, not the curb.
About Largo Waste Management
Comprehensive Twice-Weekly Garbage Collection in Largo
Unlike many neighboring municipalities that have shifted to once-a-week pickups, the City of Largo provides its residents with twice-weekly automated garbage collection. This service is bundled into a single monthly fee that also covers weekly recycling, yard waste pickup, and scheduled bulky waste collections. Because the fleet utilizes fully automated side-loading trucks, keeping carts spaced properly at the curb is essential for efficient, daily route operations.
Understanding Largo's Four-per-Year Bulk Allowance
If you are upgrading your furniture or clearing out old mattresses, Largo offers an excellent perk: four complimentary bulky waste collections per year for residential households. Each collection is incredibly generous, allowing up to 10 cubic yards of debris. However, this is strictly for large items that cannot fit inside your standard city-issued garbage cart. Anything small enough to be containerized—like toasters, small chairs, or standard vacuum cleaners—must go in your regular trash bin.
Strict Yard Waste Bagging and Bundling Protocols
Pinellas County's subtropical climate means yard maintenance is a year-round chore. Largo requires all yard waste, such as leaves and small brush, to be properly bagged or tied into bundles. The city strictly prohibits loose, uncontained green waste at the curb. For large property cleanups, weekly pickups allow up to five cubic yards of organic waste, provided no single bundle exceeds 50 pounds or four feet in length.
Navigating Recycling Contamination and Drop-Off Centers
Largo takes pride in its 'Litter-Free Largo' initiative, placing strong emphasis on clean recycling streams. Contaminants like plastic bags, styrofoam, and unwashed food containers can ruin an entire truckload of recyclables. For items that don't belong in the curbside blue cart, or for residents looking to offload materials between collection days, the Starkey Road Recycling Center offers convenient drop-off access six days a week.
Stay Alert with Largo's Innovative Text Notification System
Florida weather can change rapidly, and storms or major holidays can easily disrupt typical solid waste schedules. To keep residents proactively informed, the City of Largo has launched an SMS alert system. By texting 'LARGORECYCLES' to 727-425-4004, locals receive instant text alerts regarding service delays, severe weather route cancellations, and holiday shift announcements directly to their smartphones.
Drop-off Facilities
Starkey Road Drop-Off Recycling Center
1551 Starkey Road, Largo, FL 33771
Materials Accepted
Tri-City Plaza Recycling Center
16080 US Hwy 19 N, Clearwater, FL 33760
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave my grass clippings loose in a pile at the curb in Largo?
No. The City of Largo mandates that all yard waste, including grass clippings and leaves, must be bagged, tied into bundles, or placed in a personal container. Loose yard waste will be left at the curb.
What should I do with the caps on my plastic soda bottles?
You must remove all caps and lids from plastic and glass bottles before recycling them in Largo. Throw the detached caps and lids into your regular garbage cart, then rinse and recycle the empty bottles.
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup for an old mattress?
Largo residents get four free bulky waste pickups per year. You can request a pickup by calling Largo Solid Waste at 727-587-6760 or by submitting a Service Request Form on the city's official website.
My garbage cart is full. Can I put smaller household items out as bulk waste?
No. The City of Largo explicitly states that any items small enough to fit inside the standard garbage cart (such as lamps, small chairs, or small electronics) are not eligible for the bulk waste program and must be containerized as regular trash.