Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Orlando
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 or Black cart Bin (Trash)
Place cart at the curb by 6:00 AM on your collection day with the wheels facing away from the street. Keep at least 3 feet of clearance from all obstacles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Greasy pizza boxes
- ✓Wrappers and chip bags
Cart with a Blue lid Bin (Recycling)
Follow the 'Think 5' rule. All items must be empty, clean, and dry. Keep caps ON plastic bottles but remove lids from glass jars. Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers (#1-#5)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Clean paper, newspapers, and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✕Food waste and soiled paper
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Adhere to the 'Think 4' rule: Max 4 cubic yards per week, branches max 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet long, and bundles/bags max 40 lbs each. Never blow debris into the street or storm drains.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Tree branches
- ✓Twigs
- ✓Shrub trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your scheduled yard waste day.
Placement
Place items at the property edge prior to 6:00 AM on yard waste day. Do not block the street, sidewalk, fire hydrants, or storm drains.
Accepted
- ✓ Refrigerators (doors removed)
- ✓ Dishwashers and washing machines
- ✓ Sofas and chairs
- ✓ Dressers and tables
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Toilets and sinks
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Electronics and TVs
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, bricks, rock)
- ✕ Car parts and batteries
- ✕ More than 2 bulk items (without a scheduled claw truck)
Up to two hand-loadable items are free. If items are too heavy or numerous and require a claw truck, you must call 407-246-2314 to schedule and an additional fee will apply.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The City of Orlando only alters collection schedules for Thanksgiving and Christmas. When these holidays fall on a regular collection day, service moves one day forward for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday collection moves to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday shift as regular trash and recycling.
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day operate on a normal schedule with no collection changes.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Loose is the Law for Recyclables
Never bag your recyclables in plastic garbage bags. The sorting machinery at the local recycling facility cannot open them, and the bags can tangle in the gears, causing dangerous and expensive shutdowns. Toss items loosely into your blue-lidded cart.
Keep the Caps, Toss the Lids
When recycling plastic bottles (like water or soda bottles), crush the bottle slightly and screw the plastic cap back on tightly. However, for glass jars, the metal or plastic lids should be removed and thrown in the regular trash.
Say No to Greasy Cardboard
Cardboard pizza boxes are fully recyclable, but only if they are clean. The grease and leftover cheese on the bottom half of the box ruins the paper pulping process. Tear the box apart, recycle the clean lid, and trash the greasy bottom.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberDuring active storm threats, secure your rollout carts inside a garage or tied down. Do not place yard waste or bulk items at the curb if a storm is approaching, as high winds can turn debris into dangerous projectiles.
Fall Leaf Drop
October - DecemberOrlando strongly urges residents to 'Leaf it, Don't Blow it!' When leaves fall, do not blow them into the street. Yard waste in storm drains leads to flooding and adds toxic excess nutrients to local lakes, causing algae blooms. Bag your leaves or mulch them directly into your lawn.
Spring Cleaning
March - MayTake advantage of Orlando's free bulk pickup program for up to two items on your regular yard waste day when clearing out garages and patios. Just be sure not to block fire hydrants, sidewalks, or storm drains with large furniture.
About Orlando Waste Management
Navigating Solid Waste Services in The City Beautiful
The City of Orlando Solid Waste Division manages residential trash, recycling, and yard waste for single-family homes across the city. Residents are provided with standardized roll-out carts—a green or black cart for standard household garbage and a blue-lidded cart for single-stream recycling. To guarantee a smooth morning for collection crews, all carts must be wheeled to the curb by 6:00 AM on your designated service day, facing the street and positioned at least three feet away from mailboxes, parked cars, or storm drains.
Mastering Orlando's 'Think 4' Yard Waste Rule
Central Florida's humid, tropical climate means yard work is a year-round chore. Orlando offers weekly curbside yard waste collection, but residents must follow the strict 'Think 4' guideline. Crews will collect up to 4 cubic yards per week (about the size of a standard pickup truck bed). All branches must be less than 4 inches in diameter and cut to 4 feet in length. Finally, whether bundled or bagged, no single unit can weigh more than 40 pounds. Do not blow leaves or grass clippings into the street or storm drains, as this directly pollutes the local lakes and is a violation of city code.
Hassle-Free Bulk Trash Collection on Yard Waste Day
Getting rid of an old sofa or a broken refrigerator is surprisingly easy in Orlando. The city allows residents to place up to two large bulk items at the curb on their regular yard waste collection day completely free of charge, with no advance scheduling required. Acceptable free items include standard appliances (remember to remove doors for safety) and typical household furniture. If you have a massive pile of debris or items too heavy to be hand-loaded, you will need to call the Solid Waste Division to schedule a special claw truck pickup, which will incur an additional fee.
Doing Your Part for Orlando's Recycling Program
Orlando utilizes a single-stream recycling system where all approved recyclables go directly into the blue-lidded cart without being bagged. The city asks residents to follow the 'Think 5' strategy, focusing strictly on five categories: plastic bottles and containers, glass bottles and jars, metal cans, flattened cardboard, and clean paper. Contamination is a serious issue that can ruin entire truckloads of good recyclables, so keeping out tanglers like plastic grocery bags, greasy pizza boxes, and hazardous materials is critical to keeping the city's diversion rates high.
Drop-off Facilities
Orange County Landfill
5901 Young Pine Road, Orlando, FL 32829
Materials Accepted
Porter Transfer Station
1326 Good Homes Road, Orlando, FL 32818
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Think 4' rule for yard waste in Orlando?
To ensure your yard waste is collected, it must meet four requirements: limit piles to 4 cubic yards per week, ensure branches are no more than 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length, and keep all tied bundles or bags under 40 pounds.
Do I need to call ahead for large item pickup in Orlando?
No advance scheduling is required if you are disposing of one or two standard household items, like a couch or an appliance. Just place them at the curb before 6:00 AM on your regular yard waste day. However, if you have more than two items or excessively heavy debris, you must call 407-246-2314 to schedule a claw truck for a fee.
Are plastic grocery bags allowed in my Orlando recycling cart?
No. Plastic bags, film, and wrappers are strictly prohibited in Orlando's single-stream recycling program. They wrap around the sorting gears at the recycling facility and cause major damage. Always place your approved recyclables loosely into the blue-lidded cart.
Where can I safely dispose of paint, chemicals, and electronics?
The City of Orlando does not pick up household hazardous waste or electronics at the curb. Residents must bring these items to the Orange County Landfill on Young Pine Road or the Porter Transfer Station on Good Homes Road, where they are accepted for safe disposal.