Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for North Fort Myers
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.
Typically Green or Gray Cart Bin (Trash)
Trash must fit inside the cart with the lid closed or be placed in suitable heavy mil plastic bags weighing less than 50 lbs. Place within 6 feet of the curb by 6:30 a.m. on pickup day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Standard alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D)
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and packaging
Blue Cart or Bin Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables in plastic. Items must be free of liquid and food residue. Place paper products in separate paper bags if needed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard (max 4x6 ft)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (clean)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic containers
- ✓Paper (newspapers, junk mail, magazines)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Household garbage
- ✕Rechargeable batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Use 40-gallon cans with handles or tie in bundles (max 6 ft long, max 50 lbs). Unbundled palm fronds must be in neat stacks under 50 lbs. Do not mix yard waste with standard garbage.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and pine needles
- ✓Tree limbs (under 6 feet long)
- ✓Palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (for standard furniture) / On-Call (for appliances)
Placement
Place items within six feet of the curb. Do not block mailboxes, fire hydrants, or the roadway.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers (requires a phone call)
- ✓ Washers and dryers (requires a phone call)
- ✓ Televisions (requires a phone call)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals)
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Contractor-generated construction debris
- ✕ Car batteries
Special pickups for appliances and electronics are free, provided you call Waste Pro at 239-337-0800 to schedule them.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste Pro suspends all collections on these six major holidays. If your collection day falls on or after an observed holiday, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday moves to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday shift as regular garbage and recycling.
For all other holidays not listed above (such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Veterans Day), there are no service interruptions and you should place your bins out as normal.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Alkaline vs. Rechargeable Batteries
It is safe to throw standard alkaline household batteries (like AA, C, or 9-volt) directly into your regular trash cart. However, lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, and car batteries are severe fire hazards and must be taken to the Topaz Court facility.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Bin
Never place your recyclables inside plastic grocery bags. Additionally, do not toss empty plastic bags into the recycling cart, as they tangle the sorting machinery at the Lee County Resource Recovery Facility.
No Electronics in the Cart
Televisions, toasters, and other electronic devices cannot be thrown into your standard garbage cart. You must contact Waste Pro to schedule a specialized electronic waste pickup for these items.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberIf a severe storm is approaching, immediately stop all major yard trimming and do not set bulk furniture at the curb. Empty bins and loose debris can become dangerous projectiles in high winds.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
December - JanuaryIf you have an excess of holiday shipping boxes, remember that corrugated cardboard must be broken down flat and cannot exceed four feet by six feet in size to be collected by the recycling trucks.
Spring Cleaning
March - MayWhen tackling major spring landscaping, be aware that yard waste cannot be placed on empty residential lots for pickup. It must be placed on the right-of-way directly in front of the generating property.
About North Fort Myers Waste Management
Navigating Automated Collection in Unincorporated Lee County
Because North Fort Myers is an unincorporated area, residential solid waste services are managed by Lee County through their franchised hauler, Waste Pro. Residents utilize automated carts for their weekly household trash. It is a strict county ordinance that you cannot place your garbage receptacles, recycling bins, or yard waste at the curb more than 24 hours before your scheduled pickup day. Once emptied, all bins must be removed from the right-of-way within 48 hours to avoid code enforcement violations.
Strict Preparation for Yard and Horticultural Waste
Florida's rapid vegetation growth means strict yard waste management is essential. North Fort Myers residents must containerize small yard clippings (like grass and leaves) in 40-gallon trash cans with handles or heavy-duty tied bags, with each container weighing no more than 50 pounds. Tree branches must be cut to lengths of six feet or shorter and securely bundled with twine. Unbundled palm fronds are allowed but must be placed in neat stacks at the curb, ensuring each stack weighs less than 50 pounds.
Scheduling Bulk Furniture and Appliance Pickups
You don't have to wait for a special cleanup week to clear out large debris. Standard large household items, such as sofas and mattresses, can be placed at the curb on your regular garbage collection day. However, 'white goods'—including refrigerators, washing machines, and televisions—require specialized handling. Residents must call Waste Pro directly at 239-337-0800 to schedule a free special pickup for these appliances so that the correct truck is dispatched.
Safe Disposal of Household Toxins
Your curbside Waste Pro bins are strictly for non-hazardous materials. Liquid paints, antifreeze, pesticides, and rechargeable batteries cannot be thrown in the garbage or recycling cart. Instead, North Fort Myers residents must utilize the Lee County Solid Waste Division's Household Chemical Waste Collection facility located at 6441 Topaz Court in Fort Myers, which operates Monday through Friday and on the first Saturday of each month.
Drop-off Facilities
Lee County Household Chemical Waste Collection Facility
6441 Topaz Court, Fort Myers, FL
Materials Accepted
Lee County Resource Recovery Facility
10500 Buckingham Road, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dispose of an old refrigerator or TV in North Fort Myers?
You cannot leave appliances or electronics at the curb for standard collection. You must call Waste Pro at 239-337-0800 to request and schedule a FREE special pick-up. The items will then be collected on a designated day.
When is the earliest I can put my trash out for collection?
According to local ordinances, you may place your garbage receptacles, yard waste, and recycling at the curb no earlier than 24 hours before your scheduled pickup day. It must be out by 6:30 a.m. on the day of collection.
Can I throw batteries in my regular trash cart?
Yes and no. Standard alkaline batteries (like AA, AAA, C, D, and 9-volt) can be disposed of in your regular household garbage. However, rechargeable batteries (lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium) and car batteries must be taken to the Household Chemical Waste Collection facility on Topaz Court.
Will my trash be picked up on Memorial Day?
No. Waste Pro observes Memorial Day as a holiday. If your normal collection day falls on Memorial Day, your pickup will be delayed to the following day, and the rest of the week's schedule will also shift forward by one day.