Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Pine Hills
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-Lidded Cart (96 or 64-gallon) Bin (Trash)
All household garbage should be bagged and tied before being placed in the cart. Place carts curbside between 6:00 p.m. the night before and 6:00 a.m. on collection day with the lid fully closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Textiles and general refuse
Blue-Lidded Cart Bin (Recycling)
Practice the 'Think 5' rule. All accepted recyclables must be placed completely loose inside the blue-lidded cart. Do not bag your recyclables, as bags jam the sorting machinery.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paper
- ✓Plastic containers and to-go cups
- ✓Metal cans (aluminum and tin)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic garbage or shopping bags
- ✕Food waste or hot ashes
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Limit 3 cubic yards per week. Use your own waterproof cans (under 50 gallons) or bags. Limbs and fronds must be cut to 3 feet or less and bundled. Each can, bag, or bundle must weigh under 60 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Tree limbs
- ✓Small stumps
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a week (on your scheduled garbage day)
Placement
Place large items neatly at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your garbage collection day. Keep materials away from utility boxes, water meters, and your roll carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large appliances (without Freon)
- ✓ TVs and electronics
- ✓ Up to four passenger car tires
Not Accepted
- ✕ Freon-containing devices (refrigerators, freezers)
- ✕ Items that easily fit in the green cart
- ✕ Commercial construction waste
- ✕ Hazardous materials
Bulk pickups of up to 3 cubic yards are included in your standard county solid waste assessment. If you exceed this limit, the remainder may be left for the following week.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Orange County Utilities only suspends curbside collection services on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and large bulk item collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard garbage and recycling.
When either holiday falls on a regular weekday, all collections for the remainder of that week will be pushed back by one day. Weekend holidays do not cause weekday delays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Never place your clean recyclables inside a plastic garbage or grocery bag. These soft plastics ruin the sorting machinery. Toss all loose plastic bags directly into your green-lidded garbage cart instead.
Do Not Hide Small Items in Bulk Piles
Items that are small enough to fit inside your green-lidded garbage cart must go inside the cart. Loose, small items scattered on the ground will not be collected as part of your weekly large item allowance.
Strict Separation at the Curb
Never mix yard waste, bulk household items, and your roll carts into a single pile. Each waste stream is collected by a different specialized truck and requires distinct separation to ensure successful pickup.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberIf a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued for Orange County, immediately suspend all major yard pruning. Do not place bulk items or yard debris at the curb, as high winds turn these materials into dangerous projectiles. Secure all roll carts indoors.
Post-Holiday Cleanup
Late December to JanuaryLive Christmas trees can be placed curbside on your regularly scheduled yard waste collection day. Ensure all lights, ornaments, and stands are removed. Any tree taller than six feet must be cut in half before placement.
Summer Heat and Pest Control
May to SeptemberIntense summer heat can cause bagged garbage to generate severe odors in your green-lidded cart. Ensure all food scraps and messy refuse are tightly tied in durable garbage bags before tossing them into the cart to deter pests.
About Pine Hills Waste Management
County-Managed Services for Pine Hills Residents
As an unincorporated community in Orange County, Pine Hills receives its residential curbside collection through the Orange County Utilities Solid Waste Division. Each household is equipped with specific roll carts designed for automated trucks: a green-lidded cart for household garbage and a blue-lidded cart exclusively for recycling. Because the program utilizes automated mechanical arms, residents must ensure at least a three-foot clearance around each cart, keeping them safely away from mailboxes, parked cars, and low-hanging tree branches.
The Generous Weekly Bulk Waste Allowance
Unlike many municipalities that require residents to call ahead and schedule bulk pickups, Orange County permits Pine Hills homeowners to place large household items at the curb every single week on their designated garbage day. You can set out up to three cubic yards of oversized waste—roughly the size of three standard kitchen stoves or a small pickup truck bed. Notably, up to four passenger car tires and standard appliances are accepted in this weekly limit, making home cleanouts exceptionally convenient.
Handling Florida's Constant Yard Growth
The lush, subtropical climate of Central Florida means constant lawn maintenance. Pine Hills residents receive a dedicated weekly yard waste collection for up to three cubic yards of vegetative debris. Rather than using county-issued carts, residents must supply their own waterproof personal cans (up to 50 gallons) or use disposable bags. All palm fronds, tree limbs, and even small stumps must be meticulously cut down to three feet or less and bundled with twine so they can be easily handled by collection crews.
The 'Think 5' Recycling Campaign
Orange County simplifies household recycling through its 'Think 5' initiative, asking residents to focus exclusively on five key materials: plastic containers, metal cans, glass bottles, cardboard, and paper products. Recently, the county expanded this list to include both plastic and paper to-go cups. However, soft plastics like grocery bags and shrink wrap are strictly prohibited, as they tangle and shut down the expensive mechanical sorting gears at the local material recovery facilities.
Navigating Holiday Service Disruptions
The Solid Waste Division operates a remarkably consistent schedule, only pausing residential curbside service for two major holidays all year: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If your regular trash, recycling, or yard waste collection day falls on one of these holidays, your pickup will simply roll forward to the very next day. For example, a Thursday Thanksgiving collection moves to Friday, and Friday shifts to Saturday, seamlessly accommodating holiday waste volumes.
Drop-off Facilities
McLeod Road Transfer Station (Household Hazardous Waste)
5000 L.B. McLeod Road, Orlando, FL 32811
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to schedule a bulk trash pickup in Pine Hills?
No. Pine Hills residents under Orange County Utilities do not need to call ahead. You can simply place up to three cubic yards of large items—like furniture, mattresses, and non-Freon appliances—at the curb on your regularly scheduled garbage day.
Can I throw away an old refrigerator at the curb?
No. Orange County curbside collection does not accept Freon-containing devices such as refrigerators, freezers, or air conditioners. You must either hire a private junk removal service or transport the appliance directly to the Orange County Landfill or a designated transfer station.
What is the limit for yard waste collection?
Residents can place up to three cubic yards of yard waste at the curb each week. All branches and palm fronds must be cut to three feet or less in length and bundled. Ensure every personal can, bag, or bundle weighs less than 60 pounds.
Will my garbage be picked up on Memorial Day or Labor Day?
Yes. Orange County Utilities only suspends curbside collection on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On all other holidays, including Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day, your trash, recycling, and yard waste will be collected as usual.