Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Palm River-Clair Mel
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.
Gray Cart Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged and fit entirely inside the gray cart with the lid completely closed. Place the cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. with the arrows pointing toward the street, ensuring 3 feet of clearance on all sides.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food wrappers and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam (foam cups and packing materials)
- ✓Soiled paper, napkins, and pizza boxes
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Broken glass or ceramics (securely wrapped)
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables. All items must be deposited loosely into the blue cart. Ensure materials are reasonably clean and dry to prevent mold and contamination.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, dry paper, mail, and flattened cardboard
- ✓Rinsed plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Empty aluminum cans and tin food cans
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Empty paperboard cartons (cereal boxes, milk cartons)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or plastic film of any kind
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Batteries, electronics, or hazardous waste
- ✕Yard debris
- ✕Clothing or textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use county roll carts for yard waste. Place materials in your own trash cans, cardboard boxes, or heavy-duty bags (under 50 lbs each). Branches must be cut to 4 feet or less in length and be less than 6 inches in diameter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree branches and palm fronds
- ✓Shrubbery trimmings
- ✓Untreated wood scraps
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By pre-arranged special request or via self-hauling to a designated facility
Placement
If you pay for a special pickup, items must be placed at the curb away from trees, mailboxes, parked cars, and overhead power lines, so the grapple truck can safely reach them.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and reclining chairs
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large kitchen appliances
- ✓ Dressers and shelving units
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Liquid paint and hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Car parts and lead-acid batteries
- ✕ Commercial business waste
A special curbside collection incurs a fee (typically $30 to $50). Alternatively, residents can transport bulk items to a Community Collection Center for free, provided they bring a matching photo ID and property tax bill proving their residency and paid assessment.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Hillsborough County solid waste services operate normally on most holidays (like Memorial Day or July 4th). However, there is no garbage, recycling, or yard waste collection on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year's Day. If your collection falls on one of these three holidays, your items will be picked up on your next regularly scheduled day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste is subject to the exact same delay rules as standard trash and recycling during the major three winter holidays.
Community Collection Centers are also closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, and may have altered hours on the day before a major holiday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep the Tanglers Out
Never place garden hoses, extension cords, Christmas lights, or ropes in your blue recycling bin. These items are known as 'tanglers' and can cause severe damage to the automated sorting machines at the Hillsborough County recycling facility.
Pizza Boxes Belong in the Trash
While clean cardboard is highly recyclable, the greasy bottoms of pizza boxes are not. Oil and food residue ruin the paper fibers during the recycling process. Tear off the clean top to recycle, and throw the greasy bottom half into the gray cart.
Styrofoam is a Strict 'No'
Foam egg cartons, takeout clam shells, and packing peanuts cannot be processed by the county's curbside program. Regardless of the recycling triangle stamped on them, Styrofoam products must always go into the regular garbage.
Seasonal Information
Spring
February, March, AprilTo accommodate heavy spring landscaping, the weekly yard waste collection limit increases from 2 cubic yards to 3 cubic yards. Take advantage of this window to do major tree trimming and brush clearing.
Summer/Fall
June to NovemberDuring Atlantic Hurricane Season, pay close attention to local weather alerts. Do not trim trees or place bulk items at the curb if a tropical storm or hurricane warning has been issued for Hillsborough County, as these materials can become dangerous airborne projectiles.
Winter
Late December to JanuaryLive Christmas trees can be placed curbside on your regular yard waste collection day. You must remove all lights, tinsel, ornaments, and the stand. If the tree is exceptionally tall, chop it into sections measuring 4 feet or less.
About Palm River-Clair Mel Waste Management
Waste Management Guidelines for Palm River-Clair Mel
Because Palm River-Clair Mel operates as an unincorporated census-designated place just southeast of Tampa, residential sanitation is entirely managed by the Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management Division. The county utilizes a standardized automated collection system, assigning specific franchised hauling companies to different neighborhood zones. Residents are provided with designated gray roll carts for standard household garbage and blue roll carts for single-stream recycling, ensuring a uniform collection process across the community.
Mastering the Blue Cart: Hillsborough's Recycling Rules
Hillsborough County enforces strict processing standards to keep recycling operations running smoothly. The golden rule for the blue cart is to leave recyclables completely loose. Bagging items—even in clear plastic—is considered contamination because flexible plastics wrap around and jam the mechanical sorting screens at the processing plant. If you use plastic grocery bags to carry your recyclables out, empty the contents directly into the blue bin and throw the bag away in the gray trash cart.
Disposing of Bulky Furniture and Appliances
Unlike some urban centers, unincorporated areas like Palm River-Clair Mel do not feature free, unlimited curbside bulk trash collection days. If you have a mattress, sofa, or old refrigerator, you have two primary options. You can schedule a special curbside pickup by calling the county's customer service line, which requires a pre-paid fee usually ranging from $30 to $50. Alternatively, residents who pay the annual solid waste assessment can self-haul these large items to a nearby Hillsborough County Community Collection Center at no extra out-of-pocket cost.
Managing Seasonal Yard Debris
Florida's rapid subtropical plant growth demands robust yard waste management. In Palm River-Clair Mel, standard weekly yard waste collection allows up to 2 cubic yards of material (about twelve 30-gallon containers). However, recognizing the heavy pruning and clearing that occurs in the spring, Hillsborough County expands this limit. During February, March, and April, residents can place up to 3 cubic yards (eighteen containers) of properly sized and bundled yard waste at the curb each week.
Drop-off Facilities
South County Solid Waste Facility
13000 US Highway 41, Gibsonton, FL 33534
Materials Accepted
Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility
6209 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Palm River-Clair Mel have city-run trash pickup?
No. Because Palm River-Clair Mel is an unincorporated area, residential waste collection is managed by Hillsborough County Solid Waste, which assigns private franchised haulers to service the neighborhoods.
Is bulk trash pickup free in Palm River-Clair Mel?
Curbside bulk pickup is not free. You must call Hillsborough County Customer Service to arrange a special collection, which comes with a fee. However, you can haul bulk items yourself to a Community Collection Center for free if you show proof of your annual solid waste assessment.
What happens if my trash day falls on a holiday?
Collection only pauses for three major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your pickup falls on one of these days, you must wait until your next regularly scheduled collection day. Services run normally on all other holidays.
Can I put my yard waste in the blue or gray county carts?
No. Yard waste must never be placed in the county-provided roll carts. You must use your own trash cans, heavy-duty bags, or cardboard boxes, and ensure no container exceeds 50 pounds.