Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Port Charlotte
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 or Green Cart Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be bagged before going into the cart. The lid must close tightly, and the cart must weigh less than 250 lbs (for a 96-gallon cart). Place it at the curb with the wheels facing your home by 5:00 a.m. on your collection day, leaving 5 feet of clearance.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Small, non-hazardous household items
Blue or Green Cart with Yellow/Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
Charlotte County utilizes a single-stream recycling system. All accepted recyclables must be placed loosely in the cart. Do not bag your recyclables, and ensure items are relatively clean and dry.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics with labels 1-7 (no foam)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Dairy and juice cartons
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and steel cans
- ✓Clean paper and flattened cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam/foam cups
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Hypodermic needles
Yard Waste Bin
Place up to 10 properly bundled, paper-bagged, or containerized yard trimmings at the curb per week. Each container/bundle must weigh less than 40 pounds. Plastic bags are strictly prohibited and will be left at the curb.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Small branches (under 6 feet long and 10 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular service day.
Placement
Place bulk items within 5 feet of your regular garbage cart at the edge of the right-of-way by 5:00 a.m. Ensure items are not blocking mailboxes or parked cars.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Up to 4 cubic yards of household bulk
- ✓ Up to 6 passenger tires (smaller than 22 inches) per year
- ✓ Unbundled yard trimmings (within the 4 yard limit)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition (C&D) debris from home renovations
- ✕ Any waste exceeding 4 cubic yards
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Debris placed on adjacent property
Standard limits are covered under your annual sanitation assessment. Oversized loads or construction debris must be hauled to a transfer facility or landfill by the homeowner or a private contractor at their own expense.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, all curbside collections for the rest of that week are pushed back by one day (e.g., Thursday pickups move to Friday). Friday routes will be serviced on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and bulk item collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as your standard garbage and recycling.
There are no delays if the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. All Charlotte County Solid Waste facilities are also closed on these specific holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Boat Flares Out of the Bin
Port Charlotte is a massive boating community, but expired marine flares are explosive and strictly banned from household trash. Take them directly to the Mid-County Mini-Transfer Facility for safe disposal.
No Hoses or Pool Covers
Old garden hoses and torn pool covers are considered 'tanglers.' They wrap around the gears at the local recycling sorting facility, causing massive delays. Throw these items into your standard trash cart instead.
Leave the Recyclables Loose
Never bag your recyclables in plastic grocery bags or black trash bags. Sorting facilities cannot open them safely, meaning your entire bag of good recycling will likely be sent to the Zemel Road Landfill.
Seasonal Information
Hurricane Season
June to NovemberWhen a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued for Charlotte County, immediately stop all major yard trimming and do not place bulk items at the curb. Secure all your roll carts in a garage to prevent them from becoming airborne.
Snowbird Departure Cleans
April to MayAs seasonal residents head north for the summer, trash volumes peak. Ensure large property cleanouts adhere to the 4-cubic-yard weekly bulk limit. If you have more, you must stagger your disposal or utilize the local transfer station.
Fiscal Year Reset
OctoberCharlotte County's waste program limits households to four free appliance pickups and four free electronic pickups per year. This quota resets every October 1st, alongside the start of the county's new fiscal year.
About Port Charlotte Waste Management
Mastering Port Charlotte’s 4-Cubic-Yard Bulk Rule
Charlotte County offers one of the most convenient bulk waste programs in Southwest Florida. Residents of Port Charlotte can place up to four cubic yards of bulky household items at the curb every single week without making a prior phone call. This generous allowance covers large furniture and oversized items, provided they are kept at least five feet away from your automated collection carts so the trucks can safely maneuver.
Scheduling Appliance and E-Waste Pickups
While standard furniture doesn't require notice, you must proactively schedule pickups for 'white goods' (appliances) and electronics. Every fiscal year, which runs from October to September, Port Charlotte households receive free curbside collection for up to four appliances and four electronic devices. You must call Waste Management at least two days before your normal collection day to get on the route list, and always remove refrigerator doors for child safety.
Yard Trimmings: Ditch the Plastic Bags
The lush, tropical landscaping of Port Charlotte generates plenty of yard debris, but Charlotte County strictly prohibits the use of plastic bags for yard waste. All leaves and small clippings must go into paper lawn bags, personal garbage cans, or be neatly tied in bundles. Each bundle or container must weigh under 40 pounds, and any branches cannot exceed six feet in length or ten inches in diameter.
Maximizing the Mid-County Mini-Transfer Facility
If you miss your collection day, exceed your limits, or have hazardous household chemicals, the Mid-County Mini-Transfer & Recycling Facility on Kenilworth Boulevard is your go-to destination. Open Tuesday through Saturday, this self-service drop-off site is highly accessible for Port Charlotte residents. Proof of Charlotte County residency is required to drop off paints, oils, and excess cardboard safely.
Drop-off Facilities
Mid-County Mini-Transfer & Recycling Facility
19765 Kenilworth Blvd, Port Charlotte, FL 33954
Materials Accepted
Charlotte County Landfill
29751 Zemel Road, Punta Gorda, FL 33955
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags of yard waste can I put out each week in Port Charlotte?
You can place up to 10 properly prepared items at the curb per week. These can be bundled branches, paper lawn bags, or personal garbage cans containing yard waste. Each unit must weigh under 40 pounds. Additionally, you can have up to 4 cubic yards of unbundled loose yard trimmings as part of your weekly bulk allowance.
What holidays will delay my Waste Management trash pickup in Charlotte County?
Charlotte County observes four main holidays that interrupt waste collection: New Year's Day, Independence Day (July 4th), Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If the holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of that week are delayed by one day.
Does Port Charlotte recycle glass in the curbside bins?
Yes. Unlike some neighboring Florida counties, Charlotte County's single-stream recycling program accepts glass bottles and jars. Just ensure they are empty and rinsed before placing them loosely in your blue or green recycling cart.
How do I dispose of old tires in Port Charlotte?
Charlotte County residents can place up to six passenger tires (smaller than 22 inches, with or without rims) at the curb per fiscal year. You can set them out on your regular garbage collection day without calling ahead.