Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Pembroke Pines
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 (35, 65, or 95-gallon options) Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged to prevent pests. Place the cart curbside by 7:00 a.m. (but no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before) with the lid fully closed. Residents may not reload carts for a second pickup on the same day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste and kitchen scraps
- ✓Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V)
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging and Styrofoam
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely inside the cart; never bag them. Ensure all containers are rinsed clean. Keep the blue cart at least 3 feet away from your trash cart, mailboxes, and vehicles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Paper, newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Rinsed cartons (milk, juice)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (emptied and rinsed)
- ✓Aluminum/steel cans and plastic bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, wrap, or film
- ✕Pizza boxes (grease contamination)
- ✕Styrofoam (meat trays, cups)
- ✕Window glass and mirrors
- ✕Yard waste and food waste
Yard Waste Bin
Collected twice a month alongside bulk waste. Loose items (leaves, small twigs) must be bagged or bundled to prevent spillage into storm drains. Keep piles under 10 cubic yards.
Accepted Items
- ✓Tree limbs and branches
- ✓Leaves and grass clippings
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Bundled yard debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice per month on your designated bulk day.
Placement
Place items curbside before 7:00 a.m. on your designated day. Keep items 3 feet away from mailboxes and trees, and never place bulk items on top of a storm drain.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses, carpeting, and padding
- ✓ Non-contractor lumber and wood
- ✓ Appliances (with Freon purged and doors removed)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Glass of any kind
- ✕ Contractor-generated construction or landscape debris
- ✕ Hot tubs, boats, and large automobile parts
- ✕ Hazardous waste and paint
Residents get two free exemptions per year for piles over 10 cubic yards if requested in advance. Otherwise, overages are billed at $15.00 per cubic yard.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Waste Pro halts all residential garbage and recycling collections on Christmas Day. If your regular service day falls on Christmas, your collection will be skipped and will resume on your next regularly scheduled service day.
Yard Waste Exception
Eastern Waste Systems may also adjust their bulk and yard waste schedules for major holidays and severe weather events. Always check the city's alert page for specific date shifts.
For other federal holidays, service generally operates on a normal schedule unless specifically notified by Waste Pro or the City of Pembroke Pines.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Sort Your Batteries Correctly
Not all batteries are hazardous! Standard alkaline batteries (like AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V) are safe to throw directly into your green garbage cart. However, rechargeable, lithium-ion, and car batteries must be kept out of the trash and taken to a quarterly Household Hazardous Waste event.
Keep Contractor Debris Off the Curb
If you hire a professional for tree removal, fencing, or home renovations, they must haul the resulting debris away themselves. Eastern Waste Systems will not collect contractor-generated debris. If left at the curb, it will incur a steep $25.00 per cubic yard removal fee.
Keep Glass Out of Bulk Piles
While glass bottles are permitted in your blue recycling cart, glass of any kind—including mirrors, shower doors, and window panes—is strictly prohibited from your twice-a-month bulk waste pile due to safety hazards for the loading crews.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June - NovemberIf a tropical storm or hurricane is approaching Broward County, immediately secure all rollout carts indoors. Never place bulk items or yard debris at the curb during an active storm watch, as high winds turn these materials into dangerous projectiles.
Quarterly HHW Events
March, June, September, DecemberThe city hosts Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off events at the Wastewater Treatment Plant only four times a year. Save up your wet paint, pesticides, old electronics, and fluorescent bulbs for these select Saturdays.
Spring Cleaning
March - MayIf you are undertaking massive DIY home renovations and need a roll-off dumpster, Pembroke Pines has an exclusive franchise agreement with Waste Pro. You must rent the container directly through them unless you personally own the equipment.
About Pembroke Pines Waste Management
Dual Providers for Comprehensive Waste Management
Pembroke Pines employs a unique dual-hauler system to optimize residential services. Waste Pro USA handles the everyday tasks, collecting your household garbage twice a week from the standardized carts and processing single-stream recycling once a week. Meanwhile, Eastern Waste Systems (EWS) is dedicated exclusively to managing your bulky household junk and yard debris, which they collect on a dependable twice-a-month schedule. Knowing which provider to call is essential for quick customer service.
Understanding the 10-Cubic-Yard Bulk Rule
Eastern Waste Systems allows residents to place up to 10 cubic yards of bulk waste and yard debris at the curb per scheduled collection—equivalent to the volume of a standard roll-off dumpster. If you are doing major spring cleaning and anticipate exceeding this generous limit, you can contact EWS to use one of your two free annual exemptions. If you exceed the 10-yard limit without an exemption, a $15.00 per cubic yard overage fee will be applied.
Strict Regulations for Appliances and Freon
Disposing of an old refrigerator or air conditioning unit requires some preparation in Pembroke Pines. For safety and environmental compliance, you cannot simply leave these items at the curb. The city mandates that any appliance containing Freon must first be purged by a certified technician, who will affix a visible certification sticker to the unit. Furthermore, refrigerators must have their compressors and all doors completely removed to prevent entrapment hazards before EWS will haul them away.
Embracing the Five R's and Home Composting
As part of its Green Plan objectives, Pembroke Pines strongly encourages residents to practice the 'Five R's': Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Rot. The city is actively promoting backyard composting ('Rot') as a way to turn kitchen scraps like fruit peels, eggshells, and coffee grounds—along with small yard trimmings—into nutrient-rich soil. Diverting this organic waste from the regular garbage stream significantly reduces landfill reliance and cuts down on household odors.
Drop-off Facilities
Pembroke Pines Wastewater Treatment Plant (HHW Drop-Off)
13975 Pembroke Road, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I call if my garbage cart is broken or my bulk waste was missed?
Because Pembroke Pines uses two different providers, you must contact the right company for the issue. For problems with your green trash cart or blue recycling cart, call Waste Pro USA at (954) 967-4200. For issues regarding your twice-a-month bulk and yard waste pickup, contact Eastern Waste Systems (EWS) at (954) 543-9800.
Can I throw alkaline batteries in the regular trash?
Yes. Standard alkaline batteries, such as AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V, do not contain hazardous materials and should be placed directly in your green garbage cart. However, rechargeable batteries and car batteries pose a fire risk and must be saved for a quarterly Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off event.
What happens if I put out more than 10 cubic yards of bulk waste?
Eastern Waste Systems enforces a strict 10-cubic-yard limit for bulk waste. However, you are allowed up to two free exemptions per calendar year for oversized piles. You must contact EWS in advance to request the exemption. If you do not have an exemption, you will be billed an overage fee of $15.00 for every cubic yard over the limit.
Will the city pick up the branches left by my hired tree trimmer?
No. The City of Pembroke Pines explicitly prohibits the curbside collection of contractor-generated debris. If you hire a professional landscaper, tree trimmer, or fencing contractor, they are legally responsible for hauling the waste away themselves. If they leave it at the curb, EWS may remove it and charge you a $25.00 per cubic yard penalty fee.