Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lutz
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.
Gray Cart Bin (Trash)
Everything must fit inside the gray cart with the lid closed. Place carts at the curb by 6 AM, at least 3 feet apart and 3 feet away from mailboxes, trees, or parked cars, with the lid arrows pointing toward the street.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Windows, mirrors, and ceramics
- ✓Clothing, shoes, and textiles
- ✓Fake plants
- ✓Soiled paper items
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Plastic items that fit in the cart (including old grocery bags)
- ✓Incandescent light bulbs
- ✓Hoses, ropes, and cords
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do NOT bag recyclables. All items must be clean, dry, and placed loosely inside the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and empty plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Clean and empty aluminum cans
- ✓Clean and empty glass bottles and jars
- ✓Dry paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Clean and empty metal, milk, and juice containers
- ✓Dry flattened cardboard and paperboard boxes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, bagged recyclables, or plastic film
- ✕Food, liquids, or dirty materials
- ✕Batteries, chemicals, or motor oil
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Clothing, furniture, or carpet
- ✕Foam cups or Styrofoam containers
Yard Waste Bin
Use your own cans, boxes, or bags (under 50 lbs each). Set out limit is 2 cubic yards (about 12 bags). Must be free of paint, glue, or treatments.
Accepted Items
- ✓Branches and limbs (less than 4 ft long and 6 inches in diameter)
- ✓Brush and grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and palm fronds
- ✓Untreated wood and shrub trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand by request, or via self-hauling to a Community Collection Center
Placement
Special collection items must be placed at the curb, at least 3 feet away from carts, mailboxes, and parked cars, and strictly avoiding placement under low-hanging tree limbs or power lines.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Couches and bulky furniture
- ✓ Large household appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Excessive brush (with special coordination)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Large-scale construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Automotive parts
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
Scheduling a special curbside pickup through the county generally costs between $30 to $50, depending on the size and quantity of the items. Alternatively, residents can self-haul to a county facility.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the rest of that week are typically pushed back one day (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday). If the holiday falls on a weekend, there are usually no service delays.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage and recycling.
Always refer to the Hillsborough County Solid Waste holiday schedule online, as specific delay days can occasionally vary by exact collection zone.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Tanglers Out of the Blue Bin
Items like garden hoses, extension cords, ropes, and string lights are notorious for wrapping around the gears of the recycling facility's sorting machines. If you need to dispose of them, they belong strictly in the gray trash cart.
Styrofoam is a Trash-Only Item
Even if your foam egg carton or takeout container has a small recycling triangle on the bottom, it is not accepted in Hillsborough County's curbside recycling program. Always throw Styrofoam in the gray cart.
Empty and Dry Before You Toss
Food and liquid contamination ruins perfectly good paper and cardboard in the recycling truck. Ensure your milk jugs, soda cans, and food jars are rinsed clean and completely empty before tossing them loosely into the blue cart.
Seasonal Information
Spring
February to AprilTake advantage of the county's expanded yard waste limits. During these three months, you can set out up to 3 cubic yards of yard debris (or eighteen 30-gallon bags/containers) to help manage spring growth and tree pruning.
Summer/Fall
June to NovemberDuring Florida's Atlantic Hurricane Season, avoid doing major tree trimming if a named storm is approaching. If a hurricane warning is issued for Hillsborough County, do not place new yard waste or bulky items at the curb, as they can become dangerous projectiles.
Winter
December to JanuaryFollowing the holidays, live Christmas trees can be collected at the curb with your standard yard waste. Make sure to remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and stands. If the tree is extremely large, it must be cut down to fit the standard 4-foot branch rule.
About Lutz Waste Management
Understanding Lutz Residential Waste Collection
Because Lutz is primarily an unincorporated census-designated place, residential trash, recycling, and yard waste services are managed by the Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management Division. The county contracts with major franchised haulers like Waste Management and Republic Services to handle the curbside routes. Residents are issued a gray roll cart for standard household garbage and a blue roll cart for single-stream recycling.
The Golden Rule of the Blue Cart: Never Bag Recyclables
Hillsborough County enforces a strict 'Do NOT Bag Recyclables' policy for the blue carts. Bagged items jam the mechanical sorting screens at the recycling processing center. Lutz residents must ensure that all acceptable plastics, paper, and aluminum are placed loosely into the bin. Plastic grocery bags and film should either be returned to a local Publix or Target for specialized recycling or tossed into the gray garbage cart.
Spring Yard Waste Allowance in Hillsborough County
Florida's climate means heavy landscaping work in the spring. To accommodate this, the county implements a special seasonal yard waste rule. While the standard year-round limit is 2 cubic yards (about twelve 30-gallon bags) per week, during the high-growth months of February, March, and April, Lutz residents can set out up to 3 cubic yards, or eighteen 30-gallon bags or containers, of bundled yard debris each week.
Handling Bulky Items and Special Pickups
Unlike some municipalities that offer free, unlimited bulk trash days, items that are too large to fit in your gray cart with the lid completely closed require a bit of planning. Lutz residents can self-haul bulk items and excess waste to a Hillsborough County Community Collection Center, or they can call Solid Waste Customer Service at (813) 272-5680 to arrange a special curbside collection. This special pickup incurs a fee that typically ranges from $30 to $50, depending on the volume and type of items.
Drop-off Facilities
Northwest County Solid Waste Facility
8001 W. Linebaugh Avenue, Tampa, FL 33625
Materials Accepted
Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility
6209 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lutz have its own city trash collection?
No. Because Lutz is primarily an unincorporated area, residential trash, recycling, and yard waste services are managed by Hillsborough County Solid Waste, which utilizes franchised haulers like Waste Management or Republic Services.
How do I dispose of a mattress or large couch in Lutz?
You can transport large furniture directly to a Hillsborough County Community Collection Center, or you can call Solid Waste Customer Service at (813) 272-5680 to arrange a special curbside collection, which will incur a fee (usually between $30 and $50).
Can I bag my recyclables in the blue cart?
Absolutely not. Hillsborough County strictly prohibits plastic bags in the blue recycling carts. Bagged items are considered contamination and can jam the recycling plant's machinery. Toss your clean recyclables loosely into the cart.
Is there a limit to how much yard waste I can put out?
Yes. The standard weekly curbside limit is 2 cubic yards, which equals about twelve 30-gallon bags or containers. However, during the spring months of February, March, and April, the county temporarily increases this limit to 3 cubic yards (up to 18 bags).