Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Miami
Trash Day
Twice weekly (Mon/Thu or Tue/Fri)
Recycling
Bi-weekly on assigned zone day
Yard Waste
Scheduled bulky/yard routes
Set Out Time
6:00 AM
Green Bin (Trash)
Bag all trash to control odors in the tropical heat. Place the green cart out 12-24 hours prior to pickup, keeping it at least 5 feet away from cars, trees, and mailboxes. Ensure the lid is fully closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household kitchen garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Plastic bags and wrappers
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be clean, dry, and placed loosely in the blue cart. Never line the blue cart with a garbage bag. Collection occurs every other week based on your address group.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper and cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Plastic bottles and tubs
- ✓Glass food and beverage containers
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Aseptic drink cartons (milk and juice)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and films
- ✕Styrofoam products
- ✕Food-soiled pizza boxes
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Garden hoses and cords
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Yard trash is collected during the weekly bulk pickup. Branches and cuttings must be securely tied in bundles no longer than 3 feet and weighing less than 50 lbs, or placed in bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Tree cuttings
- ✓Yard clippings
- ✓Shrubbery and hedge trimmings
- ✓Bagged leaves and grass
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a week, on your first scheduled garbage collection day of the week.
Placement
Place bulk items and bundled yard waste securely tied in bundles no longer than 3 feet and under 50 lbs in front of your property the evening prior to the scheduled collection day. Ensure a 5-foot clearance from mailboxes and cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (sofas, mattresses, dining tables)
- ✓ Household electronics (TVs, computers, printers)
- ✓ White goods (refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers)
- ✓ Clean yard trash (bundled or bagged)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (drywall, tiles, roofing, patio decks)
- ✕ Automobile parts and tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paints, chemicals, propane tanks)
- ✕ Commercial contractor waste
Weekly curbside bulky trash pickup is included in the standard solid waste service fee for City of Miami residents. No extra payment is required for acceptable residential items.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The City of Miami Department of Solid Waste operates on almost all holidays, including Thanksgiving, Labor Day, and Independence Day. Collections are ONLY suspended on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Christmas Day.
Yard Waste Exception
If a holiday falls on your designated bulky trash and yard waste day, collection will be performed on your very next scheduled garbage pickup day.
If your normal scheduled garbage day falls on MLK Jr. Day or Christmas Day, your garbage will be collected on the next scheduled pickup day in your assigned rotation. (e.g., If Monday is Christmas, your next pickup will be Thursday).
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Construction Debris Out of Bulk Piles
The City of Miami strictly prohibits construction and demolition debris—such as roofing materials, drywall, sand, floor tiles, and concrete—from regular bulky trash collection. These materials will be left at the curb and require you to hire a private contractor for legal disposal.
Stop the Tanglers
Never throw garden hoses, extension cords, wire hangers, or holiday lights into your blue recycling cart. At Miami's sorting facilities, these 'tanglers' wrap around the automated sorting gears, causing dangerous jams and forcing complete system shutdowns.
Proper Electronic E-Waste Placement
While household electronics like computer monitors, TVs, and blenders are accepted in the weekly bulky trash collection pile, they must never be thrown inside the green garbage or blue recycling carts. Their heavy metals and lithium batteries pose severe fire hazards inside the collection trucks.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberFollowing a tropical storm or hurricane, do not mix storm debris with regular household garbage. Separate vegetation, appliances, and construction debris into distinct piles at the curb. Do not bundle or bag storm debris, as disaster recovery trucks use massive grapple arms to clear the piles.
Summer Heat Odor Control
Year-RoundMiami's intense, year-round tropical climate causes food waste to decompose rapidly. Make use of the city's unique twice-a-week garbage collection to prevent foul odors and pests. Always tightly tie your garbage bags before tossing them into the green cart.
Holiday Cardboard Spikes
December - JanuaryDuring the winter holidays, excess gift boxes and shipping cardboard can quickly overwhelm the bi-weekly blue recycling carts. Ensure all boxes are fully flattened. If they do not fit inside the cart with the lid closed, break them down into smaller pieces or save them for your next recycling week.
About Miami Waste Management
Miami's Unique Twice-Weekly Garbage Service
Unlike many major U.S. municipalities, the City of Miami provides its residents with twice-weekly garbage collection using standard green carts. This frequent schedule is critical for managing household waste in a tropical climate where intense heat and humidity can rapidly accelerate decomposition, cause odors, and attract pests. Residents are assigned to one of ten collection groups, typically receiving service on a Monday/Thursday, Tuesday/Friday, or Wednesday/Saturday rotation. Carts must be placed at the curb 12 to 24 hours prior to the morning of pickup and removed within 24 hours after service to avoid a code citation.
Weekly Curbside Bulky Trash and Yard Waste
Bulky trash and clean yard waste are collected conveniently once a week on your first designated garbage day (e.g., if your garbage days are Tuesday and Friday, bulk is picked up on Tuesday). This service includes household furniture, electronics, large white goods, and yard clippings. A strict and unique rule for yard debris in Miami is that all branches and shrubbery trimmings must be securely tied in bundles no more than three feet in length and weighing less than 50 pounds. Items should be placed curbside the evening prior to your scheduled collection day, separated clearly from your standard garbage and recycling bins.
Bi-Weekly Blue Cart Recycling Rotation
The City of Miami operates a single-stream recycling program utilizing blue carts, which are serviced every other week. Depending on your neighborhood's assigned collection group, your recycling week will fall on either the first and third weeks of the month, or the second and fourth weeks. Acceptable materials include clean paper, flattened cardboard, aseptic drink cartons, and plastic bottles and tubs. To prevent widespread load contamination, items must always be placed loose in the blue bin—never bundled inside plastic grocery or garbage bags.
The City of Miami Mini Dump Facility
For residents who need to dispose of large items immediately without waiting for their weekly curbside bulky pickup, the city operates a highly convenient Mini Dump Facility located at 1290 NW 20th Street. Open six days a week, the facility accepts household furniture, electronics, large appliances, and bagged yard trash. You must provide valid proof of City of Miami residency, such as a Florida ID or recent utility bill, and are permitted a maximum of one pickup truck load per day. Commercial vehicles and construction demolition debris are strictly prohibited from this facility.
Drop-off Facilities
City of Miami Mini Dump Facility
1290 NW 20th Street, Miami, FL 33142
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Miami pick up garbage on Thanksgiving Day?
Yes. The City of Miami Solid Waste Department only closes on two holidays out of the entire year: Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Christmas Day. On all other holidays, including Thanksgiving, garbage is collected on its normal schedule.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator in the City of Miami?
Large appliances, also known as white goods, are collected automatically during your weekly bulky trash pickup day (which is the first garbage day of your specific collection week). Simply place the appliance at the curb the evening before. Alternatively, you can drop it off yourself at the Mini Dump Facility.
Are there size limits for yard waste in Miami?
Yes. If you are placing yard trash out for the weekly curbside bulky pickup, all tree cuttings, shrubbery, and limbs must be securely tied in bundles that are no longer than 3 feet in length and weigh no more than 50 pounds.
What happens if I miss my bulky trash day and need to throw away furniture immediately?
City of Miami residents can utilize the Mini Dump Facility located at 1290 NW 20th Street. It is open six days a week for residents to drop off bulky items, furniture, and yard waste. You must provide a Florida ID or utility bill to prove city residency, and you are limited to one pickup truck load per day.