Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Melbourne
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.
Cart with Green Lid (96, 64, or 35-gallon) Bin (Trash)
Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection, but not before 5:00 p.m. the day prior. Face the front of the cart toward the street so the automated side arm can collect it.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged trash
Cart with Yellow Lid Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected city-wide every Wednesday. All items must be placed loosely inside the cart without plastic bags. Ensure boxes are flattened to save space.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Paper and to-go cups
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Cords, wires, and tanglers
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in rigid plastic or metal cans (max 40 gallons, max 50 lbs). No plastic or paper bags allowed. Branches must be cut to 4 feet or less. Do not use city trash or recycling carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Twigs and branches
- ✓Palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By appointment only
Placement
Once scheduled, place items at the curb away from low-hanging trees, power lines, and fire hydrants.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household junk
- ✓ Oversized brush (via clam truck)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Contractor-generated debris
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Auto parts
Standard residential bulk pickup is typically included, but you must contact WM (321-723-4455) or the ECO Division (321-608-5080) prior to setting items out to avoid code violations.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste Management suspends residential collection on these five specific holidays.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk collections follow the same holiday delay protocol as regular household garbage.
If your normal collection day falls on an observed holiday, you will not be serviced that day. Instead, your waste will simply be collected on your next regularly scheduled service day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Use Bags for Yard Debris
Melbourne strictly prohibits the use of plastic bags and paper lawn bags for yard waste. All leaves, pine needles, and grass clippings must be deposited directly into rigid reusable containers.
Keep Tanglers Out of the Yellow Lid
Never place garden hoses, holiday lights, extension cords, or wire hangers into your recycling cart. These items are known as 'tanglers' and will cause severe damage to the sorting equipment.
Position Carts Correctly
For the automated trucks to work, carts must be placed with the lid opening facing the street and the wheels and handle facing your house. Place them at least three feet from mailboxes and cars.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberIf a named tropical storm or hurricane is approaching Brevard County, cease all major tree pruning immediately. Secure your empty carts indoors or behind your home's building line, and never place bulk items curbside during a watch or warning.
Summer Rainy Season
May to OctoberFrequent thunderstorms can wash lightweight debris into the stormwater system. Ensure yard waste piles are never placed over storm drains, water meters, or in street gutters, which can cause localized flooding.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
Late December to JanuaryBreak down all holiday shipping boxes so they fit entirely inside your yellow-lidded recycling cart. Remember that shiny foil wrapping paper and heavily dyed ribbons are not recyclable and must go in the green-lidded trash cart.
About Melbourne Waste Management
Automated Cart Services via Waste Management
The City of Melbourne contracts directly with Waste Management (WM) to provide comprehensive residential waste services. Each single-family household is issued heavy-duty, wheeled carts designed for automated mechanical arm collection: a green-lidded cart for twice-weekly garbage and a yellow-lidded cart for weekly single-stream recycling. Because the trucks require robotic lifting, residents must ensure a strict three-foot clearance around each cart, keeping them away from mailboxes, parked cars, and low-hanging tree branches.
Strict Ban on Bagged Yard Waste
A unique regulation in Melbourne's vegetative waste program is the complete prohibition of both plastic and paper bags. To ensure clean mulching at Brevard County facilities, all loose yard clippings, leaves, and small twigs must be placed inside rigid plastic or metal containers. These personal yard waste cans must not exceed 40 gallons in capacity or weigh more than 50 pounds. Furthermore, residents are forbidden from using their green or yellow city carts for any yard debris.
Mandatory Pre-Scheduling for Bulk Junk
Unlike some Florida municipalities that offer open bulk-collection days, Melbourne requires residents to proactively schedule the removal of oversized household items. Discarded furniture, mattresses, and large junk that will not fit into the green-lidded garbage cart will be bypassed by regular route drivers. You must contact Waste Management or the City's ECO Division in advance to get on the bulk pickup roster.
Clam Truck Operations for Oversized Brush
Florida's subtropical climate often leads to massive vegetative cleanups that easily exceed standard container limits. For large piles of branches and palm fronds, Melbourne utilizes a specialized 'clam truck.' Residents can stack large brush piles near the roadway—ensuring they do not block storm drains, sidewalks, or rest under power lines—and must call to schedule a specialized clam truck removal. Even for this oversized pickup, all tree limbs must be cut to four-foot lengths.
Safe Disposal at the Sarno Road Transfer Station
To protect local waterways and the Indian River Lagoon from toxic runoff, household hazardous waste cannot be disposed of curbside. Fortunately, Melbourne residents have direct access to the Sarno Landfill and Transfer Station right in their backyard. This Brevard County facility operates a dedicated drop-off center where locals can safely dispose of old paint, fertilizers, pesticides, and unwanted electronics.
Drop-off Facilities
Sarno Landfill / Transfer Station & Household Hazardous Waste
3379 Sarno Road, Melbourne, FL 32934
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Why wasn't my bagged yard waste picked up in Melbourne?
The City of Melbourne has a strict rule against bagging yard waste in either plastic or paper bags. All small yard debris must be placed in rigid plastic or metal containers (up to 40 gallons and 50 lbs), and larger branches must be cut to four feet and stacked neatly.
How do I throw away large furniture or appliances?
Bulk items that do not fit in your green-lidded garbage cart will not be picked up automatically. You must schedule a bulk collection in advance by calling Waste Management at 321-723-4455 or the City's ECO Division at 321-608-5080.
What happens if my trash day falls on a holiday?
Waste Management observes Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If your trash or recycling day falls on one of these holidays, your service is skipped and will resume on your next regularly scheduled collection day.
Where can I safely dispose of old paint and electronics?
Brevard County residents can take household hazardous waste (like paint, fertilizers, and solvents) as well as electronics directly to the Sarno Landfill/Transfer Station located at 3379 Sarno Road in Melbourne, open Monday through Saturday.