Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Leisure City
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 Bin (Trash)
All household garbage, trash, and yard clippings must be bagged before being placed inside the green cart. The cart lid must close completely, and no oversized trash should be forced into the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Small yard trimmings
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the blue cart. Ensure all containers are completely empty, lightly rinsed, and dry. Flatten all cardboard.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, dry paper and mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs (all numbers)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Cartons (milk and juice)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Styrofoam products
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Electronics and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Small yard waste must be bagged and placed inside the green waste cart. Larger branches and piles must be scheduled as a bulky waste pickup or taken to a Trash and Recycling Center.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small yard trimmings
- ✓Tree limbs (for bulk collection)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice per calendar year (up to 25 cubic yards each)
Placement
Place items within 10 feet of the street, at least 5 feet from mailboxes and cars, with a 15-foot overhead clearance. Do not set out earlier than 3 days prior to your appointment.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and rolled carpets
- ✓ Mattresses (must be encased in plastic and sealed)
- ✓ Large yard trash and tree limbs (cut to 5 feet or less)
- ✓ Construction debris (limited to 3 cubic yards max)
- ✓ White goods and appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronics and TVs
- ✕ Automobile tires and batteries
- ✕ Household hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Propane tanks
Bulky waste service is provided through your non-ad valorem property tax assessment. Fines (up to $100) apply for unbagged mattresses or illegal dumping.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste collection service operates normally on almost all holidays except for MLK Jr. Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. On these three days, there is no collection, and service simply resumes on your next regularly scheduled pickup day.
Yard Waste Exception
Because standard yard waste is placed inside your green garbage cart, it follows the exact same skip-and-wait rule for these three specific holidays.
Holidays not listed here (e.g., Thanksgiving Day, Memorial Day, New Year's Day) do not interrupt service. Have your carts at the curb by 7:00 a.m. as usual.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Never bag your recyclables or place loose plastic grocery bags in your blue cart. Plastic film gets tangled in the mechanical sorting gears at the recycling plant. Take plastic bags back to a local supermarket instead.
Clean and Dry is Non-Negotiable
A half-full juice carton or an unrinsed yogurt tub can leak and contaminate an entire truckload of high-quality paper and cardboard. Always pour out excess liquids, rinse the container, and shake it dry before recycling.
Electronics Belong in Special Centers
It is illegal to dispose of electronics in Miami-Dade County landfills. Never place old TVs, computers, or cell phones in your green cart or your bulk trash pile. They must be taken to a Home Chemical Collection Center.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberDuring active storm threats in South Florida, cease all major tree trimming. Do not place yard waste or bulky items at the curb if a tropical storm or hurricane warning has been issued, as high winds turn loose items into dangerous projectiles.
Wet Season
May to OctoberMiami-Dade County experiences heavy rains during the summer months. Always ensure your green and blue cart lids are completely closed. An open cart can fill with rainwater, making it too heavy for the automated truck arms to lift safely.
Holiday Collection Shifts
Year-RoundWhile collections happen rain or shine on most holidays, if your service day falls on MLK Jr. Day, Independence Day, or Christmas Day, your pickup will be skipped. You must hold your waste until your next regularly scheduled pickup day.
About Leisure City Waste Management
Solid Waste Collection in Unincorporated Leisure City
Because Leisure City is an unincorporated community in Miami-Dade County, its residential waste services are managed entirely by the Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM). Most residential properties benefit from an automated, twice-a-week garbage pickup using the county-issued green waste carts. Carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on scheduled collection days, ensuring a minimum clearance of five feet from mailboxes, trees, and parked cars, with the cart wheels facing the home.
Simplifying Single-Stream Recycling
Leisure City residents utilize the blue recycling cart for single-stream collection, meaning paper, plastics, and glass all go into the same bin without sorting. Miami-Dade County recently updated its recycling stance to eliminate the confusion of plastic recycling numbers. Regardless of the number stamped on the bottom, all clean plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs are accepted. However, residents are strictly reminded never to bag their recyclables, as plastic grocery bags jam the mechanical sorting screens at the local recycling facility.
Maximizing Your Massive Bulky Waste Pickups
One of the standout benefits of the Miami-Dade County waste program is the generous bulky waste allowance. Each household in Leisure City is entitled to two free bulk pickups per calendar year, allowing up to 25 cubic yards per pickup. If you have a massive cleanout, you can even combine both allotments into a single, massive 50-cubic-yard pickup. However, this is not an automatic service; residents must schedule the pickup in advance either online or by calling 311 before placing any items at the curb.
The Strict Mattress Bagging Mandate
If you are discarding an old mattress during a scheduled bulky waste pickup, be aware of a critical county rule. All mattresses must be fully encased in a plastic mattress bag or sleeve and completely sealed with weather-resistant tape, such as duct or packing tape. The box spring does not need to be encased. Failure to follow this sanitary mandate can result in a $100 fine and your mattress being left at the curb.
Drop-off Facilities
Moody Drive Trash and Recycling Center
12970 SW 268th St, Homestead, FL 33032
Materials Accepted
South Dade Home Chemical Collection Center
23707 SW 97th Ave, Gate B, Miami, FL 33032
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away a mattress in Leisure City?
You can dispose of a mattress by scheduling a bulky waste pickup through Miami-Dade County (via 311). However, the mattress must be fully encased in a plastic mattress bag or sleeve and sealed shut with weather-resistant tape. Failure to bag it can result in a $100 fine.
Does Miami-Dade recycle all plastic numbers?
Yes. Miami-Dade County no longer uses the recycling numbers stamped on plastics as an indicator. They now recycle all clean plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs regardless of the number listed. Just ensure they are empty and dry.
What happens if my trash day falls on Thanksgiving?
Miami-Dade County collections run rain or shine on Thanksgiving Day. The only holidays where service is completely suspended are Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. On those three days, you must wait until your next regularly scheduled pickup day.
How much bulky waste can I have picked up for free?
Each residential household in unincorporated Miami-Dade County receives two free bulky waste pickups per calendar year. Each pickup can be up to 25 cubic yards. You also have the option to combine both pickups for a single, massive 50-cubic-yard collection.