Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Palm Bay
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.
City-Issued Cart (35, 65, or 95 Gallon) Bin (Trash)
Place the cart at least 1 foot from the curb edge, and at least 3 feet away from mailboxes, cars, and other carts. Ensure there is 15-16 feet of overhead clearance for the automated arm.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (banned from recycling)
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Flocked Christmas trees
City-Issued Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
All materials must be placed loosely in the recycling cart. Never bag your recyclables. Ensure all food and liquid residue is rinsed out.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (detergent, milk, shampoo, water)
- ✓Clean cardboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓Paper, mail, magazines, and envelopes
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Glass of any kind
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food boxes with liners
Yard Waste Bin
Must be in a reusable container (NO plastic or paper bags). Limbs must be cut to max 4 feet if the diameter is under 6 inches, or max 2 feet if the diameter exceeds 6 inches.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Shrubbery and fine yard trash
- ✓Tree limbs and stumps
- ✓Palm fronds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once per week on your scheduled pickup day.
Placement
Place items at the curb at least 3 feet away from your rollout carts, mailboxes, and fire hydrants. Ensure 15 feet of overhead clearance for the claw trucks.
Accepted
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers (doors removed)
- ✓ Washing machines, dryers, and water heaters
- ✓ Household furniture (couches, mattresses, tables)
- ✓ Electronic items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Pressure-treated wood (CCA)
- ✕ Land clearing debris from contractors
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, pool chemicals, propane)
- ✕ Vehicle parts and tires
Unlimited residential bulk pickup is included in your standard utility bill. However, residents are responsible for disposing of contractor debris or hazardous materials at county facilities.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your collection day falls on an observed holiday, your service will be skipped and will occur on your NEXT regularly scheduled service day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk collections follow the same holiday skipping rule, moving to the next scheduled service day for your specific route.
Thanksgiving Day routes are sometimes shifted to the immediate Saturday following the holiday. Always check the Republic Services app or City of Palm Bay alerts for specific holiday week adjustments.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Glass in the Trash
Do not put glass bottles or jars in your recycling cart. In Palm Bay, glass is treated as a contaminant because it breaks and ruins perfectly good paper and cardboard recyclables. Always toss glass in your regular garbage.
Ditch the Yard Bags
Never use plastic garbage bags or brown paper lawn bags for your leaves and grass clippings. Republic Services requires all loose, fine yard waste to be placed in reusable open-top containers.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Recycling
Plastic grocery bags and trash bags tangle the sorting equipment at the local recycling facility. Place your accepted plastics, paper, and metals loosely in the cart, and return plastic bags to local grocery stores.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberDo not place any bulk or yard waste curbside within 72 hours of a forecasted tropical storm or hurricane. The City will issue specific instructions on how post-storm hurricane debris will be collected.
Winter Holidays
December - JanuaryReal Christmas trees can be placed at the curb with your regular yard waste on your scheduled service day. You must remove all tinsel, lights, and garland. Heavily flocked trees cannot be mulched and must be cut and placed in the trash.
Spring Landscaping
March - MayIf you hire a landscape company for major property improvements, remind them that they are legally required to remove their own generated land clearing debris. Republic Services will not collect commercial landscaping waste.
About Palm Bay Waste Management
Unlimited Bulk and Yard Waste Perks
Unlike many neighboring Florida municipalities that strictly limit bulk disposal, the City of Palm Bay's solid waste contract with Republic Services features unlimited bulk and yard waste pickup at the curb with no volume restrictions. Residents receive twice-a-week garbage collection, once-a-week recycling, and a dedicated day for large items. You do not need to call ahead for massive piles of household junk, making spring cleaning and home cleanouts incredibly convenient.
The Local Ban on Glass Recycling
Palm Bay utilizes a single-stream recycling system, but with one major exception: glass is strictly prohibited. While glass is theoretically recyclable, locally it is considered a severe contaminant. When glass bottles shatter inside the collection truck, the shards embed into valuable paper and cardboard, ruining entire loads. All glass bottles, jars, and broken glass must be thrown directly into your regular trash cart.
Strict Container Rules for Yard Waste
Florida's rapid vegetation growth means frequent yard maintenance, but Palm Bay residents must follow specific set-out rules. All fine garden trash, leaves, and grass clippings must be placed in reusable containers. The city and Republic Services strictly prohibit the use of plastic bags or paper lawn bags for yard waste. If you bag your yard clippings, they will be left at the curb.
Managing Treated Wood and Hazardous Materials
Home improvement projects often yield pressure-treated wood (CCA) from old decks, docks, or fences. Due to the chemicals used to prevent rotting, Republic Services cannot collect pressure-treated wood with your regular yard waste or bulk trash. Residents must haul these materials themselves to Brevard's Central Disposal Facility in Cocoa. Additionally, land clearing debris generated by hired contractors will not be picked up by city services.
Drop-off Facilities
Sarno Landfill and Transfer Station
3379 Sarno Road, Melbourne, FL
Materials Accepted
Brevard's Central Disposal Facility
2250 Adamson Road, Cocoa, FL
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a limit to how much bulk trash or yard waste I can put out in Palm Bay?
No! The City of Palm Bay's contract with Republic Services features unlimited bulk and yard waste pickup. You do not have volume restrictions for standard household junk or residential yard trimmings, so you don't need to call ahead for a massive pile.
Why can't I recycle glass bottles in my Palm Bay recycling cart?
While glass is a recyclable material, it is not accepted locally in Palm Bay's single-stream recycling program. Broken glass acts as a severe contaminant by embedding into and ruining clean paper and cardboard loads. All glass must be thrown in your standard trash cart.
Can I put my grass clippings in a plastic garbage bag?
No. Republic Services strictly prohibits the use of plastic bags or paper lawn bags for yard waste. All fine garden trash, leaves, and grass clippings must be placed in a reusable container.
What do I do with pressure-treated wood from an old fence or deck?
Republic Services cannot pick up pressure-treated wood (CCA) at the curb because of the chemicals used to treat it. You must self-haul all pressure-treated lumber to Brevard's Central Disposal Facility located at 2250 Adamson Road in Cocoa.