Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Palm City
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 Cart (Standard WM Issue) Bin (Trash)
All household garbage should be bagged to prevent pests and odors. Carts must be positioned with the handle facing your house by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day, keeping at least 3 feet of clearance on all sides.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Textiles and minor non-hazardous waste
Blue Cart (or Green with Blue/Yellow Lid) Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely inside the cart. Do not bag recyclables in plastic grocery bags. Cardboard must be broken down and flattened to fit entirely inside the container with the lid closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Flattened cardboard and mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Aerosol cans and paint cans
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Household hazardous waste
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wire)
Yard Waste Bin
Collected on Wednesdays. Items must be under 5 inches in diameter, under 6 feet in length, and under 50 lbs. Use paper bags, boxes, or unlined cans. Absolutely no plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and pinecones
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Branches and tree limbs
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Request / Scheduled On-Demand
Placement
Place your scheduled bulk items safely at the curb, ensuring they are not blocking the sidewalk or street, and keep them away from overhead wires and regular trash carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances (doors removed)
- ✓ Other large household goods
Not Accepted
- ✕ Vehicles, boats, and auto parts
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals and explosives
- ✕ Biomedical waste and sharps
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (requires transfer station drop-off)
Standard household bulk items and yard waste up to 10 cubic yards are included in your annual service assessment at no extra charge. Massive land-clearing debris or construction loads will require a private hauler or self-hauling to the transfer facility for a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, your collection will occur the following day. All remaining collections for that week will be delayed by one day, with Saturday acting as a make-up day. Normal schedules resume the following Monday.
Yard Waste Exception
Wednesday yard waste collections will follow the same one-day delay if a recognized holiday falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be no delays for weekday collections, unless the holiday is officially observed on a Friday or Monday by Waste Management.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Banish Plastic Bags from Yard Waste and Recycling
The fastest way to get your bins skipped in Palm City is by using plastic bags. Plastic grocery bags jam the recycling facility's sorting equipment, and plastic yard bags ruin the county's organic mulching process.
Keep the Brush Pile Pure
Never mix fencing, treated lumber, or construction debris into your Wednesday yard waste pile. Non-conforming items, including rocks, dirt, and root systems, require specialized disposal and will cause your vegetative pile to be tagged and rejected.
Remove Refrigerator Doors for Safety
When scheduling a bulky waste pickup for an old refrigerator or freezer, Florida safety regulations require you to remove the doors completely before placing the appliance at the curb to prevent child entrapment.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberPrepare your property well in advance of a named storm. Once a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued for Martin County, completely halt all major tree trimming and do not place bulk items at the curb, as high winds turn debris into dangerous projectiles.
Winter Holidays
December to JanuaryReal, live Christmas trees can be disposed of curbside on Wednesdays, which is the county's normal residential yard waste day. Ensure all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and stands are completely removed before setting the tree out.
Spring Landscaping
March to MayDuring peak growing season, massive brush piles are common. Ensure your stacked yard waste does not block neighborhood storm swales, drainage areas, or sit directly underneath low-hanging utility lines, as grapple trucks need clear vertical access.
About Palm City Waste Management
Sanitation Services in Unincorporated Palm City
Because Palm City is an unincorporated community in Martin County, residential solid waste collection is managed through a countywide contract with Waste Management. Residents receive convenient twice-weekly garbage pickups, with single-stream recycling occurring on one of those designated trash days. To ensure seamless service, all carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with a mandatory three feet of clearance from mailboxes, parked cars, and utility poles so the automated trucks can operate safely.
Navigating 'No Plastic Bag' Yard Waste Rules on Wednesdays
Martin County designates every Wednesday strictly for residential yard waste collection, but there is one absolute rule: never use plastic bags. Palm City residents must place grass clippings, leaves, and pine needles in heavy-duty paper lawn bags, cardboard boxes, or dedicated 32-gallon garbage cans (weighing under 50 pounds). You are allowed a generous limit of up to 10 cubic yards of vegetative debris per week, making it easy to maintain your tropical landscaping.
Scheduling Your Grapple Truck and Bulk Waste Pickups
You don't need to struggle with hauling a broken refrigerator or an old mattress to the landfill yourself. Standard bulk waste collection is included in your Waste Management service. However, it is not an automatic pickup; you must call Waste Management customer service ahead of time to schedule a specialized truck for large furniture and appliances. For massive yard waste piles exceeding normal limits, a grapple (clamshell) truck will be dispatched within five business days of being tagged.
The Local Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Center
Palm City is home to the primary Martin County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Disposal Center, conveniently located on Busch Street. Residents can safely dispose of highly toxic materials that are strictly banned from curbside carts, such as lithium batteries, old electronics, fluorescent bulbs, pool chemicals, and used motor oil. This eco-friendly service is completely free for Martin County residents dropping off up to 100 pounds or 20 gallons of residential-source hazardous materials.
Drop-off Facilities
Martin County Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Center
9155 Busch Street, Palm City, FL 34990
Materials Accepted
Martin County Solid Waste Transfer & Recycling Facility
9101 SW Busch Street, Palm City, FL 34990
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Palm City provide bulk waste pickup for large items?
Yes, bulk waste pickup is included in your regular Waste Management service in Martin County. However, you must proactively call Waste Management at 772-546-7700 to schedule the pickup for items like mattresses, couches, or large appliances.
What are the rules for yard waste collection in Palm City?
Yard waste is collected every Wednesday. You are permitted up to 10 cubic yards per week. All branches must be under 5 inches in diameter, less than 6 feet long, and weigh under 50 pounds. Most importantly, plastic bags are strictly prohibited—you must use paper bags, unlined cans, or cardboard boxes.
Where can I safely dispose of old paint and pool chemicals?
Martin County residents can drop off household hazardous waste for free at the HHW Disposal Center located at 9155 Busch Street right in Palm City. They accept paint, pool chemicals, automotive fluids, electronics, and batteries.
How do holidays impact my trash pickup in Martin County?
Waste Management observes six major holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). If the holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day.